Once Upon a Time in Mexico [DVD] [2003] | ![Once Upon a Time in Mexico [DVD] [2003]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51X12D6VVHL._SL160_.jpg) | Director: Robert Rodriguez
Actor: Antonio Banderas|Salma Hayek|Johnny Depp
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
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Rating:  30 reviews
Sales Rank: 11223
Format: PAL, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 101 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5035822351233
ASIN: B0000UI2VY
Theatrical Release Date: September 12, 2003
Release Date: March 8, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Amazon.co.uk Review
There's plenty of guns and a few explosions as bodies fly through the air and crash into tables and fruit stands. IOnce Upon a Time in Mexico/I, like all Robert Rodriguez movies, is all about the kinetic kick of high-velocity action. Johnny Depp, blasé and whimsical, plays a CIA agent who's drawn guitar-playing gun-slinger Antonio Banderas (long black hair flopping over his face like the ears of a Labrador puppy) into a ridiculously convoluted plot to overthrow the Mexican government. Along for the ride are a craggy-faced rogue's gallery including Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Danny Trejo, Ruben Blades, and (to balance things out) the smooth, tantalising complexions of Eva Mendes and Salma Hayek. For sheer trashy fun, IOnce Upon a Time in Mexico/I is a step down from its predecessor, but IDesperado/I set the bar pretty high. For coherent storytelling, look elsewhere, but for action razzle-dazzle, this is your movie. Rodriguez's complete trilogy--IEl Mariachi/I, IDesperado/I and IOnce Upon a Time in Mexico/I--can also be found in one DVD box set--IBret Fetzer/I
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 30
 Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-can't? March 15, 2004
A. Skudder (Crawley, West Sussex)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
Everyone talked about the complicated plot of this film but I just assumed they were exaggerating for effect. I started to watch and could see that there was a bit of double-crossing going on, but nothing anyone with a bit of intelligence couldn#8217;t follow. And then, right when I was at my smuggest, the plot took a 90-degree left-turn, disappeared into a tunnel and left me trying to catch up. So, yes, the film is nonsense, but it really doesn#8217;t matter because its fantastic nonsense: great to look at, exciting, another top-notch soundtrack, and it doesn#8217;t take itself too seriously at all.pRodriguez is up to his old tricks of doing a dozen different jobs (cameraman, director, editor, composer, etc.) while half the people in front of the cameraman are old favourites from his other films (Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Banderas, Salma Hayek #8211; only briefly in flashback). A couple of the extras on the disc show you how this means he can be more in control of the whole film as he can frame shots with the post-production effects in mind. Just like on the earlier Mariachi and Spy Kids films, the #8216;Ten Minute Flick School#8217; gives you more hard information on film making than other 45-minute documentaries. The tour of Troublemaker Studios is really a tour of Roberto#8217;s garage, because he has had it converted to a state-of-the-art digital editing studio. Another short film has Rodriguez showing how to cook the pork dish, which features heavily in the film #8211; maybe he is trying to make it into a cult thing or something? Anyway, the extras are all watchable, perhaps even more than once, and the examples of how shooting with digital cameras makes it easier to factor in possible CGI effects is, perhaps, the most significant observation.pThe action and violence is even more stylised than before. Maybe it#8217;s a good idea to stop the series at three, as #8216;Mexico#8217; reaches an optimum point of complexity and fancy: another sequel that went even further would be overkill. The whole point is that it is not realistic #8211; it is meant to be entertainment not a documentary #8211; but you can take it a bit too far. I think this film goes just far enough.pDid I mention that the film is funny too? The idea of a mariachi bar where men play their guitars, sing and have sex for money, while gorgeous women act like men in a lap-dancing club is the sort of thing that crops up, but is underplayed. It works when its an amusing backdrop to the action, but would not work if it was made to be the whole point of a scene. So, while the action is overplayed for effect, the humour is understated to equally good effect.pIt is not necessary to have seen the other Mariachi films before this, although if you have you will get some of the in-jokes and references #8211; but missing those references should not ruin the film for you. Actually, if you have not seen the other films, you might think about buying the box set and watching all three because its only going to set you back £8.50 extra to get El Mariachi and Desperado together with this one.pThis film does not go from the sublime to the ridiculous: it is sublime *because* it is ridiculous, and it does exactly what it sets out to do, which is to entertain.pBest line: br#8220;So you want me to shoot the cook?#8221;, br#8220;No. I#8217;ll shoot the cook. My cars parked out back anyway.#8221;brBest scene: brthe shoot-out in the market, with #8216;Pistolero#8217; by Juno Reactor blasting out on the soundtrack.
