User reviews

Like "Desperado," the film offers nonstop action and a gargantuan body count. Robert Rodriguez knows how to please his audience, and the movie does work for the most part. As expected in a Rodriguez film, the action scenes are very well-choreographed and all possess a certain slickness and originality. Johnny Depp steals the show in his supporting role, and seems to be having the most fun. I actually looked at him as more of an action hero than Antonio Banderas. Then again, Banderas seems to be going through the motions. After all, he has played roles of this type many times before and is probably almost bored. I like how most of the movie is in subtitles. As I heard in the commentary, the reason for that was because most of the cast only spoke Spanish. But I'd rather see Mexican characters speaking in their native language, and having to read the subtitles, than them speaking in a second language that they obviously haven't mastered totally. Hollywood appears to have a fear of subtitles, and it's a stupid fear. Now onto what I didn't like about the movie...I'm not exaggerating when I say that it has nonstop violence. I'm not one of these people who gets bothered by excessive violence, but after a while all that action and killing can get a little dull. You just sit there waiting for the next body to fall to the ground. The story isn't non-existent, but I think if Rodriguez paid a little more attention to developing characters and story, his films might be even more interesting. But altogether, I was entertained. You don't view a film like this in the same way you view a Kubrick film. So what you see is what you get.

My score: 7 (out of 10)

Once Upon A Time In Mexico is good, but not as strong as Desperado. Our hero, El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) barely has any lines. Throughout the movie we forget this talented actor is the star of the movie. The explosive action is incredible, and including Sands (Johnny Depp) is the only thing worth raving about. Depp's role is actually the best part of this movie. Salma Hayek's role has been chopped to flashbacks, so there is not a lot of crazy Action and Romance between Banderas and her. You want Antonio Banderas to save the day and he does, but this Sequel did not give him that fire. Eva Mendes is in about 4 scenes but does a great job including the rest of the cast (Ruben Blades, Cheech Marin, Mickey Rourke, Willem Dafoe, and Enrique Iglesias). It would have been nice to hear some hot new songs from Enrique Iglesias for the soundtrack but I am more than satisfied with Salma Hayek's "Siente Mi Amor". It is an incredible Spanish track, worth watching the entire credits!

I am a fan of Robert Rodriguez's previous offerings of El Mariachi and the wonderful Desperado. Here he once more returns to the same character as portrayed in the two earlier outings but this time seems to miss the mark by a country mile. Although the first two movies were simple 'revenge' films which served to give the shoot-outs their purpose; this movie tries to embellish this idea with a few sub-plots which frankly just don't work. I was bored throughout and even though he returns with his trademark comic-book violence, this time round it just seemed to be one big yawn-fest.

I had no interest in any of the characters, I am madly in love with Salma Hayek but frankly here I could care less about her character. Banderas does fill the screen when on but sadly, it just isn't enough to lift this movie above more than mere average.

Sorry Robert, if a bigger budget means we have to suffer this, then please go back to the low budget movies that made your name, in those you were brilliant; here, merely less than average.

14 September 2003. Johnny Depp actually takes this movie with his odd rogue CIA character using a serio-comic approach to his job while Salma Hayek plays an ancillary role and Antonio Banderas seems to get the opportunity to violently (though not graphically) pulverize his victims with revenge. A convoluted, slow evolving plot of revenge, this movie has dramatic killing scenes and a twist towards the end make this movie a somewhat tedious though intelligent action movie with artwork. This is a edgy, hard-knifed movie that seems to emphasize violence in a nasty and hard way that doesn't glorify its victims demise. A competent movie of intrigue and death with a good dose of wry humor thrown in. Seven out of Ten Stars

Third installment of this ' mexico trilogy ' really has more fun , style , action than the first two .This is the best 1 for me With an awesome starcast this films delivers as expected.

It's got it's flaws, but the good out way the bad and there is no ugly when it comes to this action adventure comedy blast! The action is gritty, the action is spellbinding and the music, well it IS apart of the Mariachi series so, take a wild guess. Antonio Banderas - as great as he is in this flick he takes shotgun to Johnny Depp's lead. Depp as Sands seems like perfect casting and it's a thrill to see a great actor at the top his game. Selma Hayek - sadly - is not in this one as much and it is a sham, but since she was doing Frida we forgive her, and it actually makes for a more compelling and deeper action movie. El is trapped between a rock in a hard place when it comes to saving his people and saving his own neck. Has Robert Rodriguez puts it "It becomes a battle of The Man with No Eyes, The Man with No Face and The Man with a Guitar Case" and it's just that. Willim Dafoe gives a great and chilling performance, Ruben Blades is in top form and Eva Mendes is cold but hot none the less. And all fans of this series are happy to see The Boy in The Yellow Shirt has made his return.

