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List Price: $49.95 | | Label: Criterion
Salesrank: 7234
Released: January 19, 2010 |
| Our Price: $35.99 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Far from a conventional biopic, Steven Soderberghs film about Che Guevara is a fascinating exploration of the revolutionary as icon. Daring in its refusal to make the socialist leader into an easy martyr or hero,CHE paints a vivid, naturalistic portrait of the man himself (with a stunning, Cannes-award-winning performance by Benicio del Toro), from his overthrow of the Batista dictatorship, to his 1964 United Nations trip, to the end of his short life. Originally released in two parts, the first a kaleido-scopic view of the Cuban revolution and the second an all-action dramatization of Ches failed campaign in Bolivia, Che is presented here in its complete form.
Che (Criterion Collection) Reviews:
Soderbergh does the imposssible...he makes a boring film about Che Guevara! 
2009-11-22 - Che Guevara has had one of the most fascinating lives in the history of Latin American culture and politics, yet somehow Steven Soderbergh has made a bloated, turgid, and worst of all, BORING film of his life. How is this possible? Regardless of whether you are a leftist, Communist, conservative, apolitical, fascist, Democrat, or Republican, one cannot argue that Che's life is incredible stuff. It's filled with intrigue, twists, turns, adventures, and most importantly, it's infused with myth and an epic quality. One can argue about Che's political beliefs, and whether he was a genuine hero for the poor or an opportuinistic politician who was only out for himself, but one can't argue that this film has taken this amazing life and made it into one of the most annoying, sleep inducing, and blandest bioepics I have ever seen.
Soderbergh's camera keeps an "objective" distance throughout, like he's a scientist observing a tribe or an another anthropological study. It's not a good effect, and it makes the film an absolute chore to sit through. Even Benicio del Toro, a brooding, fine actor, is boring here, reading his line with somnabulistic efficiency. It's really hard to believe that someone could screw up the life of Che Guevara, but Soderbergh does it. Soderbergh made it well known that he was having trouble distribtuing his 4 1/2 hour epic, playing the "martyred artist" card. There's only one problem with that. Soderbergh isn't an artist, and his film fails in every aspect. The whole film is one of the most bloated, tedious films I've ever seen. Don't even bother with it. You'll never get that 4 1/2 hours back.
CHE....Part I and Part II 
2009-11-22 - CHE...both parts....a totally astounding epic. I was mesmorized from beginning to end. Benecio Del Torro and the movie deserved all the awards from Cannes and Sundance. What an amazing actor and remarkable performance. I look forward to getting the movie when it comes out on DVD in January.
CHE - Criterion Collection Box set Is the definitive release
2009-11-10 - In an attempt to clear the confusion relating to the recently released UK & Canadian CHE DVD versions (Available separately or part 1 & 2 together) these DVD's are the Movies w/ limited extras which came out in August 2009. The newly Pre-Order-able (Now) for Jan. 19th 2010 release Criterion Collection Box set 3 Disc & 2 Disc Blu-ray are the definitive releases of this uncompromising masterpiece. (details Below)
[...]
Disc Features
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION:
* High-definition digital transfers of Che: Part One and Che: Part Two, supervised and approved by director Steven Soderbergh, with DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition
* Audio commentaries on both films, featuring Jon Lee Anderson, author of Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life
* Making "Che," a new documentary about the film's production, featuring interviews with Soderbergh, producer Laura Bickford, actor-producer Benicio del Toro, and writers Peter Buchman and Ben van der Veen
* New interviews with Cuban historians as well as participants in the 1958 Cuban Revolution and Che's 1967 Bolivian campaign
* Deleted scenes
* Theatrical trailers
* PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Amy Taubin
* More!
NOTE: Che: Part One appears in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Che: Part Two appears in 1.78:1 aspect ratio.
More Balance
2009-11-05 - BLAH BLAH BLAH... Liberal... BLAH BLAH BLAH
American... BLAH BLAH... Sick.
I have no opinion on a movie I have yet to see.
All I know is that there are often movies about serial killers and rapists, yet no protest.
Then, a movie is made about someone who wanted to better his country and it's EVIL.
Quit watching Fox News and come up with your own opinion.
Before you respond you should know I have no political preference, so whatever you say won't matter.
Anyway I am sure I heard it from one of the other robots you run around with.
God Bless America!
Balance
2009-11-05 - I have not yet seen this film. I plan to buy the DVD when it comes out--at which point I may end up changing my rating. But for now, I simply wanted to function as a counter to the 1-star reviews which offered no analysis of the film whatsoever. Their tirade seemed to be, in effect: "This film is about Che. I don't like Che. Therefore, this film is bad."
I tend to like Soderbergh's work, but I will withhold judgment until I've actually viewed the film, and can put together a sentence or two that a) avoids the usage of meaningless epithets such as "America haters," and b) demonstrates a thoughtful engagement with the film--even if I have any issues with it.
