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Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2019
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This movie has been on my watchlist for ages. The director of photography did a phenomenal job. The mood, the portrayal of historic subject matter, and a real feel for the people Che Guevara met on their travels was all superb. The direction, writing of the screenplay, acting, all wonderful. It helps that I am watching more movies in Spanish - yo aprendo mas espanol. Gael Garcia Bernal has shown that he can handle varied characters but this was truly amazing. I can better understand why Che Guevara inspired so many people. If he was anything like this. The character arc, caused by seeing so much injustice in such a short span of a life is very touching. BTW, if you want a fun movie Rudo you Cursi is worthwhile. Amores Perros is great and probably won awards. Both with Garcia Bernal.
I'll start off by saying I watched this as it was an assignment for a class. The movie itself is pretty boring in my opinion but it isn't completely terrible. As a work of fiction it is ok but I'm not sure how historically accurate the events are. Che scams and steals his way across South America but is basically presented as a saint. I feel like unless you have to watch this for a class like I did the only people who would have this movie on their radar are Che fans who want to see him portrayed as the ultimate good guy. If it were about some random guys I doubt anyone who doesn't already speak Spanish would bother to watch it as it is incredibly mediocre on its own merits.
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2020
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I thought this was a well done film, despite that it is mostly "inspired by" and, like most of what Hollywood puts out, is a lot of fiction claiming to be fact. Another reviewer said it presented Guevara as a saint, I didn't see that at all. I suppose it depends on your worldview. If you think a person is good only if they are constantly good and never err, then it could be confusing. If you have lived long enough to know that people are both good and bad, you will see Guevara presented as a human. This is important considering the level of sainthood he has been granted in certain circles (those circles often knowing very little about his truly "unsavory" activities). I think that the film is a good overview into the beginnings of El Che. It is only the coldest person who can see the suffering around them and turn away, ignoring those in need. Guevara couldn't do that. Unfortunately, thinking you are helping people and actually helping people...
As much as I liked this film, I did not like it because I am a fan of El Che (though I am a Socialist). I liked it because it shows the beginnings of what he might have been and of what he was to become. There are a few hints dropped, such as the scene in Machu Picchu, that, if you know what the rest of his story, you will catch. This film is presented as a positive, inspiring story, but if you know the real story enough to read between the lines, you will see a bit of the truth in the midst of the fiction. His life is a cautionary tale, something to be contemplated, not something to be emulated. If you get up from this film a fan of El Che, I recommend that you study much more about him before making a final judgement.
This is simply a beautiful movie. It tells the early story of Che Guevara, and it does so at a reasonable pace, with marvelous cinematography, and fantastic acting. Guevara himself was most certainly a complex and polarizing figure, but this film does not delve into that aspect of his history; rather it recounts his journey as a young man. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular, especially the short segment filmed at Machu Picchu. As a physician, I found the handling of the leper colony (leprosy: a disease with a complex and polarizing history of its own) to be particularly fascinating. Highly recommended.
I like this movie, and it seems crazy to me to ever give a foreign film a high rating, because I was never really interested in foreign films prior to watching this. The Motorcycle Diaries changed my opinion of that greatly. Gael García Bernal did a great job in this movie. It is a great adventure based on a true story about Ernesto R. Guevara de la Serna, who is better known as "Che" Guevara the Marxist revolutionary that allied himself later in life with Fidel Castro. I personally do not like nor agree with his political ideals and military leadership, but none the less, it was an interesting film about him and his travels in Latin America. I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in getting an idea of the story of the young Ernesto Guevara, who is definitely a controversial figure even to this present day, for anyone who wants a fun experience in learning some Spanish (given it has English subtitles), or for anyone who likes and enjoys beautiful scenery and travels. It is rated R and is for a mature audience rightfully so. I give the Motorcycle Diaries 4 stars without allowing my own personal beliefs of Che Guevara to create a biased opinion.
We bought this movie because after watching most of it on local TV, we needed to see the beginning. Reading subtitles is not a favorite of mine, but this (mostly true) story about the beginnings of Che Guevera is so riveting (for lack of a better word) we have watched it through in its entirety twice and still love it.
I came into the moving expecting to hate it, imagining a too-saccharine portrayal of Guevara. I came out liking it as a coming of age tale of real substance ... of a person that finds out who they are not because a girl dumps them or because of money trouble, but of a person that comes face to face with humanity and finds their own. Gael Garcia Bernal - as always - is brilliant.
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2019
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This is a great film based on historical documents and well mixed with artistic interpretation and incredible photography. The film presents the human side of Che Guevara and the probable resons why he became a revolutionary as he was shocked by the terrible conditions the poor lived in.
