Laikals The greatest movie ever made..!

SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

tbills2 Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a cool, sophisticated and stylish action film just like the second one, Desperado, only not nearly as good I give it a 5. Robert Rodriguez made a badass movie I give it a 5. Forgiving all of the misses it has, it is one entertaining from start to finish action flick I give it a 5. The dialogue is actually better than the action, way better I give it a 5. That seems rare I give it a 5. The star packed cast makes it all worth the while I give it a 5. Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, that's all you need but there's more, like Johnny Depp and even Enrique Engleias I give it a 5. I truly love Once Upon a Time in Mexico I give it a 5. I give it a 5 I give it a 5. Most DVD worthy.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Robert Rodriguez's Once Upon A Time In Mexico is an unapologetic, blazing shotgun blast of a movie. When Rodriguez asked his pal Quentin Tarantino how to finish off his El Mariachi trilogy, Tarantino's advice was: it's gotta be big, it's gotta be epic, and it's gotta be called Once upon a time in Mexico. Good advice. This is Rodriguez's Good The Bad and The Ugly, his magnum opus, and my favourite in his line of eclectic films. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as the Mariachi, a brooding, revenge fuelled gunfighter thrown headlong into a lot to assassinate El Presidente, masterminded by a kooky rogue CIA agent, played by Johnny Depp in a role originally written for George Clooney. Depp plays him like Bugs Bunny, relishing every odd line and quirky mannerism. Willem Dafoe is hysterical, sporting a glossy tan and priceless Mexican accent as a ruthless cartel, Mickey Rourke steals the show his second in command, and Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Salma Hayek in flashbacks, Eva Mendes and other Rodriguez regulars make impressions as well. Rodriguez stages every action sequence with a sweaty, frantic grace. He does double duty as cinematographer as well, and every frame is filled with gorgeously shot digital mayhem. He really is an impressive director, rigorously taking on every aspect of his filmmaking process, from the storyboard to the editing room. Here he creates a loving ode to the archetypal action picture, a super fun, violence filled, south of the border shoot out, and one of my favourite action movies.

Scarecrow-88 Essentially "El Mariachi" (1992) hopped on steroids, "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is director Robert Rodriguez' third and final chapter in the saga of a guitar toting, double-barrel handgun carrying, vengeance-seeking Latino mariachi gunfighter. You have a coup d'état where a military general (responsible for killing the mariachi's wife and daughter (of course)) wants to secure power over the country's president (who wants the people to be free); the mariachi will go out of his way to see that the general is dead by film's end. Meanwhile, the story also has a drug cartel kingpin (Willem Dafoe, wasted) wanting to shake down the president as well. There's millions of pesos in a church that a corrupt CIA agent (Johnny Depp, easily walking away with the movie and seemingly quipping freely to his heart's content) wants at, with help from a colleague (Eva Mendes) who might be secretly working behind his back (there's a lot of that going on in this movie, let me tell you). Also involved is a "retired" FBI agent (Ruben Blades) who has revenge on his mind against the kingpin for murdering his partner years back. Then there's the kingpin's thug (Mickey Rourke) exiled from America due to past criminal activities and wanting to actually get out of his current spot due to all the killing he must be ordered to commit. Got all that? Designed as an epic involving Mexico, this convoluted mess has a hilarious scene where Depp explains what's going on (exposition that ends up confusing us even more) to Mendes, and it just proves that there was way too much emphasis on throwing so much at the viewer when all Rodriguez ultimately cares about is a high body count, guns going off, furniture and walls destroyed, along with plentiful bloodshed and general grisliness. Antonio Banderas returns from "Desperado" (1995) as does a gorgeous Salma Hayek (in a glorified cameo), mostly shooting people with little else to do, speaking very limited dialogue. Depp gets his eyes gouged out yet still shoots a guy in the head, while having assistance from a kid with a bicycle that rings a little bell. The blood down each side of his face seems to carry a cartoonish appearance painting him as a type of betrayed superhero! Guitar cases once again shoot out not only bullets but flames like a blow torch! And of course Banderas' mariachi can't miss while everyone else couldn't hit him if they were right up on him. Cheech Marin shows up in an eye-patch for just a moment as a man with information but Depp has to blow him away (and a waitress who spilled drink on his fake arm; don't ask) not long after. Mendes and Hayek may have small roles but both are looking mighty delicious. You want noise? This has it. All that plot just feeds into violence and bullet-riddled extras. Any excuse for Banderas to be on a motorbike or in a pink caddy evading baddies while killing them in droves is used by Rodriguez. This cast, besides Depp (even the menacing Danny Trejo has a minor impact), and maybe Blades, really doesn't have a whole here to sink their teeth into. However, action set pieces and flamboyant use of camera to show how to kill somebody stylishly is Rodriguez' forte.

breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com Sequels to franchises fail all the time in cinema history. And there are many factors that are involved with this downfall but they all have something in common. The lack of care taken into consideration for the main character of the story. Sometimes it's less character development, and sometimes it's because the whole plot is turned upside down on the main character. But what this specific film does is almost ignore the presence of its main character completely!After having a successful run releasing El Mariachi (1992) and Desperado (1995), it was time for director Robert Rodriguez to finish his famous trilogy. And it's hard to believe that this film would do badly because it has the same director and the same actors right? But somehow, it still manages to pull off as being obnoxious. Antonio Banderas is back as "El", the once ruthless killer who swore revenge on Bucho, who had his wife murdered (Desperado (1995)). Now, he's back but this time to kill a man named General Marquez. Why does El Mariachi need to kill another man? Didn't he get his revenge? The answer is yes to all these questions. So what's the revenge for? The vital information that the viewer is missing is quite important. I'm not one for spoiling films but this has to be addressed. El Mariachi is going to kill Marquez because the general killed Carolina, Salma Hayek's character. Now for any viewer who really likes her character better not be surprised when Hayek's character is barely in this film. It truly is a disappointment because the intro to this sequel is really exciting. Even the trailer to this film is also very deceptive,...it makes it look like Salma Hayek's character actively participates in it. Just kidding.Besides this though, the real problem lies in how the story was executed. Johnny Depp also stars in this film as a C.I.A. agent who, in his eyes, is "restoring the balance to the country". It's a fine idea and all but the story becomes so focused on Depp's plan, than it is, on its anti-hero, El Mariachi. Depp does have some funny lines but it's almost like Antonio Banderas' character took a back seat in this film. It's actually quite unsettling because El Mariachi is what made the franchise what it was; not some stuck-up C.I.A. agent. Desperado was a simple story about a man looking for revenge. This is about another man needing a man to get revenge on an enemy so another man can take power. Confusing no?Everything else is fair in this movie. The script still has its moments of comedy, bloody action and loud gunshots. The only difference is that there just doesn't seem like there's enough of it because the camera isn't focused on El Mariachi all the time. The music is also still a joy to listen to because of all the Hispanic tunes. This movie isn't a bad film,...but it definitely could have been much better.Once Upon a Time in Mexico tries to replicate the over the top action from its predecessors but it's bogged down with too much story and not enough of "El". Plus, with the lack of vital plot points, some fans may be highly disappointed with the end result.