pure hokum explosive entertainment!! March 17, 2004
N. Martin
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
These films are not serious oscar award winning melodramas. Subtlety is not an issue here and your brain will not be overtaxed in any way at all. But, quite frankly, Desperado is already such a well known film that if you're looking at this box set you know what to expect anyway.pThe box set encompasses all three films in the trilogy - El Mariachi (probably the least well known of the series) shows the beginnings of the legend, when a naive mariachi (wandering musician) wanders into a town populated by drug dealers and becomes embroiled in a case of mistaken identity which ends in a double tragedy. Desperado continues the tale, with the mariachi now a seasoned drug-lord killer out for revenge against the people he holds personally responsible for what happened and Once Upon A Time In Mexico follows on, with the mariachi recruited for one last job against the backdrop of a civil war.pEl Mariachi is a superb story on its own. The film was shot on a budget (and be warned that its entirely in Spanish with subtitles) and it shows - the acting isnt the best you'll ever see and the effects are a bit ropey but it showcases Robert Rodriguez's talents admirably. Desperado is probably the best known (and best) film of the set - bigger budgets allowed a better calibre of actor (Antonio Banderas has never been better, and Salma Hayek has never been hotter). Once Upon A Time... is also a decent film although it does suffer a little. This time the budget also stretched to Jonny Depp, Eva Mendes (wow!), Willem Dafoe and Micky Rourke, but the story is a little OTT even for a Robert Rodreguez film and also include a lot of flashbacks which can prove a little disorientating. pThe extras are certainly worth it though. Roberts commentary is well thought out and he shows a genuine desire to be as much of a friend to the viewer as he can - as the man himself says "Straight from my home to your home." There is a segment on special effects, one on how to storyboard a film, a behinds the scenes look at filming on a budget, a 10 minute cooking school (try it, you'll love it!) and a look at the editing studio which is located on the Rodriguez ranch in Austin, Texas (and which should prove a handy layout should some enterprising aspiring young film maker ever decide to get some top quality equipment for free...).pMy advice would be to stop reading this and order the set if you have any sense at all. Even the box itself is way cool!!
I'm a Mexi-can! September 10, 2006
Lazy wolf eyes (The windmills of your bum)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I'll admit this isn't the greatest film ever made. The plot is a little confusing at times, and moves at such a pace it's hard to keep up.
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br /However, it does deserve the five stars I'm giving it because it is so much fun to watch. The action is superb, and I'm usually not much of an action fan. The characters are all fantastic, Johnny Depp's sociopath Sands in particular is a real joy to watch. You do find yourself liking his character even though he's completely evil and manipulative. Antonio Banderas is his usual wonderful self as El Mariachi, Willem Dafoe does what he does best - evil, and Salma Hayek, although not in it much, makes the most of the screen time she has. Superb acting from all of the cast.
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br /The dvd is well worth getting because there are mountains of fantastic extras including a ten minute cooking school (when you watch the film this makes sense, honestly) and deleted scenes, along with several featurettes that are all interesting.
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br /The best thing about the film is the fact that as the audience you can literally feel the enthusiasm that went into it. This is why I love it so much, it makes watching films fun again.
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br /If you're a Johnny Depp fan I would definately recommend this, he completely steals the film from poor Antonio, and to be honest I think this is one of Johnny's best roles to date.
Three Great Films, One Great Director March 10, 2004
W. S. Hayes (Wrexham)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
All three films in this trilogy are classics in their own right. 'El Mariachi', shot on a budget of $7,000,'Desperado', the best of the three films, (and Antonio Banderas' finest moment) and 'Once Upon A Time In Mexico' a wickedly entertaining action movie. I was hugely impressed with the special features on the DVDs, as Rodriguez includes his own personal movie making guides, and this personal touch is really cool! If you don't own any of these films, BUY THIS BOX SET!!! If you already own one of the three, buy this anyway... the box looks cool!!!!
Living the Vida Loco October 26, 2004
G. Morgan (Seattle)
19 out of 24 found this review helpful
1) El Mariachi - Okay so they had no cash, they had to repeat cast members because they had such a small unit, they had to share guns... It's cheap, it's pretty lousy... But it's good to watch for wannabe film-makers and it made the way for...p2) Desperado - Watching a guy (Antonio Banderas) with a private arsenal stashed in a fake-guitar case blasting twenty-five guys at a time solo. Enter the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Salma Hayeck. Shoot some more guys. Why does he do it? They killed his woman? No, not really (he gets a better one)... he does it because they shot his guitar-playing hand (thus totally justified)... This is quality popcorn... I love it!p3) Once Upon A Time in Mexico - More depth, more characters, more locations. In a kind of Sergio Leone take you get Cheech Marin back with a missing eye (same guy from Desperado maybe? Who cares he gets killed twice then). Johnny Depp as cool as a cucumber with cojones. Salma Hayek sadly gets whacked early on but we already saw of her what we needed to see in Desperado. Johnny gets his eyes taken out. Willem Dafoe gets his face cut off. Antonio (El) shoots a lot of people. On a motorbike, chained to his wife, in a church, in the presidential suite, during the Mexican Day of the Dead... a lot of People... p What's to complain about? Robert Rodriquez is El Jefe.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 30
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