Quote: I hope this film didn't portray this mass-murdering Marxist thug as a hero

THANK YOU!!! Finally somebody said it like it is. As a Cuban, I find all this hero worshipping really frustating. Do you have any idea how many he had encarcerated, tortured, AND executed just in the months he spent in charge of La Cabana Fortress in Havana, during 1959, the first year of Communist rule. Also, when Fidel Castro appointed him as Minister of Industries (something like the Secretary of the Treasury here in the States), he sank the best economy in the Western Hemisphere after the US and Canada in less than three years. He was a warrior, just not in the noble sense of the word. Not another Robin Hood figure either. A modern day mercenary, just that instead of doing it for money, he did it for power. When Fidel didn't want anybody else rivaling his rule, he gave him resources (weapons and men) so he could go fight somewhere else. Then he would go to other countries (examples, Congo and Bolivia) that had no connection to him, and start guerrilla movements. That sounds like terrorism to me. But, whatever.

You will buy this movie, love the guy, wear T-shirts with his face on them like he's a rock icon, and proceed to attack me and call me a liar. But that's OK. I WANT this. It's something I'm not afraid of, because men should not be afraid to tell the truth, whatever sacrifice it takes.


UPDATE:
Many Cubans who left the island after the "Revolution" happened (most of them people who lived the Communist terror) moved to Puerto Rico, and that sense of brotherhood that has been going on for centuries between Puerto Ricans and Cubans, helped in making most residents in that nation know and sympathize with the struggle and suffering going on in Cuba for 50 years. With that said, it DOES piss me off that a Puerto Rican like Benicio Del Toro, knowing there are hundreds of thousands of Cubans living in his homeland due to the Castro dictatorship, goes and participates in this piece of socialist propaganda. I used to respect him as an actor, but I really can't like the guy anymore.

Same goes for Soderbergh. He hasn't had a good film since Ocean's Eleven. And that was just mainstream entertainment; not really a lot of artistic achievement there. That'd probably go to "Traffic", his last great picture.

Wow. Cool cover, Criterion does it again! Why can all good movies be Criterion releases?

Didn't Blockbuster already release bot parts separately months ago?

lee09 wrote: ??? Were they not shown with the correct aspect ratio at the theater to begin with? If the director shot part one in a 2.35:1 letterbox format and then part two in 1.78:1 matted format what makes Criterion release it in a "correct ratio" if the director had already chosen and filmed it with that specific ratio?
Yes they were shown in cinemas this way. theshape13 meant, Criterion are releasing it in the correct ratio "again".

Criterion:

2 Disc Set
I imagine the Criterion will be Region A
Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1
English subtitles

* Audio commentaries on both films featuring: Jon Lee Anderson (Author of Che Guerva: 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, 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
* Trailers
* A booklet featuring an essay by critic Amy Taubin

The UK Optimum BD has:

Sold as a 2 Disc Set or 1 Disc separate releases
Region B
Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1
English subtitles

* Exclusive Interview with Steven Soderbergh
* Exclusive Interview with Benico Del Toro
* Interview with Jon Lee Anderson (Author of Che Guerva: A Revolutionary Life)
* Interview with Alberto Iglesias (Composer)
* Behind the Scenes Featurette
* Trailers

Commentaries aside, they stack up well against each other. Especially given the higher Criterion price-point.

Andy wrote: King wrote: stevepulaski wrote: Gotta love Critireon.

I'd love it more if you actually spelled it correctly, sheesh

easy, dick.

Uncalled for, blandcakes

EthanRunt wrote: Commentaries as well?
Guess it's better I didn't buy the UK blu ray, might import this far superior package.
Thanks for the confirmation Ethan. I thought this sounded a superior package to what we got over here but I wasn't sure. Never got a chance to see this so I am definitely looking forward to owning both films. As there are two commentaries it seems its still split up, though the cover is slightly misleading on that point.

Woah, Del Toro really looks like Che on that cover!!

Commentaries as well?
Guess it's better I didn't buy the UK blu ray, might import this far superior package.

theshape13 wrote: Anyways Criterion is releasing both films in the correct ratio.

??? Were they not shown with the correct aspect ratio at the theater to begin with? If the director shot part one in a 2.35:1 letterbox format and then part two in 1.78:1 matted format what makes Criterion release it in a "correct ratio" if the director had already chosen and filmed it with that specific ratio?

I didn't get your statement.

I cant wait for this! Will be buying on blu FOR SURE. Loved this.

Gotta love Critireon.

This, 8 1/2 and Paris, Texas are mine come January!

I will defintely check this out given the talent involved.

Did this even get anything besides an extremely limited theatrical release??  Well, anywho, I'm game for the Blu-ray.  

Was very intrigued by this. Love the cover and I'm glad Criterion is putting it out.

I'm so buying this