Che: Part 1: The Argentine & Che: Part 2: Guerrilla DVD Review

Che: Part 1: The Argentine - An E1 Films Release

On DVD: July 14th, 2009

Rated 14A for sexual content, and violence.

Running time: 134 minutes

Steven Soderbergh (dir.)

Peter Buchman (screenplay)

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (writer, memoir "Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War")

Alberto Iglesias (music)

Benicio Del Toro as Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

Demián Bichir as Fidel Castro

Santiago Cabrera as Camilo Cienfuegos

Vladimir Cruz as Ramiro Valdés Menéndez

Alfredo De Quesada as Israel Pardo

Che: Part 2: Guerrilla - An E1 Films Release

On DVD: August 4th, 2009

Rated 14A for violence, and mature theme.

Running time: 135 minutes

Steven Soderbergh (dir.)

Peter Buchman (screenplay)

Benjamin A. van der Veen (screenplay)

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (writer, Bolivian Diary)

Alberto Iglesias (music)

Benicio Del Toro as Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

Carlos Bardem as Moisés Guevara

Demián Bichir as Fidel Castro

Joaquim de Almeida as President René Barrientos

Pablo Durán as Pacho (Alberto Fernandez Montes de Oca)

Our reviews below:

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Che: Part 1: The Argentine DVD Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

The first part of Steven Soderbergh’s epic, over 4-hour long saga about the life of Cuban rebel leader Ernesto “Che” Gueverra, serves as a fascinating political-history lesson. Benicio Del Toro is excellent as Che, really making the film interesting and fascinating to watch.

At 134 minutes, the film does, at times, feel a bit too long, but you don’t really notice it during the scenes of action and warfare. I can only imagine how it would have felt watching it at a theatre in it’s original over 4-hour glory. Despite their minor flaws, these are both very well-made and ambitious films.

The DVD has no bonus features. Although it would have been nice to have seen a making-of.

Che: Part 2: Guerrilla DVD Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Che Part 2: Guerrilla takes the action to Bolivia, and chronicles the fall of Ernesto “Che” Gueverra. While both films are nearly equally good, I found this one to have a bit more suspense, and be a little more thought-provoking.

Director Steven Soderbergh continues to impress me. Whether it’s his small, experimental films, like Bubble or The Girlfriend Experience, or his mainstream films, like the Oceans trilogy. Each of his films is a unique, ambitious project, and he always rises to the challenge and comes out on top.

This DVD also is void of bonuses, which means there will probably be a re-release of both films together in a special edition set.

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Che: Part 1: The Argentine DVD Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Che: Part 1: The Argentine tells the story of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara’s time in Cuba, building up his Guerrilla forces to help Fidel Castro lead a revolution for the Cuban people. Che was a doctor from Argentina, and it was his passion for what he believed in that helped him to be accepted by the other countries he helped to fight in. The movie is interspliced with news footage, reenactments of meetings both in the USA and Cuba, and of the battle for liberation from Batista’s armed forces.

We get to see in this first installment, the way that Che became a hero in Cuba for what he had helped to accomplish. It is here that we see his popularity with the people and his promise to continue to liberate other parts of Latin America.

Che: Part 2: Guerrilla DVD Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

In Che: Part 2: Guerrilla, we see Che years later in Bolivia, where he is trying to help free the people there as well. Unfortunately, he is not met with the same success as before. The local people are not readily signing up to join his troops, but rather helping the local army by continually telling them where Che’s rebel group is.

I found this second installment to flow slightly better than the first one, partly because it essentially just focused on the ground mission, rather than cutting back and forth like “part one” did. It also didn’t feel as long, since it had more action in it.

In theatres, these two films where initially released as two separate films, but than later as one. I can see the logic of releasing them separately as it would be too long to watch them both in one sitting. Another reason they did release them as two films was for the aspect ratio, which is more wide-screen for the first part and less for the second. The aspect ratios worked well, and the subtle difference makes for a good effect. Both films are good in their own right, and deserve to be seen one after the other. But just not right after - spread out over two nights.

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Che DVD Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Like Donald Sutherland as Norman Bethune and Salma Hayek as Frida Kahlo, Che is a role that Benicio del Toro was destined and determined to play. In Part 1 his role in the Cuban revolution is portrayed, while Part 2 covers the last year of his life where his clandestine attempt to repeat his Cuban success in Bolivia was crushed with the support of Vietnam hardened American “advisors”.

Both films begin with an overture (reminiscent of West Side Story) during which respective maps of Cuba (and its provinces) and South America (and its countries) are shown with the places of interest highlighted. The strong musical score by Alberto Iglesias varies from full orchestra to solo Spanish guitar and during moments of quiet suspense an errie high pitched dissonant sound like the melting phone in Fail Safe or what tinnitus must be like to those who suffer from it. In both films we follow the geurillas through the countryside as they maintain honour and discipline despite deprivation. The triumph of the Cuban revolution planned by Fidel Castro and led on the ground by Che with the support of the population is unfortunately not attainable in Bolivia where the army and government propaganda keep the insurgents on the defensive until they are wiped out.

Che: Part 1: The Argentine DVD Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Part 1 begins with the young physician from Argentina volunteering to go to Cuba with a small core of followers and despite his asthma share in their struggle, treating them and the peasants medically when needed. The battles of the late 1950s are narrated in flashback by Guevara in a reenacted 1964 American television interview, shown in extreme closeup with cigar smoke curling around him. All the American segments are shown in black and white (before color TV was widely used), and include his appearance at the United Nations where he debated brilliantly against the Americans and their client Latin American ambassadors.

Che: Part 2: Guerrilla DVD Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Part 2 has a more linear narrative, beginning with reports of Che’s resignation from Cuban politics and disappearance in the mid 1960s. We then see him a year later entering Bolivia disguised in a suit with a head shaved on top, greying sideburns, fake teeth and Aristotle Onassis glasses. He soon melts into the jungle and joins the struggle with the noms de guerre Ramón and later Fernando, never to come out alive.

Both parts are well produced with strong mainly Spanish-speaking casts. With no upside to the struggle Part 2 is harder to take, particularly if both parts are seen in one sitting.

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Consensus: While it would be to hard to take in one sitting, when both Che films are viewed separately they make for fascinating bio-pics of Ernesto "Che" Gueverra. ***1/2 (Out of 4)