Product description El Mariachi / Desperado (Widescreen) (Bilingu .com Before Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi, Mexicans in North American action films were typically maids, drug dealers, or prison inmates. Even if the Cisco Kid was a friend of yours, you handled a dust cloth or a Mac-10 if you lasted in Hollywood longer than a New York minuto. But when El Mariachi crossed the border in 1992, things changed. Granted, it still involved a drug lord in a shoot-em-up, bang-bang, but this time the good guy was a Mexican. Austin-based Rodriguez made El Mariachi for a fistful of pesos and a little help from his friends. He wrote, directed, coproduced, edited, and operated the camera. Plus, he assembled a cast that had never acted before to work por nada. All for a paltry $7,000, a milagro without a beanfield war.Desperado continues the outrageous action adventure. Working with a much bigger budget, Rodriguez returns the nameless mariachi to nonstop action. Again thrust into a world he never made, the hero takes his guitar-case arsenal deep into the criminal labyrinth of Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida), el gran chingon of the Mexican drug lords. With an amigo (Steve Buscemi) and a beautiful bookstore owner (Salma Hayek), el mariachi confronts an outrageous cast along the way, including a bartender (Cheech Marin), a drug deal pick-up guy (Quentin Tarantino), and the original mariachi (coproducer Carlos Gallardo) as a new-found compa'. Antonio Banderas has the lead this time, and if he's not quite up to the challenge, it's probably because he's Spanish, not Mexican, a distinction not lost by anyone raised on what the popular media now calls "ethnic food." That said, Desperado is not to be missed. Using intelligence, romance, and humor--as well as plenty of explosive, surreal violence--Rodriguez again showcases the timeless struggle between the forces of darkness and light. And, in the process, he's recasting the mold for the contemporary action hero--kids now argue about who gets to play the Mexican. --Stephan Magcosta
J**N
good action movie
good action movie
D**X
I doubt I'm saying anything new, here, but...
Neither of these movies is even close to being a 5-star film, but this DVD, pricey as it is, is a must-own for anyone who is even remotely interested in what it takes to make a movie.Director Robert Rodriguez packs the disc with insightful commentary, guerilla filmmaking tips (his Ten-Minute Film School featurettes are real eye-openers), and a generally amiable feel that makes you feel like the only difference between Robert Rodriguez and everyone else is that he did what the rest of us keep saying we're going to do: he's not a genius, just a guy with a modicum of talent who works hard, never questions his abilities, and always knows that even his best work will have flaws (while discussing the EL MARIACHI bus stunt, he discovers a visible reflection of himself that was included in the finished movie).Rodriguez's commentaries are infused with his credo: use more creativity, not more money. Solve your problems instead of washing them away with the "money hose." Simple point: this guy was an unknown who spent $7000 of his own money making a movie that got him noticed and started him down the career path he'd dreamed of all his life. Is your career as successful as his? If not, put down your ego and learn from him: he's made 5 feature-length films since EL MARIACHI, and while none of them has broken box-office records, they've all made money, more because of his spartan work ethic than his talent. Here's a guy you can learn from opening his doors and inviting you in. Take advantage, get excited, and become one of the people who changes how movies are made.
M**N
sex appeal and comedy that makes is a great movie to
these two movies made Antonia Banderas. actual action star also showing you a first look.as a young sexy Salma Hayek. these two movies are probably why Robert Rodriguez allowed to make more movies. a must see of the first two films. The third installment Once Upon a Time in little Mexico with Johnny Depp was very disappointing. these two have enough action ,excitement, sex appeal and comedy that makes is a great movie to see
B**C
"10 minute film school" is a must for novice filmmakers
Robert Rodriguez's "10 minute film school" documentary, which is included on this DVD, is more than worth the price of the disc. In this feature, