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Machete (2010)
Machete (2010)
2010 | Action, Mystery
Cheesy like a Quesadilla... And just as good.
When I first saw the trailer for Machete I was freaking pumped I adore Danny Trejo and when I found out the movie was going to be a B rated action movie with Hispanic my Latina heart almost bursted out of my damn chest!

And you know what I got everything I wanted from Machete it was cheesy and raunchy and oh so good! Plus Michelle Rodriguez with an eye patch killing people sign me the hell up!

The plot was fun and on the right side of ridiculous, the cast was great, and it had the right amount of action. Over all just a good time if you remember it's supposed to be over the too.
  
Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
2011 | Action, Sci-Fi
One last tour of duty
Staff Sargent Nantz (Eckhart) is planning his retirement from the service but, a strange phenomenon has began to crash all over the world and into the pacific right off the the coast of Los Angles. He is called back into duty to help lead a squad of Marines who all have a different views on him and all have stories of their own. Their job is to clear the area and evacuate all civilians because some form of alien beings has begun to attack and the order to send in nukes has been given. Does Nantz have anything left in the tank to lead us to victory?

Not Eckhart's finest movie but it just was a bad story. I am surprised that Michelle Rodriguez even got involved in this film
  
BloodRayne (2006)
BloodRayne (2006)
2006 | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
Rayne of blood
So this movie excist, bloodrayne came out the same month as uwe bolls other terrible movie- alone in the dark. So in 2006, you didnt get one but two terrible uwe boll movies that came out the same month, both based off of video games.

Bloodrayne is about- In 18th-century Romania, after spending much of her life in a traveling circus, human-vampire hybrid Rayne (Kristanna Loken) escapes and plots to take down her evil vampire father, Kagan (Ben Kingsley). When she's discovered by three vampire hunters, Vladimir (Michael Madsen), Katarin (Michelle Rodriguez) and Sebastian (Matt Davis), she manages to convince them to spare her life and join her cause. But slaying a vampire as powerful as Kagan will be no easy task.

The cast is wasted on this film. Im not sure why they signed up for this movie in the first place, but their did.

Its a god awful movie that no one, i mean no one should suffer through.
  
S.W.A.T. (2003)
S.W.A.T. (2003)
2003 | Action, Mystery
Surprisingly Thrilling
I'm honestly surprised at how much I liked this film. I think the cast is phenomenal - I'm partial to anything Michelle Rodriguez is in - and I love Samual L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, L.L Cool J, Colin Farrell, they were all great.

I think what surprised me the most was the dynamic between all the characters. It felt very effortless and natural, I don't think it was hard for them to get along, at least it didn't seem like it. And I think that they played friends to enemies to disappointed counterparts really well - specifically Renner and Farrell. They're both really strong actors and the subtleties they provided both their characters was really phenomenal.

I also loved seeing Jeremy in a different kind of role. I feel like we're partial to seeing him as Hawkeye, the Avenger, the hero, and this movie allowed him to be seen as something different. Granted it came out before the Avengers was ever probably a concept, but the point still stands. Also, the earrings. Loved those on him. But that's a minor detail.

Anyways! I really liked this film. Definitely worth the watch and not just a generic action film.
  
Machete (2010)
Machete (2010)
2010 | Action, Mystery
This is the film your parents did not want you to see as a child. Violent, vulgar, and more than a little offensive Machete is shocking, not just for the eyes but also to moral sensibilities. Yet, it is also undeniably funny.

This make believe movie trailer highlighted in the movie Grindhouse was, due to its popularity, turned into a full length feature packed with ridiculous fight scenes and some of the most simplistic dialogue of any modern action film. The visuals stay with you. The action is impressive. This is not just another trip to the movies but a wild chaotic journey at the end of a giant blade.

