Save Your Money
Added 9/3/2009
On the advice of a very trusted friend, I purchased this dog, after asking Jim if I should buy it. He answered yes; enough said- I did that very thing. Poor advice. The story, and the life lessons contained therein, are very worthwhile. But the reward does not, in my opinion, justify the risk. Obviously, the reward is the life lessons; the risk is the visual images of two guys traveling horseback with a three day old corpse. Jim had said he didn't want to spoil it for me, by telling me too much before I'd seen it. I'd rather he'd spoiled it- the movie certainly smelled.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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totally awesome.
Added 6/11/2009
just got this and looked at it - was enthralled by the cultural crossplay depicted and the realism of the story. Most of the performances were impeccable - even the mall rat wife of the INS agent portrayed by Barry Pepper is acted down to a tee, and is a dead accurate portrayal of a bunch of people I know. I lent it on to my neighbor who has a Mexican wife and they loved it.
Being reasonably bilingual in Spanish & English I really enjoyed the mixed language conversations and if that's really the case in SW Texas i'll seriously consider visiting or wintering there. I did notice since I ran it in full screen mode that the surtitles for the hispanically challenged put up at the top of the screen were partially cropped and illegible in some cases. Next time - and there will definitely be one- I'll try running it in wide screen format.
The only annoying part is the single action Colt revolver protrayed on the "jacket" of the DVD. Tommy Lee Jones uses a Colt model 1911 semi-automatic which I understand is far more in character at least on the Mexican side of the border -as far as I saw he never used a revolver in the movie.
overall. a great flick- I can easily see it becoming a cult movie along the lines of Tremors
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Fine Character Study/Road Movie
Added 3/28/2009
This ambitious directorial effort from the talented Tommy Lee Jones is loaded with heart and substance. I enjoyed it a lot. Aside from the fine direction and some stunning cinematography, the cast is letter perfect. Mr. Jones himself centers the proceedings with command, with excellent support from Barry Pepper, Dwight Yoakam, January Jones, Melissa Leo and the wonderful Julio Cadillo. Indeed, Mr. Cadillo's role, seen only in flashback, presents a sweet character that is pivotal in understanding why the journey was so important. Very important lessons to be learned, told in a straightforward way, all leading to a memorable film experience. The DVD I watched had a commentary but no other extras. Also, subtitles were so far at the top of the screen that I couldn't often see them. The story tells itself pretty well, tho...
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A hidden gem
Added 3/20/2009
Watched a portion of this movie on cable, and immediately sought out the DVD for purchase. I am not one to buy DVDs these days, especially with the efficiency in time and money of renting them, however with this movie I made the exception.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Long Skinny Coprolite of a Movie
Added 2/19/2009
If you enjoy the following, you will enjoy Tres Entierros:
- Shallow stereotypes
- Disjointed storytelling
- Plot lines that come from nowhere and go nowhere
- Long droughts of pointless frames
- Mysterious twists that mean nothing, add nothing, and are never explained
- White guilt
With 30 minutes to go I started hoping against hope that the killer from No Country would step in and relieve us of the relentlessly unlikable TL Jones and his white male torture victim. It wouldn't have made any less sense than the actual movie did and might have added that strange element some people call "interest".
Seriously, this was truly torture porn for all who feel oppressed by the white man. "Saw" movies are easier to watch than this carp. I guess it's made more PC by letting a white man do the torturing or something, but it's far less interesting. I mean, where are the Hills Have Eyes family when you need them. Descend Papa Jupe and cleanse the earth of these 2 poorly drawn characters! ANYTHING to salvage these 2 hours of my life.
Not that the characters back in town are any more appealing. These are the types of folk that Romero throws in an Of The Dead movie so you don't feel sorry when the zombs rip them to shreds. Unfortunately, the undead are nowhere to be seen. At least they could have added meaningful closure to the whole subplot about Evil White Man's wife. I mean, I defy any and all to tell me what her point was in the movie. At least the other slut gives Dwight and Tommy Lee something else to talk about.
