The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...quite simply a reproduction of the travelogue kept by the twenty-three year old Ernesto Guevara (played by the rather gorgeous Gael García Bernal) who will one day be nicknamed Che, the Argentinean slang meaning “friend”. With his older friend Alberto Granado (played by Rodrigo De La Senna) Ernesto sets out in 1952 from his middle class Buenos Aires home as he tells us, with: “The objective: girls, beer and self discovery. The means: a 1939 motorbike ...
...The men have little if any money, an ambitious goal to be back in time for Alberto’s thirtieth birthday, some three months away, and a planned trip that would simply take your breath away. Jump on the back of that oil-spluttering old Norton 500 and allow the Diarios to take you down from Buenos Aires to Miramar, and a final cuddle with Ernesto’s beautiful girlfriend Chichina, (sexily played by Mia Maestro) to Lago Frías until we cross over to Los ...

Kirsty1 27.10.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

At the beginning of 1952, 29-year-old Alberto Granado and 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara “Fuser” de la Serna set out on a planned Odyssey the length and breadth of Latin America, starting in their beloved Argentina and taking in Chile, Peru and Colombia before reaching their projected destination at the northernmost point of Venezuela. On this touching and romantic (in the Dumas sense of the word) journey, the twinkling-eyed biochemist and his young ...
...out to learn all about the America they lived with but failed to understand… For The Motorcycle Diaries, director Walter Salles drew on two books, the journals of Granado and Guevara. Although the story is in a way the prequel to the mythology of the Cuban revolutionary and there is one main character, each man has a prominent role to play, and this is reflected in the excellent casting of Gael Garcia Bernal as Guevara and Rodrigo de la Serna as ...

ruth_cole 23.03.2005 (24.03.2005) · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...motorbike from Buenos Aires to the very tip of Venezuela, see the scenery, discover the “real” Latin America and maybe pick up some girls on the way. Little was he to know how much the journey would change his life, inspiring him to fight for the oppressed on two continents and to die for the socialist cause. For Ernesto was to become “Che” Guevara, freedom fighter and T-shirt icon extraordinaire. I have a problem with the canonisation of Ernesto ...
...into this supposed hero of the people without checking the facts. And by fomenting socialist revolution in South America and Africa Guevara was responsible both directly and indirectly for the deaths of thousands of men, women and children. Countries he influenced have freely participated in religious and political persecution and despite preaching equality for all, the gap between rich and poor still remains, except there are fewer rich people to ...

afy9mab 15.02.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...divided. He is seen, on the one hand, as a freedom-fighting hero who, despite a debilitating illness and the "burden" of a middle-class up-bringing, never lost sight of his goals, dedicating his adult life to fighting imperialism and creating a more just society, expecially in countries that had been exploited by the United States. Others see him as nothing more than a terrorist - someone thirsty for adventure, a "gun-for-hire" moving from country ...
...up their men. The "Motorcycle Diaries" is an account, taken form Ernesto's own diaries, chronicling his trip by motorcyle in 1952, through South America with his cousin Alberto Granado. Not only does the film stick closely to the material in the diaries, but Granado acted as a consultant on the film, ensuring it was as authentic as possible. Not only do the exploits of young Ernesto and Alberto provide an excellent adventure story, regardless of ...

fizzytom 24.05.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...real experience, and one of the best films I have seen in a while. I didn't really know what I was getting - I must admit that when I first saw this advertised it struck me as a Latin version of that Ewan McGregor film that had just been advertised everywhere (long Way Round) and, having just read the LWR book I was quite into journeys by motorbike! This obviously had a different sort of emphasis but I suppose at heart they are similar - two guys, ...
...great people. The story is about a turning point in the life of 'Che' (Friend) Guevara, a revolutionary who is possibly more famous among our young people for starring on posters and t-shirts and generally being a bit of an icon or symbol. I must admit to not knowing all that much about Guevara himself (but I did feel inspired to go and widen that knowledge after watching the film), but I could appreciate how the film doesn't try and force any political ...

aunico 09.06.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...revolutionary legend. However, who is the real Che Guevara? In 1952, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna embarked upon a life-defining motorcycle trip around Latin America with biochemist and long-term buddy, Alberto Grenada. The Motorcycle Diaries is based upon the written accounts of the adventurers on their travels. Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara is played by Gael Garcia Bernal while the comical rascal of Alberto is played by Rodrigo de la Serna. The journey ...
...The film accurately captures the roller-coaster ride of emotions both characters go through as they see for themselves the poverty of many of their fellow Latin Americans as they travel through Chile, Peru, Bolivia and finally, Venezuela. On their travels, they are profoundly affected by many tales of local workers who have had their livelihoods stripped away by external capitalist forces and are now compelled to work in what effectively amounts ...