Director and co-author, Robert Rodriguez, has mixed classic Tarantino styling, the wild world of B movies, and his own flair for dramatic character creation to create a film that is violently astonishing. The fight scenes are engaging from weapon selection all the way to last man standing, and do I really need to tell you who that man is? Of, course not.
Machete is not just your typical anti-hero, he is the vision of an anti-hero with ladies and one-liners in tow. While Danny Trejo (Machete) steals the show he is not the only big name appearing on this cast list. The film is packed with stars such as Jessica Alba (Sartana), Michelle Rodriguez (Luz), and Lindsey Lohan (April), who all play critical characters in this bizarre tale. And so far as the men go, there are also quality performances from Robert De Niro (Senator McLaughlin), Don Johnson (Lt. Stillman), Steven Segal (Torrez) and Cheech Marin (Padre).

Moreover, it is not a stretch to say that this film abruptly addresses some significant stereotypes. In fact Machete doesn’t just confront these issues, it wields a large blade of sarcasm in their direction. Giving a new base line for “over the top,” Machete is sure to be a hit with anyone who is not easily offended.
  
Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2020)
Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2020)
2020 | Documentary
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Danny Trejo is a man with the most terrifying voice I've ever heard, but after watching this, I just really really really want to be his friend.
I remember being completely drawn in by his silent character in Desperado, and then shortly after, recognising him in From Dusk Till Dawn. He's a guy who always manages to cut an intriguing and intimidating figure whatever movie he has been in.
His backstory has become just as famous, his incarceration at San Quentin in particular being pretty common knowledge.
This documentary really dives into his life story, starting with his childhood years, through his time in multie prisons, and then through his acting career and life as a changed man, and a genuinely good person. Watching Trejo speak about his life is just wonderful. The details he recalls are hugely interesting and the way he speaks about everyone he has come across through his life is respectful. He acknowledges that his life these days is a good one, and he can look back on his tougher years and find the humour in some of the shit that he endured.

All of the guests on this documentary, from fellow actors like Donal Logue and Michelle Rodriguez, to director Robert Rodriguez, to fellow inmates, to family members, all speak of him with a lot of warmth.
While Inmate #1 (a reference to some of his early acting credits) does indeed chronicle all of his misdemeanors, his difficult upbringing, his criminal life, it also shines a light on all of the good he has done since leaving prison in 1969. The amount of work he has done for his community is tremendous, and he still gives talks and lectures today, trying to help people who need it. It's an important balance in the way the narrative is told and reveals Trejo to be a pretty down to earth guy.

Its a super interesting story that's worth checking out. Long Live Dany Trejo.
  
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (2023)
2023 | Fantasy
8
7.5 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A Ton of Fun
The BankofMarquis is not into Dungeons & Dragons - the role playing/fantasy game that the film DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES is based on, so any Easter Eggs for fans of the game is lost here. What the BankofMarquis is into is a good, fun action/adventure film and DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES is all that…and more.

The 4th film to be based on the RPG game, this D&D is no relation to the previous three and should be viewed as a reboot of the franchise…and if HONOR AMONG THIEVES is an indication of where this film series will go, then the audience is in for a fun ride, indeed.

Written and Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, D&D follows a smooth talking, good-looking musician (the perfectly cast Chris Pine), his tough-as-nails best friend (the perfectly cast Michelle Rodriguez) and their merry band of thieves as they go on a quest to right wrongs and achieve a goal.

What that goal is doesn’t really matter as it is the journey - not the destination - that matters and the journey is quite fun thanks to an enjoyable cast and a script and direction that evokes memories of THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THE LORD OF THE RINGS and, yes, MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL along the way.

The cast (Pine, Rodriguez, Rege-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis and Hugh Grant) know exactly what type of film they are making and jump in with both feet to have some fun, fight some creatures and make a family-friendly medieval action/adventure comedy that works.

Credit, of course, goes to Daley & Goldstein and this appears to be their first film together as Directors. If that is the case, the BankofMarquis is eager to see where they go from here.

While, I’m sure, there are plenty of Easter Eggs in this film for the D&D fan, the BankofMarquis caught none of that and just sat back and had a really fun 2+ hours, chuckling out loud on more than one occassion.

This film is now streaming on Paramount Plus. If you run across, check it out, you’ll have a good time.

Letter Grade: A-

8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)