Zapata: The dream of a hero (2004)

Redundant and unnecessary.

hyped garbage

Dreadfully Boring

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

I have a little understanding of what happened to this movie, having been hired as the VFX supervisor, but not completing any of the visual effects. This was originally a Canadian / Mexican co-production, with a smaller percentage of investment supposed to come from Canada, and certain crew (editor, sound dept., visual effects) being supplied by Canadian companies. When I arrived on set there were already problems both with budget overrun and also, I understand, with funds being transferred from Canada. I completed supervising the 'raw plates' on location, but not a single frame ended up going to the original post production house that hired me. There was some beautiful footage shot by Vittorio Storraro, but already before I left some disagreement between Alfonso Arau and the Canadian editor, over the cutting style. The editor left soon after me. I later heard a rumour that the negative was held up at the lab in L.A. over unpaid invoices. I have never seen the 'finished' movie but I can speculate that there was a desperate scramble to put this film together in some way at least for a DVD release. The investors must have been screaming for a way to return some of their capital.So please don't be quite so hard on this movie. It is basically unfinished. I cannot comment on acting, direction and other aspects that I have not seen, but some of the scenes which I saw uncut in Mexico had more promise than was realized. Jeery Andrews VFX Supervisor (shoot only!)

Screw you Alfonso Arau. Really, screw you. This is one of the most horrible, pretentious, boring, mediocre, movie from the new Mexican cinema.How the hell could they destroy Zapata's image in a poor taste movie?! What do a fairy has to do? What is Lucerito doing? The fact that Alejandro Fernandez plays the leading role is an insult to Emiliano Zapata.This is a big budget mess that once again demonstrates that money does not means quality. This is pure trash and a story that will leave people insulted. People who have studied Zapata will really feel angry. Zapata a shaman? Really? Get your facts straight. The fact that fantasy and sci-fi were added to the movie is plain pathetic. The sci-fi elements are uncalled for for a supposedly biographical movie. Ugh. I truly hate this movie and I recommend to everyone to avoid it all costs. Seems that Arau, Fernandez, and Camil spent the budget on prostitutes and cheap booze because the f/x, art direction, and production values overall are nowhere to be seen.Mr. Arau, if you made this movie just to impress audiences from USA, and Europe well you failed miserably and now the joke's on you. Many people make jokes at your cost for making this crap.

I really enjoyed this movie, is fresh, different, maybe Alejandro Fernnandez isn't such a good actor, but Lucero, Jaime Camil, Angelica Aragon, and all the other actors, are really the best, very good photography, I love the movie!!try to watch it, don worry, about the other comments, just try and think it's a really different point of view about Zapata's life, really good. all the natural environment, i guess it is a very good production you should watch it and build your own opinion, don you think? Please before build a point of view, watch all this Mexican work, it's a good production. see you.

I saw this movie last Friday here in Mexico. First of all Alejandro Fernandez is a SINGER not an ACTOR. In my school years when i was studying History of Mexico all the books showed Zapata as a stronger and rude man and in this movie Alejandro Fernandez is too far from that. I had some funny moments like the dance of the witches (Oh my god, what was that?), when I saw that Zapata had magical powers over the horses and the fake explicit scene when Zapata was falling from a mountain.So if you are curious or really want to see this movie wait until it comes in DVD or Video so you wont waste money.So i give -1/5