Machete:”This Time they F@$%’d with the Wrong Mexican”

Mex-ploitation at its finest (or worst depending on who you ask) brings “Machete,” the Robert Rodriguez film about a machete-wielding Mexican superhero (played by Danny Trejo), border vigilantes, dangerous drug lords, corrupt politicians and cliche one-liners like “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us!” in in theaters Tomorrow, September 3. If you saw the Grindhouse series its a movie of the same vein…and so you know what to expect.

The movie is sure to piss off all sides of the immigration debate and although I haven’t seen it yet I don’t see how the flick can have any enduring value to add to the immigration conversation.

With that disclaimer, you have to admit–it’s pretty dope to have a modern Mexican protagonist, and one that’s actually played by a Mexican actor.

Naima

Naima "Nai" Ramos-Chapman is the Associate Editor at Campus Progress, a dancer with Taurus Broadhurst Dance in D.C., and an aspiring visual artist (she doodles). Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @Naimaramchap.
  • It actually looks like fun (cheesy one-liners, over-the-top violence) and a nifty little vehicle to resurrect Danny Trejo’s career. I like the idea that this Machete character has the potential to be an avatar for young Mexican men much in the same way a Shaft or Dolemite was for young black men. Maybe not a role model to aspire to, but definitely a healthy way to vicariously exhaust some pent up aggression via what looks like a popcorn-munching diversion from the heady stuff of the day.

    Let’s hope “The Big Immigration Debate” doesn’t sully any of the fun we may have although the subject matter unabashedly references it. I don’t think the movie is taking a stand either way, it seems to be using the angst on both sides as fodder for its dramatic tension which of course will be the impetus for a little of the ol’ ultra-violence.

  • ed

    Danny Trejo is billed above Robert De Niro. Is this a great country or what?

    But then there’s this. Anyone really surprised?

    A group of white nationalists will protest the new Robert Rodriguez movie Machete — which depicts a Mexican renegade attempting to assassinate an anti-immigrant senator played by Robert DeNiro — at Bay Area cinemas this week. This gets even more interesting: The protesters will show up “armed” with machetes.

  • Grump

    Yeah, me an my guys are amped to catch this at the same time as the beginning of CFB this weekend!!!!

  • Darth Paul

    I’m SO seeing this on Sat. I already have my tix. Robert Rodriguez can’t do much wrong in my book.

    Y’all see how LiLo was banned from the premier? This movie has genius written all over it already.