The film is a pointlessly complicated house of cards that crumbles due to its own hollowness.
Robert Rodriguez’s film, like The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, fundamentally lacks a sense of wonder.
Fox’s Blu-ray may be the reference disc of the year so far, with unimpeachable audio and video and a host of strong extras to boot.
The film’s action boasts some of the most sturdy, coherent direction to mark a giant-scale blockbuster in some time.
Whereas a single, stinging one-liner would have sufficed Tourneur or Lang, Miller’s overcompensating flood of pulpy dialogue only renders his characters flat and sans empathy.
In what sense, then, is Machete Kills not simply that: a cash-in sequel meant to make fast money?
The tawdriness of the 2010 film has been tempered substantially in Machete Kills.
In the realm of the old masters, there were at least two films in the festival that played as powerful elegies to the disappearing medium of 35mm.
The book offers numerous alternative suggestions about the trends of critical reception in film/media culture.
Instead of understanding the femme fatale as a genre staple, Grossman wants to dispense of the characterization altogether.
The film is so plain-faced and literal-minded in its juvenile pandering that it’s hard to dismiss it as a mere cash-in.
It can be tricky to describe what distinguishes Louis C.K. from other stand-ups, even from those who specialize in observational, storytelling, confessional comedy.
Rodriguez loves grindhouse cinema, but you’d never know it from Machete, which seems more interested in mockery than homage.
Robert Rodriguez’s films are so busy chuckling at their own supposed audacity that there’s no need for viewers to join in the revelry.
The filmmaker brothers discuss their latest feature, which is out next month from Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Robert Rodriguez’s Shorts may have a more complex narrative than Spy Kids but it’s otherwise just as bland.
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s Grindhouse is more homage than reinvention of schlock.
Snyder’s 300 is a twin fount of humorlessness and turgidity.
Fans of the film may want to save their allowance money and wait for the inevitable two-disc edition.
No matter how hard he tries, Robert Rodriguez can’t make 3-D tolerable or cool.