And why is Dwight even here? Did they run out of budget for him? Did he have to go on tour before filming was finished? It was his effusive enthusiasm that got me to watch this turd in the first place. I hope he put half that much praise behind Panic Room because, not only is it a much better movie (contains interest) but he actually gets to be in the dang thing. As it was, I saw all his scenes just in the short clips he was promoting on talk shows. At least all his clothed scenes (unless that toupee counts as clothing).
I also really love the idea of two gringos, with valuables, riding around unmolested through Northern Mexico. Maybe you have to be from the area to know why that's hillarious. Or maybe the whole film is a tract put out by the Mexican tourism board. Mexicans come to America and we punch their women in the face, gut shoot the men with AR-15s, and then, even if we like ya we'll drag your corpse around the desert after filling it full of antifreeze. Gringos in Mexico meet up with friendly caballeros who give them free booze and bear meat. Come on down!
I forgot that there actually was one likable char in the movie - Levon Helm. Somewhat ironically, despite being the only person I did NOT want to see killed, he's the only character who actually wanted to be shot in the face. If only the others had shown such decency. As it is, I suspect that line was improvised by Levon as a way to get Tommy Lee to let him out of his contract to play the extremely dessicated corpse towards the end of the movie. Heck, anything, even live burial, would be acceptable to get away from Evil White Man's pathetic crybaby whinging and whining. Is it just coincidence that Barry Pepper also participated in the shameful Gutless German scenes in Private Ryan? Perhaps this is his atonement.
I don't know. Just don't pay attention to this thing. If you do, at least have the new remastered Lonesome Dove behind emergency glass as trauma relief and soul cleanser.
0 out of 7 people found this helpful.
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Save Your Money
Added 9/3/2009
On the advice of a very trusted friend, I purchased this dog, after asking Jim if I should buy it. He answered yes; enough said- I did that very thing. Poor advice. The story, and the life lessons contained therein, are very worthwhile. But the reward does not, in my opinion, justify the risk. Obviously, the reward is the life lessons; the risk is the visual images of two guys traveling horseback with a three day old corpse. Jim had said he didn't want to spoil it for me, by telling me too much before I'd seen it. I'd rather he'd spoiled it- the movie certainly smelled.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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totally awesome.
Added 6/11/2009
just got this and looked at it - was enthralled by the cultural crossplay depicted and the realism of the story. Most of the performances were impeccable - even the mall rat wife of the INS agent portrayed by Barry Pepper is acted down to a tee, and is a dead accurate portrayal of a bunch of people I know. I lent it on to my neighbor who has a Mexican wife and they loved it.
Being reasonably bilingual in Spanish & English I really enjoyed the mixed language conversations and if that's really the case in SW Texas i'll seriously consider visiting or wintering there. I did notice since I ran it in full screen mode that the surtitles for the hispanically challenged put up at the top of the screen were partially cropped and illegible in some cases. Next time - and there will definitely be one- I'll try running it in wide screen format.
The only annoying part is the single action Colt revolver protrayed on the "jacket" of the DVD. Tommy Lee Jones uses a Colt model 1911 semi-automatic which I understand is far more in character at least on the Mexican side of the border -as far as I saw he never used a revolver in the movie.
overall. a great flick- I can easily see it becoming a cult movie along the lines of Tremors
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Fine Character Study/Road Movie
Added 3/28/2009
This ambitious directorial effort from the talented Tommy Lee Jones is loaded with heart and substance. I enjoyed it a lot. Aside from the fine direction and some stunning cinematography, the cast is letter perfect. Mr. Jones himself centers the proceedings with command, with excellent support from Barry Pepper, Dwight Yoakam, January Jones, Melissa Leo and the wonderful Julio Cadillo. Indeed, Mr. Cadillo's role, seen only in flashback, presents a sweet character that is pivotal in understanding why the journey was so important. Very important lessons to be learned, told in a straightforward way, all leading to a memorable film experience. The DVD I watched had a commentary but no other extras. Also, subtitles were so far at the top of the screen that I couldn't often see them. The story tells itself pretty well, tho...
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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