It Took a Minute, but I Liked ’em!
It was a curious evening at the theater. It might have been good; it might have been bad. I do not think that I have decided, yet. Perhaps, by the end of my entry, I will know whether or not I liked what I saw.
We started off with Machete! Actually, this was curiously enjoyable! A former federal agent of Mexico who is called Machete (Danny Trejo) has moved to Texas. He is fleeing after having fought a violent drug lord named Torrez (Steven Seagal), who was responsible for his facial disfigurement.
Once in Texas, Machete meets the gangster-character called Benz (Jeff Fahey). Benz presents a paid assignment to Machete, offering to pay him to kill United States Senator McLaughlin (Robert De Niro). McLaughlin has a reputation for being shady, having made many enemies, and now facing assassination. It is the overwhelming call of the $150,000 offer that causes Machete to follow through with the task.
So, Machete goes through with the mission. He meets Luz (Michelle Rodriguez). While with Luz, he learns that his current assignment really is a set-up by Benz to have him killed. He learns that it is Torrez who is behind the assassination plot against him. Machete works with Luz, also aligning with the semi-priest, Padre (Cheech Marin), and with party-girl April (Lindsay Lohan) to battle those out to kill him.
While the group travels through Texas, U.S. immigration agent Santana (Jessica Alba) is on their trail. They do encounter, yet Santana lets Machete go. Meanwhile, he and his cohorts gather artillery to begin a hunt for the criminals whom attempted to destroy Machete during past encounters!
We watched Takers, second. Two detectives, Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez) and Jack Welles (Matt Dillon), get clues that lead them to investigate a possible bank robbery. They learn that a downtown Los Angeles bank is the target, and that a group of thieves organized by thug-papa Gordon Cozier (Idris Elba) is behind the likely looting.
Gordon gathers his his team of goons, which includes A.J. (Hayden Christiensen), Ghost (T.I.), along with brothers Jake (Michael Ealy) and Jesse (Chris Brown). Ghost ends up not being involved because his being a part of a robbery attempt years ago would place a standout marker on the group. He winds up being jailed, and Jake starts a romance with his now lonely girlfriend, Rachel (Zoe Saldana).
Some years pass, as Jake and Rachel remain involved. Yet, Ghost is paroled, and he comes to find the group. He presents a plan to rob an armored truck that is carrying $30 million. Ghost warns the group to stay low after one successful robbery, yet some of them opt to show off their dishonest earnings. These actions catch the eyes of Detective Welles, who does see Jesse running after a heist had happened.
Welles chases Jesse, and he is joined by Detective Hatcher. Hatcher finds himself being shot by Jesse, and he is killed. Jesse returns to the group, telling them that he killed Hatcher, yet their meeting is interrupted. Then,Russian gangsters, with whom Ghost had made an earlier and undercover deal barge into the room. As they are shooting, Ghost vanishes out of a window. Then, Jake and Jesse leave to go home, and they find Jake’ girlfriend, Rachel, has been murdered!
As Jake is in fanatical rage and sadness about Rachel, police arrive. Jesse attempts calming Jake, yet both of them begin to feel that they are out of time. After pondering their options, the brothers decide that their best choice is to die by the gunfire of the police.
Meanwhile, lead gangster Gordon is teamed with John. They realize that Ghost has been playing the entire group. Ghost has gone with another cohort, whom he kills, then takes the rest of the stolen money. As he is trying to escape, Officers Gordon and Welles catch him. Gunfire erupts, and Ghost does shoot both Gordon and Welles. Just as he is about to shoot Gordon in the head, one of the team-members, John (Paul Walker), arrives and shoots Ghost to death!
Alright. I will admit that both films were fun. Once I see them again, I believe that they will be satisfying cinematic adventures. Machete did have it’s sadistic twists of humor and adventure. Takers was suspenseful, with a couple of arousing silver-screen highlights to the film. I do not think that I can complain because I did get thrills from both features. I do want to see them again!
As for what is on the way, several good features remain for the rest of 2010. Get ready for Alpha and Omega, Devil, Going the Distance, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, Secretariat, Sparkle, Tron: Legacy, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, and You Again! See you at the cinema!!!
From This Litter Box 
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