Once upon a time in Mexico is an action, thriller movie directed by Robert Rodriguez and stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes, Danny Trejo, Enrique, Marco Leonardi, Cheech Marin, Ruben Blades and Willem Dafoe.

This is the third and final movie of El Mariachi Franchise.

I had very very high expectations for the movie after watching the previous two but was slightly disappointed as I think I had raise by expectations very high. The movie is not that bad but if we compare with previous two movies the movie disappointments, the movie have a bunch of talented actors who somewhat either underutilized or were not up to their full potential.

The plot of the movie continues where Desperado ends. The plot is straight but with lots of characters in the movie the execution of the movie is somewhat looks sloppy. The climax of the movie is brutal and effective but screenplay could've been little better with some fine tuning as screenplay also looks sloppy although still manages to keep the viewers intact.

Acting is majorly good and Antonio Benderas was again very much effective but somewhere I felt that he has been underutilized in this movie. Johnny Depp was a surprise entry and entertains whenever he is on-screen. Salma Hayek was majorly shown in flashbacks, Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke was somewhat underused. Eva Mendes was effective. Rest of the characters were also good.

Overall OUATIM is an entertaining movie but somewhat disappoints when being compared to it's predecessors.

I think this will be remembered as Rodriguez's vanity project, a film so indulgent it makes a strong case for studio control. Its narrative is feeble, its caricatures squeezed into the plot, and even much of the action is repetitive. Rodriguez is an inventive filmmaker, but he's certainly no artist, as this, the third part of his personal Mariachi trilogy, proves.

Of the cast, Ruben Blades is good as an ex-FBI agent persuaded to avenge his partner, while Johnny Depp steals the film from just about everyone, including the director. The rest of this bloodbath is pretty much a bore. Banderas' character is reduced to an extremely silly comic book hero - more interested in his guitar than he is of avenging his woman (a redundant cameo from Salma Hayek).

Rodriguez intended this as his Leone trilogy, but as over the top as those Dollars films were, there was more gravitas in one frame than in the whole of this daft pastiche.

Overstuffed and very silly, this is a disappointing effort.

...not because it is a piece of cinematography at it's best but simply because you will need to see it two or three times to actually understand the basic plot of the movie (even though I enjoyed watching it immensely).

The main thing that will draw people to watch this movie will be the fact that it has Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, Eva Mendes, Enrique Iglesias...and many more famous names in it. Although I must admit that some of them should have been given bigger parts or else have been left out altogether.

I did enjoy watching this movie but it doesn't make sense the first time around...there is so much going on that the audience often feels as if trying to figure everything out will cause their brains to overheat. up are still a definite factor, however, As Johnny Depp lends his style and talents to the character of corrupt C.I.A agent, Sheldon Jeffrey Sands(he even came up with the 'sheldon Jeffrey' part of the name) even though the part was originally written for Quentin Tarantino. And praise is much deserved of Enrique Iglesias who plays the opinionated but still very loyal Lorenzoand also Eva Mendes who plays Agent Ajedrez with edge and darkness.

This film is very much one for people who are fans of explosions and action but not for those who like well-written plots. I did enjoy this movie and I think Robert Rodriguez has impeccable style even if he doesn't present it well in some instances.

"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" shows off Robert Rodriguez's affinity for comic books to a fault, displaying enormous style, and liberally dousing the film in charismatic violence, but this comic book connection is so prominent that the film fails to make an impact in its own medium. Most of the characters have great conceptual appeal, but this possibility is never fully realized with the detailing that connects the audience to the characters. This lack is further nurtured by Antonio Banderas, who as usual coasts on his looks, serving as a fleshly puppet for dialog and action sequences.

Unrealistic, albeit imaginative action further serves to isolate the viewer from the story. The plot is actually quite worthy for a pure action film of this type, although it is sufficiently complex that some viewers would only be further annoyed.

Overall, this is not an terrible movie, but rather, is a movie that is sufficiently stylized that it would appeal most to a young audience (problematic with its R rating).

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

A follow up to the Desperado film was not something I was expecting.So it came as a shock to see this third instalment in the El Mariachi series being made.But a pleasant surprise it is.It is high on sweltering Mexican style,with impressive camera style and angles.There is a complex and engaging story to follow,complimented by some riveting action scenes and classy dialogue.On the performances front,Antonio Banderas continues to personify Mariachi,with Salma Hayek well cast as his love interest and good support from Johnny Depp,Mickey Rourke and William Dafoe,not to mention the bodacious Eva Mendes.A wholly worthwhile venture.***

The stoty takes off from and rehashes the second film with flashbacks including Salma Hayek , here El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) becomes involved in a twisted international intrigue involving a lot of strange characters such as : a crooked CIA agent called Sands (Johnny Depp) , a nasty mexican General , a corrupt cop (Eva Mendes) . Meanwhile ,a drug baron (Willem Defoe) is attempting to assassinate the President (Pedro Armendariz Jr) by a complex conspiracy . As Mariachi helps foil the coup'de etat .The time has come.

