BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico

Subject: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Bainbo
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 05:35 PM

Is anone familiar with Robert Rodriguez's "El Mariachi" trilogy? It's a bit lowbrow, but ... y'know. I've just shelled out £10 for a set of the three - El Mariachi, Desperado, and Once Upon A Time In Mexico.

Watched the first one, and for all Rodriguez's protestations that you can't tell it was made for just $7,000 - well, you can. It's amateurish hokum (not that I could do any better), but you go along for the ride because of the nature of it. The second is big-budget, big stars, high production values. And it's still amateurish hokum. Complete cack (again, not that I could do any better). The three of us watching it unanimously agreed to bail out long before it was over.

Now, my question is: Is the third one any better? Would it be worth allocating 1hr 37min of my time to watching it? Or does the complete set go into the next charity bag? Anyone seen it?

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 05:54 PM

I'm sorry to tell you it's crap same as Desperado but you can sharpen the edges and use it as a cutting tool, or use it as a reflector on your bike.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Skivee
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:26 PM

Hmmm. Opinions differ on this. While none of them are written by Shakespeare, they all share a certain camp western feel that reminded me of the KIrasawa Samuri films.
Certainly the production values drastically improve over the three films.
I've certainly seem a gazillion westerns that are MUCH crappier.
Fort Apache and Stagecoach come to mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 03:42 PM

I think those movies work extremely well on their own level, which is nothing more than stylish escapist entertainment. They're a lot like the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns...dramatic, exciting, stylyized, not to be taken as reality.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:06 PM

Yes I did mean to phrase that a little more judiciously to account for legitimately varying tastes, but I was starting with the knowledge that Bainbo hated Desperado.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Bainbo
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:12 PM

You picked up on that, then heric?

Actually, I'm hoping that someone from Columbia Pictures will come across this thread and, unfamiliar with the meanning of the phrase "complete cack", will assume it's a compliment and use it as a quote in the publicity for a future release of the film. ;o)

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 05:35 PM

Hey, man, there is a big audience out there for complete cack of that sort. You gotta watch the third one, if only for the Johnny Depp character. You will hate yerself if you don't. Trust me. ;-) You may hate yerself if you do, too...but then at least you won't hate yerself on account of what you missed out on.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Skivee
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 07:29 PM

At least if you watch the third one, you will have a killer recipe for a Mexican pork and rice dish that is to die for...just ask Johnny.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Bainbo
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:55 AM

Thanks, guys, I really do appreciate your guidance and, accordingly, I've tried the film.

Sorry. I lasted about a quarter of an hour. Specifically, up until the line: "Are you a Mexican ... or a Mexican't?"

It's cobblers.

Anyone want the set (DVD region 2)? I know, I'm not selling it very well, am I?

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 02:55 PM

I'll buy. Put 'em in the auction! I liked all 3, but especially the last. And Johnny Depp. And the recipe (puerco pibil, is it not?).

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Bainbo
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 07:19 PM

OK. You've persuaded me. They're in the auction. But they're region 2, Dani - only good for playing in Europe - so unless you have a multi-region DVD player, I'm not sure they'll be much good to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: bald headed step child
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:00 PM

They may not be great movies if you like plot, and such, but as others have stated, the Johnny Depp character was wonderful.

If you only watched 15 minutes, you also missed the wonderful James Gandolfini character. Tony Soprano? Not.

BHSC

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Bainbo
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:18 PM

"They may not be great movies if you like plot

Mmm. That could be the problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 28 Feb 09 - 08:20 PM

These movies suck. They make Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name films look like Shakespeare. Campy fun? Then so is Dude Where's My Car. If you have recently been lobotomized, you may enjoy these movies. Except for the violence, they would be perfect for children nine and under. In fact, I believe a nine year old may have written the scripts. What hideous sort of blackmail could have coerced Johnny Depp, James Gandolfini, and Antonio Banderas to participate in this, one wonders? I firmly believe the only people who would rate this as better than cow flop are those who invested two hours and 4.99 in it and are trying to rationalize that fact.
Other than that, yes, a must see.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 09:42 AM

I may soon be able to give an informed opinion on them lol.

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 06:50 AM

Okey Dokey!

You can judge me by my movies, go right ahead!

This is POPCORN and BEER, man, not filet and champagne.

And, Robert Rodriquez is the same dude who did the Spy Kids movies. On, like, hundreds of dollars apiece. I DARE you not to like them.

These are spy kids with sex and blood.

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: Film - Once Upon A Time In Mexico
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 08:18 AM

I bought the DVDs in the auction and can now give the informed opinion.

They have gone to one of my sons who has seen 2 of the films before and is looking forward to seeing them again and also to seeing the third one.

Robert Rodriguez is a good director and one of the best for spaghetti westerns. The actors include Quentin Tarantino, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke and Willem Dafoe.