MACHETE KILLS – The Blu Review

Robert Rodriguez’s MACHETE KILLS isn’t quite as entertaining as the first film but fans of that movie and over-the-top action and gore should find the sequel well worth a look. The President of the United States (Charlie Sheen) asks Machete (Danny Trejo) to go a mission to capture a revolutionist who plans on hitting the U.S. with a missile. But really, the actual “plot” doesn’t matter much in these Machete adventures, now does it? MACHETE KILLS manages to get off to an incredibly fast start as we start off with a fake trailer for MACHETE KILLS …IN SPACE! before getting to the “main” feature. Those looking for soft-spoken poetry or through-provoking drama better look elsewhere because this film starts with non-stop violence and pretty much ends that way. Rodriguez manages to set up some terrific action scenes and fills the screen with all sorts of bloody action. We get some incredible scenes like a speed boat flipping over to kill people but the highlight involves Machete, a helicopter, and some poor guy’s intestines. I’ll say no more. The film has a terrific cast led by Trejo who obviously fits this Bronsonesque character better than anyone in history could have (except Bronson). He’s certainly a lot of fun and mixes it up well with all the supporting players who really are only here to support the big tattooed guy. Sheen, working under his hilarious Carlos Estevez name, is fun as the President but we also get good turns by Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Heard and Sofia Vergara, and especially Demian Bichir. Mel Gibson gets to play the main bad guy and while I liked Gibson I must say that I was a little shocked that the director didn’t have him go more over-the-top, which is something the actor is great at. He actually comes across too calm here. Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Tom Savini also contribute to the party-like atmosphere of this film.

When Dana Jung reviewed MACHETE KILLS here at We Are Movie Geeks, he wrote: “It becomes clear from the first frame that the intent of MACHETE KILLS is F-U-N, and the movie is overflowing with in-jokes, audacious action sequences, and outrageous characters. Rodriguez has once again collected an incredibly talented cast to populate his throwback to the raw action films of yesteryear….. The body count may be high, but you just have to love any film that references both STAR WARS and STAR TREK, plus Mexican wrestling heroes and James Bond, almost all within the same scene.” (read the rest of Dana’s review HERE – http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2013/10/machete-kills-the-review/)

Now MACHETE KILLS is out on Blu-ray. The movie is often visually sumptuous despite its somewhat gruesome subject matter, and that helps this AVC encoded 1080p high definition presentation to pop rather splendidly in its 1:85:1 format. The house-rocking DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is cracklingly loud as it should be with its non-stop gunfire and explosions.

Normally Robert Rodriguez films are loaded with extras, however this release seems to be a bit short in that category.

The extras included are:

Seven deleted and Extended scenes. These are not much different than what ended up in the final film:

Sherrif Doakes talks about his pappy – is a slightly longer monologue by William Sadler during the scene where he is hanging Machete.

No one’s on the road today –this has some fun dialog between Trejo and Demian Bichir’s Marcus Mendez in a truck, some of it shot against the still-present green screen.

I dreamt nurses? – preceded by a campaign commercial for Martin Sheen’s President Rathcock, this short outtake features Trejo in a pool surrounded by a trio of naked nurses.

Meet Baby Machete – In this scene, Mel Gibson’s Voz explains his cloning plan and unveils a little test tube machete he describes as a “Mean little bastard – even at this size!” I’m surprised they cut this weird scene out.

Tito’s been tasered – mostly a slightly longer take of Michelle Rodriguez’ explanation of the alien abductions.

El Camaleon sounds like Antonio Banderas this time – more dialog and footage of Banderas and Lady Gaga’s roles, which were small in the final film.

The only other extra is The Making of Machete Kills, an above-average behind the scenes featurette that runs twenty minutes. Lots of cast interviews, behind-the scenes stunt work, and shots of Danny Trejo actually smiling.

MACHETE KILLS is a lively sequel and an absolutely great experience for Trejo fans, who are used to seeing their main man in minor roles. This Blu-ray comes with an easy recommendation.