Thrilling action film with plenty of shootouts , explosion , some hilarious touches and lots of violence . It takes parts here and other of other films, and also influenced by Sam Pekinpah , Jackie Chan and Mad Max, too .More a sequel than a loose , biggest budget remake to The Mariachi, this third installment feature may be a rambling derivative exercice in gratuitous violence , but anyway it results to be a gleeful entertainment and really amusing . Motifs and plot points are hardly explained and certain roles are extremely ridiculous and so sketchly drawn that it is difficult to work out why they are there . There is more than enough preposterous pleasure to be had from Rodriguez's expertise with the action set-pieces and absurdist approach to the story's mythical aspirations .This one belongs to Robert Rodriguez's Mariachi trilogy formed by El Mariachi 1992 with Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gómez , followed by Desperado 1995 with Antonio Banderas , Salma Hayek , Cheech Marin, Quentin Tarantino ,Steve Buscemi , Joaquin de Almeida , and this one that has a good main and support cast . As it turns out to be an Antonio Banderas recital, as he runs, bounds , shoots and sings splendidly . Accompanied by Johnny Depp as a psychotic CIA agent who becomes a pawn in in drug lord Willem Defoe's bigger scheme and Ruben Blades as a FBI retired agent . While Marco Leonardi and Enrique Iglesias play two Mariachis who join Banderas to carry out a slaughter against villainous people.

This self-indulgent mess was well made by Robert Rodriguez who wrote , photographed , produced , edited , scored and directed in two months on digital video and starred by his ordinary friends and familar clan. Rating : 6.5/10 . Bloody good fun

I like films where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. In the best films, individual elements of the film are good, but the dynamic synergy between the pieces is so good that something magic happens and some good pieces of film coalesce into an outstanding work of art. This, alas, is not the case with Once Upon a Time in Mexico. There are some great scenes, some very good performances, and some individual elements (cinematography and editing) that are very good. But in the end the film is a predictable story with a muddled narrative and occasional flashes of brilliance sprinkled liberally around.

One of those flashes of brilliance is Johnny Depp as a CIA agent who is charged with restoring order in Mexico. In an early scene in the film, agent Sands is explaining the importance of order as he eats dinner at a restaurant. He explains that he has been eating pork in restaurants all over Mexico and that the pork at this restaurant is so delicious and so good that he will have to kill the chef so that balance is restored to the order of things.

This scene is reflective in some ways of many of the parts of the film. Johnny Depp has made a career of playing offbeat or quirky characters (Edward Scissorhands, Benny and Joon, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Chocolat, Blow, etc.). He steals the show here just as he did in Pirates of the Caribbean. I actually like the bizarre elements of this scene because it shows the folly of using disorder to restore order.

Unfortunately, deep themes are relatively scarce here, and while the folly of violence is questioned here, it is celebrated without reservation throughout most of the film. To observant students of film this will come as no surprises. This film is actually the third in a trilogy that started with El Mariachi and Desperado. Antonio Banderas reprises his earlier role and does an excellent job. Roger Ebert compares these films to Sergio Leone's "spaghetti westerns" A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More.

As a celebration of kinetic energy or as homage to beautifully choreographed acts of violence, Once Upon a Time in Mexico is stunning. There are excellent supporting performances by Salma Hayek, Willem Defoe, and Mickey Rourke. But in the end we are left with a film that is shallow and hollow or-- in the words of a pretty decent playwright--"full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Still good fun and some iconic imagery! This time El, suffering personal tragedy of his own, is recruited by CIA Agent Sands (Johnny Depp) to take down a gang leader attempting to corrupt the Mexican president. The strangest element of this one is that El actually has surprisingly little screen time and the least fleshed out storyline in favour of the political subplot. I did find this a bit disappointing upon first watch but it still holds impressive action sequences and certain imagery such as Sand's standoff toward the end and Mariachi's showdown in a church that is brilliant stuff! Depp is probably given the most time on screen which is fantastic as he is mesmerising and Sands is a pretty funny character with a dark edge. We also have another standout performance from Mickey Rourke as Billy; a man who is ready to retire and enjoys the simpler things in life but finds himself still hanging around the bad guys. It's a shame that with the bigger budget and scope in this conclusion, there's only really a few memorable sequences. But wow... those are awesome sequences! Overall, a trilogy worth checking out if you're a fan of westerns or action

After two magnificent stories leading up to this final entry in the trilogy, Once Upon a Time in Mexico had a tough job to live up to. Unfortunately it struggles to do this for the most part.

