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Once Upon a Time in Mexico Customer Reviews (61 - 63 of 74 Reviews)

Depp Good, Movie Bad
"El Mariachi" was one of the most exciting viewing experiences I've ever had. The fact that it cost almost nothing to make is amazing, considering the amazing camerawork director Robert Rodriguiez used. Sadly, as his budgets have bloated, so have his films. "Desperado" and the second "Spy Kids" are the only films he's made that cash in on the promise of the that first movie. The highly anticipated third "Mariachi" film, "Once Upon a Time in Mexico", causes one to consider exactly what happened to Robert Rodriguiez.

The film at first appears to be not so much a continuation of the "El Mariachi"/"Desperado" series but a film with some of the same characters with a heavily Mexican Nationalistic tone. The story, such as it is, involves "El", Antonio Banderas, coming out of retirement to help the reform-minded Mexican President who is being targeted for assasination by a drug lord overacted by Willem Dafoe. Johnny Depp is a CIA agent who is playing about 15 different sides for his own personal gain, and is the brightest spot in the film as he continues his mid-career renaissance. He's funny, cruel, and brilliant, and plays the sketch of a character to a hilt. Everyone else just sort of goes through the motions, except, oddly, Mickey "E True Hollywood Story" Rourke, who is oddly endearing as Dafoe's American lieuntenant with a concience and a bizzare wardrobe. Also popping up, again, is Cheech Marin, who seems to be playing the same bartended he played in "Desperado", which if true makes you wonder if Rodriguiez is saying his previous two films were actually legends. This pops up again as the Selma Hayek character's arc in the film, and she's hardly in it, is different than the one in desperado. A better film would have explored the "Legend" of the Mariachi, and while there are hints of that movie, every time you get close to it, Rodriguiez stages bizzare shoot-outs within random rogue Mexican Army generals who don't fit into the plot but are shoehorned in with little grace.

Most dissapointing, though, is Antonio Banderas. When he's on, he can be fiercely entertaining and intense, such as in "Desperado". Here, it's like he just wants a check. Which is a shame. "Desperado", preposterous as it was, wroked because of the acting as much as the action. You knew the plot was bad, but everyone involved in the film sold it as good action cinema. Not here. The movie was written quickly and produced quickly, and Rodriguez fails to catch lightening in a bottle again. The film makes you wonder went went wrong, even as you marvel at Depp's standout performance.

JUST PLAIN BAD
People, this movie's plot went in so many directions it was impossible to keep up with it all. The story line twisted so many times it literally ruined the movie. Depp was convincing and funny and Banderas was his typical shoot em' up self, but these things just couldn't save the movie from its bizarre, all-over-the-place plot. Rent this one.

not enjoyable and super WEAK ! B maybe C movie grade
How does this movie differ at all from "Desperado" (in 1995) besides adding Johnny Depp? The movie is completely unbeliveable and I'm sorry it's also not entertaining in the least. I'm usually a big action movie guy but this one is just a bad bad attempt. This movie didn't make me care anything for the characters nor was I interested in the very loose plot. Thank God it was just a rental and I only wasted ninety nine cents :) Rock On.

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