Che Guevara has become a teenage fad of sorts. I don't know why, or how, but he is. It's sad, too, because I can safely say that the majority of the teenage population does not know why Guevara was important. But that's not the story here in The Motorcycle Diaries. That's the story of Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) and his friend Alberto (Rodrigo De la Serna) taking a road trip through South America on a ratty old motorcycle. Throughout their journey, they run out of money and their motorcycle breaks down many times, causing them to lie about who they are (saying that they're doctors) so they have places to stay. Throughout the way, they notice the injustices brought upon some of the people there.
Che Guevara, being the leader of the Cuban revolution, needed to have some sort of provocation for his revolution. The movie provides the evidence (based on his own diaries), and it's fascinating at first. Seeing how everything changes Guevara's mind is very thought-provoking...for the first few times it's shown. After about something like 45 minutes into the movie, we get the point of what the movie's trying to say. We get that everything Guevara sees changes him, and we need something more in it. But nothing more is given, and what we have left to look at is the magnificent scenery.
Bernal and de la Serna are both very good, but can that make up for the lack of a real sustaining plot worthy of two hours? Now, that's not to say that The Motorcycle Diaries is bad, in fact, it's pretty entertaining. When watched with half an eye, it could even be considered great. But all that's in my head now is the non-variety in the plot, the music, and how short this review is.
My rating: 7/10
Rated R for language.
Che Guevara, being the leader of the Cuban revolution, needed to have some sort of provocation for his revolution. The movie provides the evidence (based on his own diaries), and it's fascinating at first. Seeing how everything changes Guevara's mind is very thought-provoking...for the first few times it's shown. After about something like 45 minutes into the movie, we get the point of what the movie's trying to say. We get that everything Guevara sees changes him, and we need something more in it. But nothing more is given, and what we have left to look at is the magnificent scenery.
Bernal and de la Serna are both very good, but can that make up for the lack of a real sustaining plot worthy of two hours? Now, that's not to say that The Motorcycle Diaries is bad, in fact, it's pretty entertaining. When watched with half an eye, it could even be considered great. But all that's in my head now is the non-variety in the plot, the music, and how short this review is.
My rating: 7/10
Rated R for language.