Do you have a movie instinct? You know that feeling you get by looking at a poster or a trailer of a movie and forming an opinion about that movie which usually is right? I’d like to think mine is pretty good, so when I read some information on this movie I thought I’d just watch the trailer as it would be a movie I wasn’t planning on watching.
The trailer basically is a copy of the Youtube hit “Epic Beard Man” where an old bearded man gets into a verbal fight with a fellow bus passenger who thinks he can beat him. Once he takes a swing the Epic Beard Man knocks him to the ground.
I thought it was intruiging that this was used as the thing to base the movie on, with Danny Trejo taking the role of the old man and thought I’d just give it a look, but was expecting a horrible film. Turns out that my movie instinct sometimes can be wrong.
Danny Trejo plays a man who has had a tough life after being injured during the Vietnam War. He’s been selling hot dogs from his own hot dog stand for years, but becomes known as Bad Ass when he defends himself on the bus when he’s attacked by some skinheads. When his mother passes away he moves into her house and allows another war veteran to join him. Something happens to his friend and he wants revenge.
What this movie reminds me of is the action movies of the eighties and nineties. They were not very complicated, often very predictable and had a main character who could kick ass. The type of movies that made stars out of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal. I could see any of them easily playing the role Trejo has. The reason I always enjoyed those movies (and still do) is because it’s about one man who’s almost invincible, no matter how many bad guys he’s up against. Trejo does a very good job and gives the character a very charming personality. It makes you root for him.
This is a low budget movie and it shows when special effects are involved, but I really didn’t care. It made me remember the old action movies and if you were a fan of those you should give this one a look.
Score: 7
Hmmm I did used to love the old simple big man takes on an army type films. Commando, Rambo, Under Seige etc but then the Expendables was rubbish. Still haven’t see Machete with Trejo but didn’t hear great things about that. Still undecided about whether to give this a go.
If you love those type of movies, then I think you will also enjoy this one a lot. I was disappointed by Expendables too, but will go out and see the next one with hopes it is better.
I remember hearing about this, but was also apprehensive about its quality. Glad to hear it’s good one — I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the heads up, Nostra!
I’ve read very negative reviews about this too, but I’m someone that can enjoy these type of things for what they are.