thomlafferty 12.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...is a film based on the "Motorcycle diaries" written by a young Ernesto "Che" Guevara and "Travelling with Che Guevara" by his friend Alberto Granado. I finally hired this DVD from the video-shop after many of my friends having recommended it for ages. To be fair, I thought my girly friends were only interested in watching a very cute Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien; The Bad Education), who, it has to be said, gives an extraordinary performance, ...
...all. Obviously I was missing the point. The beauty of the film resides, in my opinion, in that you start watching it in a way similar to how the characters started their journey through South America: not quite knowing what to expect. And then, as Ernesto and Alberto, face new challenges (problems with their motorbike, lack of money, etc), they realise that their journey is more than just an adventure; it's also a trip that will give them the lesson ...

cagon 28.01.2008 (29.01.2008) · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...is a factual story charting the journey of two friends through South America in the 1950's. The two friends are Alberto Granado (played by Rodrigo De La Serna) and Ernesto Guevera (played by Gael Garcia Bernal). Ernesto is of course known to the world as Che Guevera and this film explains why he became a revolutionry. It is incredibly well directed by Walter Salles, with some of the best cinematography you wil see. The story begins in the soth of ...
...all of South America on the way. They set of on Alberto's motorcycle called "The Mighty One". A wonderful old bike held together with a few bits of wire it provides a couple of comic moments when they crash. On their journey Alberto and Ernest meet many people and Ernesto starts to get a feeling of the inequalities in the world. Some of these scenes are incredibly moving and emotional, especially when they are talking to a couple who have been thrown ...

kingtom101 17.10.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...Serna as Alberto Granado. The Motorcycle Diaries is the story of a youthfull "Che" Guevera and his journey around South America on a voyage of discovery with his friend Alberto. It begins with us witnesing their family life, the fact that both these individuals have been training in medical fields and want to see their "country". This journey will encompass most of South America which does give scope to let us see magnificent scenery and cinematography. ...
...named motorbike that they begin the journey on - they meet people on the way that shape their perceptions and views on life and what is expected from it. It is strange as a movie as i feel if it had been made by Hollywood it would have turned schmaltzy with a feel good ending (probably starring Tom Hanks) whereas this story came from the diary of Che written from true events. As we all know from Manic holidays or nights out things can be a little ...

ctesdale 09.10.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

A european style movie that reflects the lives of two men that want to share the same dream and passion for travelling. The unpredictability of the plot gives intensity and passion. The motorcycle symbolise the determination and rebel approach of the protagonists to understand and experience life away from their restricted social circumstances. Two different characters with total different approaches to life collide. A transition from childhood to adult life. It reflects younf men's discovery for life and positive attitude to life as well as the moview symbolise the obstacles in life. I did not like in the movie the end, where it does not reflect what learning experience has gained from this journey. Good cinematography with a feeling of sorrow and loss of their ventures during this trip. ...

pym2ik 05.01.2009
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

As a spanish student studying the Cuban revolution I found this film an interesting insight into the reasons why Ernesto 'Che' Guevara became a revolutionary and how he was affected by his experiences during his 8 month journey around South America. Gael Garcia Bernal plays Che and Rodrigo De la Serna (Che Guevaras second cousin) plays his friend Alberto Granado. A trainee doctor and biochemist repspectively who go on a journey of adventure and self ...
...a leper colony on the banks of the river Amazon. Like any film their journey is dramatised but the skeleton of the original story is still there, the sights Che sees that may possibly change his life are included to accurately represent Che as a human being trying to help others in despair whom we see throughout the film. I don't think that there was any part of the film that I could fault apart from nearly every other word being a swear word! I ...

Flon90 20.05.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...received a standing ovation at the its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 this Walter Salles directed fact based drama has gone on to wow audiences world wide. Adapted from the journals of two real-life Argentines, the film follows a journey of self-discovery and traces the youthful origins of a revolutionary heart. Everyone knows the name and face of Che Guevara, but few take the trouble to know and understand the man. As a young ...

Miriom 08.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

Perhaps the first thing about this film is that it does not seek to glamourise the life of Che in anyway. It is simply a depiction of a time in his life, that might have shaped his politics in the future. As Che and Granado begin their journey, Che is still 'Ernesto / Fuser', a young medical student from Buenous Aires. He suffers from asthma, and is perhaps thought of as a little weak. Still, the two friends set off on an epic journey across South ...
...he begins to feel that the division of South America into states is entirely meaningless. He begins to view Latin America as one united people - that should unite. As for the DVD itself - the extra features are quite nice. There are a few deleted scenes (which should have been left in), and cleverly constructed interviews. This is a must-buy for political film fans! ...

cheroy1 02.03.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)

...that shows you exactly what the filmmaking art is all about. The Motorcycle Diaries is just such a movie. It deals with the trials and tribulations of the young Ernesto Guevara de la Serna whilst he was still a medical student and before he became slightly more famous as "Che" Guevara, and his friendship with Alberto Granado, a fellow medical student as they take an eye opening and often hazardous motorcycle trip across the South American continent. ...
...affected by what they witness the treatment meted out on the native populations (or what remains of them) by locals. It is this factor that influences young Ernesto the most, and obviously what drives him to become the famous (or to some infamous) revolutionary he would be most remembered as. Granado on the other hand sees the whole thing as a big adventure at first, but whilst it takes him longer to awaken his social conscience, when he does the ...

poqks 10.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Motorcycle Diaries (DVD)