Sofa Cinema

Gifts - NEW | Help | Sign in

Hotlists: Rent games; New releases; Coming soon; In cinemas now; Top rated; Most popular; All-time favourites; Divided opinions

Games: DS; GameCube; PS2; PS3; PSP; Wii; Xbox; Xbox 360

Collections: 100 Wild Westerns; 100 Most Wanted; 100 Hot Hits; 100 must-see movies; 100 Big Adventures; 100 Horror Films; 100 Cops & Robbers; 100 Rom-Coms; 100 Swords and Sandals Films

Hi-Def: Blu-ray; HD DVD

Che - Part 2 (2008)

Average rating

(63%)

Starring:	Lou Diamond Phillips \| Benicio Del Toro \| Benjamin Bratt \| Monique Curnen \| Franka Potente \| Julia Ormond \| Edgar Ramirez
Director:	Steven Soderbergh
Studio:	OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	127 mins
Genres:	Drama
Languages:	Spanish, English
Released:	June 29, 2009

Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh delivers this ambitious and sprawling biopic of one of the 20th Century's most influential political figures. In the second 127-minute segment, GUERILLA, Ernesto 'Che' Guevara (Benicio Del Toro) has abandoned Cuba in order to start an even more daunting Latin-American revolution. He starts in Bolivia where, using a pseudonym, Che begins training his cobbled-together forces. This time around, however, Che's asthma is taking a greater toll, and the odds are stacked much higher against him. Yet even when the cause appears to be lost, Che remains defiant. Having accomplished the impossible in Cuba, he is determined to do the same thing here. But unfortunately time catches up to him, putting an end to his mission once and for all.

For the second segment of his two-part epic, Soderbergh changes his style, reflecting the tougher battle that Che confronted in Bolivia. Gone is the glorious widescreen photography; replacing it is a more claustrophobic 1:85 ratio. Also gone is the tripod, which produces a much more frenetic, unstable effect for the viewer. As Che wheezes his way through the woods, learning of the loss of more and more soldiers, Soderbergh prepares us, through his cinematography and Alberto Iglesias's foreboding score, for his inevitable fall from glory. Once again, Del Toro is phenomenal in bringing the notorious Che to life on screen. Watched in succession, Soderbergh and Del Toro's CHE is a grueling experience, yet it is rewarding in a way that few films are.

Screenshots

Rating of 4 stars out of 5
Time Out

Last month we suggested that you should try to watch as one four-hour behemoth Steven Soderberghs two-part essay on...

Highest rated reviews

26 out of 26 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
Very good but watch the 1st part first

A Customer from Leeds, 1st January, 2009

Just came back from a pre-screening of both parts and have to say that I had great five hours in the cinema. This (second) part tells the story of Che’s efforts in Bolivia after his success in Cuba. Most of us know him from his activities in Cuba, hence this part is really worth watching. I am really glad that I had a chance to watch both parts at once. It was like watching two different scenarios of same concept. If you can then you should spare four and a half hours and watch both parts together after they release the second in February. Really good effort from Soderbergh. Benicio’s performance was outstanding. Be prepared to read subtitles most of the time unless you know Spanish.

Read all highest rated reviews

2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2.0 stars
More why needed for Che's story

Malinky from , 5th September, 2009

This was clearly a labour of love for Soderbergh and Del Toro but the films really fall short of being engaging cinema due to its very docu-factual approach. The facts are well known and the extra dimension to again retell the stories of Che, Castro and the Cuban revolution must be the roots of their determination and a greater insight into what lead to Guevaras worldwide revolutionary activity and the final arrogant miscalculation which lead to his death; I'm afraid Part I & II don't do this. Part I has some interesting cinematic devices but is still overly long for the narrative, I think more back story of Castro and illustrations of the conditions in Cuba for the 'haves' and 'have nots' would have improved the films context and Part II adequately reveals the mundane and banal nature of a guerilla band but has little emotional engagement- I'm afraid with little exposure to band members their deaths, however well-portrayed, are not affecting at all. Del Toro portrays Che in a very human way but do we truly see the inspiring leader he was said to be? Nonetheless, both films are worth watching and compliment more engaging works such as 'The Motorcycle Diaries' and can be a stepping stone to other fuller explorations in both film and print.

Read all highest rated reviews

Most recent reviews

Rated 3.0 stars
Che deserves a film

A Customer from Exeter, 3rd March, 2010

Che Guevara deserves a good film. These two Che 1 and Che 2 don't quite hit the spot. They are what I call 'worthy' films. They show the slowness and boredom of a revolutionary campaign and the brutality that has to go with it. They are not biopic films. We hear very little of Che's personal life. For me, that was the mistake. I would like to have seen more about his background and what motivated him to go off to foreign parts to fight for what he believed would be a better life for the poor of this world. What an amazing woman his wife must have been. However, this is a triumph for Totoro. I would still recommend these films if you are prepared to accept slowness and no special effects - just human endeavour.

Read all recent reviews