Same style and cool action as the others but less story or character development leading to a movie that I felt is left wanting.

Good...but?

First there was "El Mariachi", an over-the-top, low-budget, fun film. Then there was "Desperado", an even more over-the-top, higher-budget, fun film. Now, there's "Once Upon a Time In Mexico", a ridiculously over-the-top, high-budget fun film.

The plot here is very knotted and confusing, but still very good. As far as I can figure, it is about a man who has ruined El Mariachi's life, General Marquez, and his plan to kill the president. An FBI Agent is out to stop him, so he hires El Mariachi and various other people.

Now for the cast: all were excellent.

Antonio Banderas made a thrilling return as El Mariachi. Salma Hayek also makes a fun return as Carolina. Johnnny Depp plays a funny, interesting, and colorful Agent Sands, the FBI agent who hires El Mariachi. Danny Trejo was great as Cucuy, Sands' tail on El Mariachi. Cheech Marin was fitting for the part of Belini, the informant who gives Sands his intel. Ruben Blades was EXCELLENT as Jorge Ramirez, the retired FBI agent brought back to the force by Sands (unofficially anyway). El Mariachi's friends, Lorenzo (Enrique Iglesias), and Fideo (Marco Leonardi) were interesting. Eva Mendes was even not-terrible as the agent Ajedrez. Pedro Armendáriz Jr. gave a decent performance as the president. And Julio Oscar Mechoso was good as the president's adviser.

Now for the bad guys: Willem Dafoe gives a very evil performance as Barillo, who hired Marquez to kill the president. Mickey Rourke was extraordinary as Billy Chambers, Barillo's right-hand man. Gerardo Vigil was great as General Marquez as well.

The special effects here were 1st rate and came in handy a lot. There were many good action scenes and the comedy was well placed and funny.

The music score was decent also.

Over all, fans of "El Mariachi" and "Desperado" will enjoy "Once Upon a Time in Mexico"

8/10

El Mariachi is the kind of film that makes legends on both sides of the camera -- the film launched a career at just the right time, and the character is one that's deserving of more stories told.

Having said that, this film suffers in the way most delayed sequels do, and that's the freshness of the original can get stale by the time characters like El (or Indy, or Rambo for that matter) return to the screen. Almost as if their time has come and gone. Which can sometimes be the story if the timing is right.

My nostalgia for seeing these characters return does, however, overtake that best-before concern, and the addition of new characters like Depp's certainly helps stretch the stew, so to speak.

I wish this movie had come out sooner; hot on the heels of Desperado would have made this feel more of its time.

A scene-stealing Johnny Depp, can't save this bad excuse for a movie. The sexy and superb Salma Hayek, blown-up and showcased on the movie poster, has a screen time of only about seven minutes, which makes a really good case of false advertising in the Hollywood film industry. Antonio Banderas, way past his prime, once again plays the Mariachi. The Mariachi joins Sands, a CIA Agent, on a mission to foil an assassination attempt on the Mexican president.

In a world where filmmakers are content on releasing poor sequels in order to cash in, 'Mexico' is no exception. The plot seems to lack any real sense. It feels like something that Robert Rodriguez wrote in his sleep. The direction is uneven and consequently the movie proves to be more ridiculously lame than stylish.

Rating: (4/10)

If you're going to take this film seriously, this isn't the movie for you. If you want gratuitous action, perfectly quotable one-liners, absurd stunts, AND an actual story line, BUCKLE UP. Of all of Rodriquez's Films, this is hands down my favorite. It's got action, it's got comedic relief, it's got tiny dogs, it's got guns in guitars, it's got chicle. Do I really need to say more?

A good action comedy. It has some funny moments that are intentionally funny and some that so unrealistic they are still funny but even those moments are probably intentional. A really impressive cast and an enjoyable movie. Great action scenes with some highly original weapons of choice and ways of killing. Definitely worth a watch.

Where can I start with this movie. Well first of all, the plot outline. In this movie there is way too much going on, revenge is the only thing we hear about. The only goal that isn't about revenge is that of Johnny Depp's. Which by the way gave the only good acting, I mean Willem Dafoe was practically dipped in chocolate to look like he did. I believe that the story could have been much better about a Mexican revolution and Johnny Depp trying to get the money. Instead, they put Inspector Gadget on steroids by having guns and bombs everywhere. Because I liked the main goal of the movie, getting the money when the government and guerilla are fighting, I give this movie a 5 out of 10 (very generous).