Pass the Popcorn: Machete

September 10, 2010

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

So the Rodriguez-Tarrantino Grindhouse double feature included some fake movie trailers before and between the two movies.  One of them was for a fake movie called Machete which looked like a Hispanic version of a 1970s Blaxploitation flick.

I know all of this because I was one of the 88 people who went to see Grindhouse in the theater. Okay, so I was the only person to see it twice. There- I admitted it- are you happy now?

Anyway, the Machete trailer was so over the top that Robert Rodriquez decided to make it into a full-fledged movie.  Of course, I was morally obligated to go see it.

My reaction: meh.

Oh, there are some very funny scenes, especially for someone living in Arizona. The theater laughed out loud when Robert DeNiro’s Senator McLaughlin character was introduced. The film was set in Texas, but there was some obvious spoofing of Arizona pols included (e.g. John McLaughlin for John McCain).

The standard Blaxploitation/James Bond formula of a protagonist who only takes brief breaks from being a killing machine to serve as a babe magnet is in full swing, sprinkled with an occasional explosion and/or observation about the illegal immigration issue. This is not Shakespeare, it is not even Black Dynamite.

It is however entertaining if you are willing to check your brain at the ticket booth. Even then, it runs out of steam.

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Pass the Popcorn: Black Dynamite

December 18, 2009

(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)

All of western civilization was merely a dull prelude to BLACK DYNAMITE. Why oh why did we have to wait until 2009 until someone made this film? Aughts, you stand redeemed!

Okay, so I am exaggerating, but only a little.

Mix one part spoof, two parts homage, add generous amounts of kung-fu, crypto-racial conspiracy and revenge fantasy. The result: the best Blaxploitation flick since Truck Turner.

Avatar? Yawn…I prefer films that have a bad plot on purpose. Besides, Black Dynamite would kill James Cameron’s evil space marines with his nunchuk in about 10 minutes. Roll credits! Those 12 foot tall blue Scotty Pippen looking aliens would build a Black Dynamite statue and worship him like Ewoks who found a new protocol droid. Except it would be in 3D this time.

Black Dynamite battles THE MAN and his anti-brother conspiracy, and his fight takes him through drug pushers, the CIA, an evil Chinese super-villian, and all the way to the “Honky House.”  THE MAN is doomed and the ladies swoon. Run, don’t walk to the theatre!

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Posted by matthewladner