Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)
Also known as "Desperado II: Once Upon a Time in Mexico"
The time has come
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes, Danny Trejo, Enrique Iglesias, Marco Leonardi, Cheech Marin, Ruben Blades, Willem Dafoe, Gerardo Vigil, Pedro Armendariz, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Tito Larriva
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Running Time: 102 minutes
US MPAA rating: N/AUK BBFC rating: 15
Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller, Western
As far as smart-arsed self-obsessed sequels that aren't half as good as they think they are go, 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico' is right up there alongside 'Matrix: Reloaded'.
Situated somewhere between Sergio Leone and Quentin Tarantino but nowhere near the standards of either, this (hopefully) final part of Robert Rodriguez's 'El Mariachi' series sees the usual faces and a string of new ones appear for yet another shoot 'em up, Me-hee-co style.
Antonio Banderas is once again spangled up to the nines as the swarthy geetar-strumming centre-piece, leaping around various buildings like Spiderman whilst dodging the poorly-aimed bullets of some of the worst shots this side of the Pecos. He even manages to get himself involved in a gun fight in a church which, let's face it, just isn't on.
So what's it all about? Well, he's been recruited by CIA agent Sands (Johnny Depp) to assist in the protection of El Presidente (Pedro Armendiraz). Willem Defoe's somewhat comically made-up to look like a fellow Latino (we're none of us buying it) who fancies a bit of a military coup, Eva Mendes is his side-switching daughter, Mickey Rourke wanders around holding a Chihuahua, and Enrique bloody Iglesias resists the temptation to either sing more than a couple of lines or wear a daft woolly hat. I suppose we should just be thankful Ricky Martin doesn't pop up as well.
Stylish at the expense of pretty much everything else, distinguishing the various dream and flashback sequences from reality is practically impossible - predominantly because even the reality isn't particularly realistic. Rodriguez tries so hard to make his end product cool, but what's so impressive about that? Personally I'd choose entertainment and a good, solid story over quirky editing and trendy framing any day of the week.
It's Got: Johnny Depp picking up where he left off in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and stealing all of his scenes.
It Needs: A hefty kick in the nachos.
Alternatives: El Mariachi, Desperado
Summary: Gunfire and violence alone don't equate to a good story - it's not funny, it's not clever, it's not sexy, and it's not remotely interesting. It is one thing though - complete rubbish.
Review by Gary Panton
Review Date: 27th September 2003
External Links
Official Web Site
Once Upon A Time In Mexico at the IMDB
Comments3 Comments |
| I must say that it is obvious by this Review of "Once Upon a Time In Mexico" that the author must not have seen the movie. The Third instalment of the Mariachi movies is wonderful. It's a great story full of side-switching and betrail as we follow the story line of three different characters, (The good, the bad, and the ugly)or in Rodriguez's case the gunnslinger, the man with no eyes and the man with now face. I really enjoyed this story of the Antihero. I also believe comparing it to Matrix: Reloaded doesn't do the movie justice since Matrix is unlogical and had no defining story line. |
| Comment by:- Anna | | 19 April 2004 | ip: logged |
| I too believe that the author has missed the film completely. The story is great, the acting superb. It portrais the way allies can change, people can change and how vengence is ever burning inside. It is a masterful film and Johnny Depp's role as the run away agent is spectacular. The Gun fights are incredible particularly after Depp looses his sight. |
| Comment by:- Ben McCormack | | 20 September 2004 | ip: logged |
| I think this movie aint as good as the firs one, but before you start to boo-ing me, I must say that I love this movies, I saw the movie at the premier, I bought it in DVD as soon as it was in the market, and besides, I own the Desperado DVD, so, this must count for something; Althought the movie isn't as good as the first or second film, Once Upon ... has something the other two don't: Jhonny Depp,he's just plain great, hilarious, brilliant, every line he says, is just perfect; but besides that, there's no more than just action and a drama in the flashbacks of El's past; the most exciting scene, was the begining and the "chase scene " (after "I guess I have no choice ... but to kill you all"), and that's that; however, the movie isn't as bad as the reviewer here says it is |
| Comment by:- Daniel | | 21 September 2004 | ip: logged |
