http://www.motorcyclediariesmovie.com/



The beauty of the South American landscape and of Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Bad Education) gives The Motorcycle Diaries a charisma that is decidedly apolitical. But this portrait of the young Che Guevara (later to become a militant revolutionary) is half buddy-movie, half social commentary--and while that may seem an unholy hybrid, under the guidance of Brazillian director Walter Salles (Central Station) the movie is quietly passionate. Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna, a lusty and engaging actor) set off from Buenos Aires, hoping to circumnavigate the continent on a leaky motorcycle. They end up travelling more by foot, hitchhiking, and raft, but their experience of the land and the people affects them profoundly. No movie could affect an audience the same way, but The Motorcycle Diaries gives a soulful glimpse of an awakening social conscience, and that's worth experiencing. --Bret Fetzer

 

I almost went to see this a week or two ago. I definitely want to check it out.

 

Hmm, this film is not yet available in Australia but I'll definitely be going to see it for 3 reasons.

1. My wife has been a huge fan of Che Guevara for over 40 years.
2. I rode a motorcycle myself from LA to Tierra del Fuego (Honda CX500) 20 years back and would love to relive the journey.
3. The soundtrack is beautiful.

... and there's a 4th reason too, Robert Redford's involvement in the film.

.... and who said I'm a closet socialist?

 

I saw it last weekend, pretty good flick. It was an interesting look into Che's early years and the inequalities of South America. The motorcycle parts weren't that cool though, neither actors new how to ride very well.

 

The riding is not what it is about Joe - it is about that spiritual feeling one gets by being in foreign climes and travelling long distances and seeing society with a totally different perspective.

I have been doing long distance touring for over 30 years - my longest epic was two years on the road - Australia to Europe via Asia and then back to Australia via Africa.

I am not a brilliant rider and I did that journey on an old (1975) Yamaha RD350 2 stroke twin. I never travelled much faster than 50mph but that was more than fast enough to get me to where I wanted to go whilst allowing me the time and space to immerse myself in the journey and the experience.

 

If you like motorcycling movies, check out Full Throttle with Andy Lau. Its an HK movie. Its about illegal 2 stroke 250 street racing in HK. Andy Lau's costar is a Rothmans' painted NSR 250.

 

That's my point exactly, the thread title says "Best Motorcycle Movie" and my opinion is that it actually has little to do with motorcycles and is far from being a motorcycle movie.

 

Che Guevara was a murdering tyrant.

 

... at least he was on the correct side, unlike all the right wing murdering tyrants the US government propped up.

 

Guevara was born in Argentina in 1928 and originally trained to become a doctor at the University of Buenos Aires. In 1952, he embarked on the trip dramatized in "The Motorcycle Diaries" across South America. After returning to Buenos Aires to complete his medical degree, Guevara set off again to travel through the Americas. He participated in leftist movements in Guatemala and Mexico and became acquainted with Cuban expatriates in those countries. He joined Castro's revolutionary Cuban army in 1956 as a top commander and Castro's personal physician. He helped Castro topple the regime in Havana in 1959.

As Castro's right-hand man in the new regime, Guevara ordered the execution of hundreds of people while in charge of the notorious La Caba