4.0 out of 5 stars“The Plan: 8000 kilometres in four months.” [opening Narrative voice-over]
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2018
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This 2004 adventure drama spans from December 1951 to August 1952 as Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara de la Serna and his older friend Alberto Granado attempt to travel Latin America on a temperamental old Norton 500cc motorbike. Taking information from ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ and other sources, this does a good job as an entertaining drama and the 2 hour length passes as though just one. However, events are taken out of sequence, characters amalgamated, events shifted onto others or changed for effect and politics is heavily placed. The main issue is the film shows heavy involvement with the ‘indigenous’ population, the reality of the diary shows the opposite that for the most part he was very disparaging of them and they barely communicated and those who did were usually skilled or professionals. Where this is good is that it brings out the tensions between the travellers, something that the diaries tries to hide. After an advert for ‘film 4’ the single disc goes to main menu offering play, scene index and extras [deleted scenes, cast & crew interviews, featurette, behind the scenes, Alberto Granado interview, trailer]. The three minute interview with Alberto is worth watching. Rated 15 this has a lot of swearing and some adult sexual references but there is generally little else to really offend. My advice, watch this as a movie for entertainment, but, if you want to learn about Che, read the diary as in that he exhibits many ‘reactionary’ tendencies, not those of the revolutionary icon he became.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2015
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Che is seen as many, many, things? Here he is in his early life - aged just 23. He would live just another 16 years, before being executed, whilst on another sortie of his in Bolivia. The film indicates that his philosophies were developing during this trip. This whole film is quite iconic in its self -the cinematography is wonderful. Especially the scenery in Peru and also the cities, towns & villages that they pass through, it's just awesome. The film is full of wit but make no mistake, this 8 month journey still comes across as extremely arduous. It starts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, - then across the Andes to coastal Chile, the Atacama Desert, the Amazon in Peru, Machu Picchu, Bolivia, Columbia and finally Caracas in Venezuela. His friend and co-traveller, Alberto Granado, is shown in real life here at the end of the film, along with some superb black & white shots of the locals that they met along the way - these pictures are very moving and quite stunning. This is a very touching film - it's not Che the `revolutionary' but it is a film IMHO that everyone should watch as it leaves its mark and gets better on further reflection.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 24, 2012
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Ernesto 'Che' Guevara is a medical student still living with his mother, father and siblings in their home in Buenos Aires when this story begins. At vacation time, he and his friend embark on a journey by motorcycle across South America. What to the friend is a laugh, a riot and a chance to get laid, to Ernesto is a sequence of situations through which his understanding of his people, their hopes and aspirations, their struggles and triumphs, is brought to maturity. The elements of what were to become 'the international revolutionary' are so understated as to appear magical. Their frequent, friendly contacts with the ordinary people they meet along the way culminate in their reception as voluntary helpers at a Leprosy Hospital. The relationships that develop here are poignant and extremely moving and the viewer can only wish these two young men well as they progress towards the start of their respective careers. This of course is the supreme irony, considered against the way things really went for Che Guevara, first as companion to Castro in the revolutionary overthrow of the corrupt Salazar regime in Cuba, and finally his ignominious, yet tragic demise while still a young man at the hands of the Bolivian military.
I found this a highly engaging account of the early life and times of Ernesto Che Guevara (for it is he). Having never read the said diaries, I have no idea as to whether the film is faithful to historical detail or not, but it works on the level of being a very good road movie that charts the developing friendship between two men as they journey through South America, and their responses to the levels of inequality that they see there. The subtitles are fine, and the story pulls you along with it, planting you firmly on the side of the two travellers and with Ernesto in particular. The film is low budget and charming with it. It is certainly better than the great majority of films being churned out at present, being intelligent and well-crafted. There are occasional shafts of humour to lighten the mood, and if you get it - and I would recommend that you see it - expect to be entertained, but be aware that this is a film that makes you think, a rare commodity in today's market.
This film documents the road trip that Ernesto Guevera and his friend Alberto Granado went on in 1952 that would change both their lives. At the start of the film we see a youthful Doctor on a trip of adventure, by the end we see a revolutionary in the early stages as they witness the poverty and disregard for the poor and ill throughout South America.
It's a story about Che Guevara that hasn't been told before. There are only little hints towards the outcome throughout the film, it succeeds in showing another side to the man who would later become an icon. There is even some unexpected humour.
The film is very well written, the two leads are brilliantly portrayed and the direction is beautifully paced. This is a real intelligent road trip drama.