While it's always great to see the talented and famous legendary Sergio Goyri. It's also a shame that this type/genre of films are the only ones being made that he and other greats make! The directors & producers are getting name value stars and that's how I think these type of films get made at all.
I also believe that this also gives a real bad image of what Mexico must be like: full of drug lords and drug trafficking. Maybe the filmmakers are trying to make a point to show that this is what is going on in the country and that something should be done about it. I don't know. I'm pretty sure the drug lords are not happy that their "secrets" be put on film for the authorities to see and use against them.
Thing is most of these type of films are direct-to-video. They will never see a theatrical release. And it's understandable. Most of them are very low budget and amateurish in terms of acting and writing. I guess it's a way of keeping the old-time greats of the cinema busy and in the current view of the new generation of movie viewers.
I notice that all these greats of the cinema, their names are plastered big-time on the DVD covers or posters yet they sometimes have a bit cameo at that! A very deceptive way of promoting a film. You feel cheated because you think your favorite star is the star of the film yet he or she makes a brief appearance and worse it's that his or her appearance has nothing to do with the storyline! Making their cameo pointless! But oh well, what can we do but just keep on watching and continue to be fooled.
This run-by-the-numbers so-called action/drama flick has Sergio playing "Chava Ventura" a man whose life is completely shattered when the local drug lord kills his mother and wife. 'Chava' swears vengeance and becomes a drug lord himself so he can get money and buy arms to battle this tyrant who has taken over his little town and Chava wants his revenge at all costs. A strictly-by-the numbers film.
Luis Michel plays 'Chava's' sidekick and partner in crime "Carbonero" Luis Michel also produced the film and even has his son Luis Michel,Jr. in a bit role as a Gunman #1. Michel and Goyri make a pretty good team notwithstanding.
Telly Filippini plays a woman named "Rita" from 'Chava's' past who had always loved him and now that his wife was killed , she feels she has a chance with 'Chava'. And it all ties in because she and her dad are having big-time problems with the same local drug lord that 'Chava' is after. How convenient.
oh and another trend I see with these type of movies is they also conveniently set it up for a particular musical group and in this case :Los Pumas del Norte (one that maybe happens to be a hot commodity at the moment when the film is being made or to promote a group if sales have been lacking and investors need to boost their investment) to performed a few numbers. Now is this a coincidence? I think not. most of the films of this genre are just like that! I believe it's still another way of the film makers to manipulate their worthless film by exploiting countless star has-beens in cameos or co-starring roles and musical groups looking for a break in showbiz and who will performed and act for free. I also think it's the easy and lazy way out for these filmmakers to include quite a few musical numbers so they don't have to film so much and it fills the filming quota they have to meet. They have no shame. In this particular film, the Pumas del Norte have a small co-starring roles as fellows who support 'Chava' and back him up in his quest of revenge against the tyrannical drug lord.
Another thing that was shocking and a bit of a surprise was that this film was made into a series! Last I know they were in part 6! Unbelievable. Now don't get me wrong. It's not that bad, but it's not that good either! This type of film is like a one-time viewing and that's it. To think it spawned sequels makes no sense. I didn't really like the 1st one, why would I want to see more of it? I'm not sure if Sergio Goyri is in all of them but I do know he and Luis Michel and Telly Filippini are in the next two, "Texana Cien X 2" and "Texana Cien X 3". I'm gonna have to see those two regardless because I have no choice, these 3 parts are all in the one DVD I have! Lol
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