cinema

Ultimate ‘Mexican Standoff’ movie mashup has no Mexicans (videos)

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“A Mexican standoff,” according to Wikipedia, “is a confrontation among two or more parties in which no participant can proceed or retreat without being exposed to danger.” ¡Orale! Let’s get some of those cinema standoff scenes and mash them up! [POCHO only presents this video after receiving assurances from responsible parties that “no actual Mexicans were harmed in the making of this mashup.” Your mileage may vary.]

The mashup highlights the “trio scene” from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, a classic example of film editing. The 1966 Western was directed by Sergio Leone, and starred Clint Eastwood before he lost his mind, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach. Check the scene out here:

Mas…Ultimate ‘Mexican Standoff’ movie mashup has no Mexicans (videos)

Video: Best (and longest) death scene ever in the history of cinema?

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karategirlNow that poor Turkey, the sick man of Europe, is under the control of an egomaniacal historically ignorant Ottoman wannabe, it’s comforting to look back on the glory days of Turkish cinema with 1974’s Karate Girl.

We love Karate Girl’s film making genius since we discovered this excerpt — the “best death scene ever”:

Mas…Video: Best (and longest) death scene ever in the history of cinema?

From Mexican ‘Santa Claus’ (1959): Lupita’s Devil Dream (video)

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Here’s maybe the most famous scene from K. Gordon Murray’s English dub of the low-budget live-action Mexican classic Santa Claus. In this scene, which has given kids nightmares for years, Lupita’s dreams are interrupted by the Devil. Santa is able to see it (from his cloud in outer space) thanks to the dream-scope, created by Merlin the Magician.

This trailer is for a 2007 MST3K-style parody version:

Mas…From Mexican ‘Santa Claus’ (1959): Lupita’s Devil Dream (video)

Hollywood Spaniards, Puerto Ricans plan ‘ultimate’ Chicano film

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(PNS reporting from HOLLYWOOD) Following the warm reception to the upcoming César Chávez biopic, producers in Hollywood have mounted an international effort to produce the “most extensive Chicano film in history.”

The production not only features an all-star cast from the United States and Latin America but also includes both factual and fictitious events in Chicano history.

“The idea is to jam pack as much history, culture and entertainment into two hours of film so that young Chicanos don’t have to read any books to learn about who they are,” said  the project’s director, Pedro Almodóvar.

“In fact, if possible we are going to try to make the two hours into an hour-and-a-half, because our target audience has no attention span.”

Mas…Hollywood Spaniards, Puerto Ricans plan ‘ultimate’ Chicano film

Laurel and Hardy are El Gordo y El Flaco in ‘El Flaco Va Al Dentista’

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Is Will Ferrell — currently starring in Casa de Mi Padre — the first Anglo comic actor to make a Spanish-language comedy without knowing a word of Spanish?

No guey! As you can see in this old movie clip, black and white jailbirds Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel AKA El Gordo y El Flaco visited the Dentista and delivered their lines phonetically from a script 60 or more years ago. If you don’t know about Ferrell’s movie, you can peep the trailer below — it’s in Spanish AND color!

Mas…Laurel and Hardy are El Gordo y El Flaco in ‘El Flaco Va Al Dentista’

My Bottom Line: ‘Casa De Mi Padre’ is (1) Funny and (2) Not racist

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Over the weekend I went with two guys to see Will Ferrell’s latest film, Casa De Mi Padre. The film stars several Mexican actors and was produced by a Latino production house.

If you want the bottom line, here it is: I went into the movie with low expectations, but was surprised that it was funny, not racist, and well done.

In the film, Ferrell speaks entirely in Spanish, and I have to give him props for doing so well and not stooping to the level of “look at the funny white guy who can’t speak Spanish” jokes. As a matter fact, the movie was surprisingly devoid of the kinds of jokes where gringos make fun of Mexicans via brownfacing, or doing bad imitations of Mexicans.

Mas…My Bottom Line: ‘Casa De Mi Padre’ is (1) Funny and (2) Not racist

Will Ferrell sings? In Spanish? ‘Yo no se’ from ‘Casa de Mi Padre’

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Of course he sings in Spanish! The movie is IN Spanish! Wikipedia:

Casa de Mi Padre (English: My Father’s House) is an upcoming Spanish-language American comedy film. The film stars Will Ferrell, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and Génesis Rodríguez with Matt Piedmont directing a screenplay written by Andrew Steele. The film has been described to be in the style of an “overly dramatic telenovela” and tells the story of Armando Alvarez, who must save his father’s ranch from a powerful drug lord. Casa de Mi Padre is set for release next week.

Here’s the trailer:

Mas…Will Ferrell sings? In Spanish? ‘Yo no se’ from ‘Casa de Mi Padre’