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FILM DETAILS

Certificate 18

Cast Antonio Banderas Salma Hayek Steve Buscemi.

Directors Robert Rodriguez.

Screenwriters Robert Rodriguez.

Running Time 100 minutes

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Desperado
Rodriguez' Mariachi returns for more vengeance and a whole heap of ass-whoopage

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Plot
El Mariachi was a musician who had a woman he loved, when she was killed and he was maimed by criminals. Now he carries a guitar case full of weapons and comes to a new town in search of those responsible. But a few barroom brawls later, it becomes clear that it won't be that easy.

Review
Bigger, better, faster; Desperado is a spiritual, and spirited remake of director Rodriguez's $7,000 El Mariachi, proof positive that throwing millions of dollars at what was by itself something of a small budget gem can actually result in a better movie.

It's not the smartest career move for a director's second film to be a scene-by-scene remake of his first, but with Rodriguez it's clearly a declaration of intent. Not content with the relatively small audience that saw his Spanish language original, he decided to take what Hollywood was only too keen to give him and recast his movie as a High Plains Drifter for the post-Tarantino audience.

The plot is straightforward enough. The mysterious Mariachi (this time played to the hilt by Banderas), wanders into town with a guitar case and vengeance in his heart. His entrance is preceded by that of the perennially weasel-like Steve Buscemi, busily recounting a tale from the original movie. The Eastwood-like Mariachi is out to get the big cheese drug lord, willing to blow away everyone and everything in his path to get it.

What really counts, though, is Rodriguez's assured abilities. This is Peckinpah crossed with John Woo on speed, full of souped up action pieces that defy anything even approaching credibility in their wanton lust for pure cinematic destruction, but more than make-up for it in Rodriguez's skilful editing and delicately perverse sense of humour. And it's not just action - it's hard to imagine anyone of any sexual persuasion or inclination not finding something to fantasise over in the eventual coupling of Banderas and the luscious Hayek.

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Desperado

Desperado: A high voltage entertainer that serves as cross over of Clint Eastwood's spaghetti westerns and John Woo's Hong Kong kickers. Guns, Barrels and Smoke, this classic entertainer of 90's gets better with Antonio Bandreas & Salma Hyaek. ... More

Posted by ajm1991 at 04:00, 15 November 2012 | Report This Post

El Mariachi comes to town again and kicks some more ass. Thought Tarantino's character in this was brilliant before he unfortunately gets killed off. A great fun film. ... More

Posted by PureAinmhi at 16:00, 14 June 2009 | Report This Post

BANDERAS HAS YET TO PLAY A MORE DOMINANT AND ENGAGING ROLE!!!

All it is at the end of the day is unbelievably insane, bloody and damn mindless violence but you can't help but treasure the way Banderas owns the film- a Mexican hitman keeping to himself just owning, just fecking owning the place and he falls in love with a FIT Salma Hayek- bonus!!! ... More

Posted by diehard1234 at 22:56, 16 October 2008 | Report This Post

A Dumb, Fun Film

The story and characters shine, as does the scriptwriting and RR's trademark directional style ... More

Posted by blaud at 15:53, 26 March 2008 | Report This Post

Despite its beautiful direction and suave soundtrack, plus its great dialogue to boot, I found this film sluggish and unappealing. I assume it was trying for the B-Movie / Western feel for it, but I found it to just be a series of fights one after another, each as pointless as the last. The first section in the bar with Buscemi had me captivated, and if the film had revolved round him or the bar it probably would have interested me more. Tarantino's cameo is funny as hell, but the guy r... More

Posted by ukedge87 at 20:01, 30 October 2006 | Report This Post

Despite its beautiful direction and suave soundtrack, plus its great dialogue to boot, I found this film sluggish and unappealing. I assume it was trying for the B-Movie / Western feel for it, but I found it to just be a series of fights one after another, each as pointless as the last. The first section in the bar with Buscemi had me captivated, and if the film had revolved round him or the bar it probably would have interested me more. Tarantino's cameo is funny as hell, but the guy r... More

Posted by ukedge87 at 20:01, 30 October 2006 | Report This Post

RE:

do was a truly great film. The way they opened up the scene was amazing quality in comparison to other westerns - although could it be a western? Hm, a thought to ponder on...t=arial] iously, it's unfortunate that the sequel was so rubbish in comparison, but perhaps the novelty simply wore off... or there just wasn't enough of Salma Hayek on show to make it better? She definitely made the spark with Banderas and if they kept that on in the second, perhaps it wouldn't have been such an undeniab... More

Posted by Jessica_ca_ca_ca at 21:22, 11 March 2006 | Report This Post

Great Movie, and one the best action films of the 90s. Steve Buschemi and Salma Hayek were good and the Tarantino cameo was funny. ... More

Posted by Naweed_1 at 21:16, 11 March 2006 | Report This Post

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