Monday, September 15, 2003
Member since:
June 2003
June 2003
It's nice to see Robert Rodriguez back to his usual form again. Having abandoned it for the more family-friendly Spy Kids film. Though it does seem he has matured a bit more.
So, the Mariachi is back, though this time depressed because of some rather unfortuante encounters in his past (all these are told through flashback.) Enter Sands (Johnny Depp) who is a CIA agent who thinks he is in control of Mexico. In fact, to even out a "balance" he shoots a cook because he thinks his pork is too good. He gets the Mariachi to help him thrawrt a government takeover by the military. So the Mariachi goes off. Like all the other Mariachi movies, Rodriguez has a plot in there, though not very strong. And like the other Mariachi movies, he prefers to have more shoot-outs, which is what I prefer in a Rodriguez film.
The movie looks great on it's HD format and you can see why Rodriguez really likes it. The colors are much more vivid and bright. Now, I personally didn't think that this movie was as bloody as Desperado. Some people may disagree, but I think Rodriguez has toned down a little after the Spy Kids series (unlike Tarantino, whose upcoming Kill Bill has a scene that required 100 gallons of blood), and it's true that music helps shape the film. I'll use Desperado here, where the music was like rock and roll/surf, and it made the movie fun to watch, and everything was cool. It's the same here, except it's more emotional than the other two and more serious, even the funny parts.
There are a stream of homages to the first two Mariachi films (the bus, dog's name Moco...) and it is a very cool movie. Where Desperado could be called the, and this is an acutal review, "the Pulp Fiction of the Mariachi films" this one is more like "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." I loved this movie, though for some reason I likes Desperado a little better, don't ask why, but I loved this movie nonetheless and I recommend that you shove out $5 or $9 or whatever movies cost to go and see it.
So, the Mariachi is back, though this time depressed because of some rather unfortuante encounters in his past (all these are told through flashback.) Enter Sands (Johnny Depp) who is a CIA agent who thinks he is in control of Mexico. In fact, to even out a "balance" he shoots a cook because he thinks his pork is too good. He gets the Mariachi to help him thrawrt a government takeover by the military. So the Mariachi goes off. Like all the other Mariachi movies, Rodriguez has a plot in there, though not very strong. And like the other Mariachi movies, he prefers to have more shoot-outs, which is what I prefer in a Rodriguez film.
The movie looks great on it's HD format and you can see why Rodriguez really likes it. The colors are much more vivid and bright. Now, I personally didn't think that this movie was as bloody as Desperado. Some people may disagree, but I think Rodriguez has toned down a little after the Spy Kids series (unlike Tarantino, whose upcoming Kill Bill has a scene that required 100 gallons of blood), and it's true that music helps shape the film. I'll use Desperado here, where the music was like rock and roll/surf, and it made the movie fun to watch, and everything was cool. It's the same here, except it's more emotional than the other two and more serious, even the funny parts.
There are a stream of homages to the first two Mariachi films (the bus, dog's name Moco...) and it is a very cool movie. Where Desperado could be called the, and this is an acutal review, "the Pulp Fiction of the Mariachi films" this one is more like "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." I loved this movie, though for some reason I likes Desperado a little better, don't ask why, but I loved this movie nonetheless and I recommend that you shove out $5 or $9 or whatever movies cost to go and see it.
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
I too enjoyed “Desperado” a bit more than “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” I like how “Desperado” was just a simple film that didn’t ask much from the audience. The plot was basic, the action was overboard yet enjoyable to watch, and was far more focused on the central character as compared to the new sequel. “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” takes off in so many directions that, at times, it is almost next to impossible to follow the plot. Antonio B. has very little dialog and is totally upstaged by Johnny Depp. Even though Depp is a dark and twisted CIA agent, you can’t help but rooting the guy on. If you ask me, this is Depp’s movie more than it’s Antonio’s. Personally, I hated what the writers did with Depp’s character towards the films completion.
The action certainly had some atrocious moments in the first half of the film, but it did a fine job in redeeming itself in the end. In the first half, we see that the stunt people had a little too much fun with cable wires. The whole Antonio chained to Selma’s wrist, as they swing their way down a five-story hotel, was a bit hard to swallow – a little study of physics and you would know that they’d break their wrists. Of course, -- and this is my personal favorite action-pet-peeve -- there are the countless men shooting at our heroes but never manage to hit their target. There were plenty of moments when the bad guys were ten-feet from Antonio and still never manage to hit him!
I really didn’t care, too, much for the HD film. I felt it made it look too retro and the explosions looked fake and void of any depth. I guess this is the new rage; make new films look like they were made back in 1970? I really don’t care for it because I feel films should improve with time, not go in reverse. At least it was nowhere near as bad as “28 Days Later” -- Now that was a film that gave me a major headache after one viewing. I realize it is an artist’s expression of their creativity and all I’m saying is, well, I just don’t care for it.
I was almost afraid that the ending of “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” would be fashionably overboard. I was really expecting a huge gunfight in the middle of the town square amongst all the main characters in the film. However, the film managed to redeem itself by keeping our characters separated in their own little interactions. Each individual scenario helped to close any loopholes in the plot, thus allowing the film to at least end on a triumphant note.
Overall, it was somewhat exciting at times, a bit too convoluted, bloody, funny, and downright ridiculous. It’s pretty much everything you’d expect from an over-the-top action flick. If pointless violence is your thing then I’d say you’ll love it. However, if you’re like me and enjoy a little more reality in your violence, you might have a hard time with this picture.
6/10
The action certainly had some atrocious moments in the first half of the film, but it did a fine job in redeeming itself in the end. In the first half, we see that the stunt people had a little too much fun with cable wires. The whole Antonio chained to Selma’s wrist, as they swing their way down a five-story hotel, was a bit hard to swallow – a little study of physics and you would know that they’d break their wrists. Of course, -- and this is my personal favorite action-pet-peeve -- there are the countless men shooting at our heroes but never manage to hit their target. There were plenty of moments when the bad guys were ten-feet from Antonio and still never manage to hit him!
I really didn’t care, too, much for the HD film. I felt it made it look too retro and the explosions looked fake and void of any depth. I guess this is the new rage; make new films look like they were made back in 1970? I really don’t care for it because I feel films should improve with time, not go in reverse. At least it was nowhere near as bad as “28 Days Later” -- Now that was a film that gave me a major headache after one viewing. I realize it is an artist’s expression of their creativity and all I’m saying is, well, I just don’t care for it.
I was almost afraid that the ending of “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” would be fashionably overboard. I was really expecting a huge gunfight in the middle of the town square amongst all the main characters in the film. However, the film managed to redeem itself by keeping our characters separated in their own little interactions. Each individual scenario helped to close any loopholes in the plot, thus allowing the film to at least end on a triumphant note.
Overall, it was somewhat exciting at times, a bit too convoluted, bloody, funny, and downright ridiculous. It’s pretty much everything you’d expect from an over-the-top action flick. If pointless violence is your thing then I’d say you’ll love it. However, if you’re like me and enjoy a little more reality in your violence, you might have a hard time with this picture.
6/10
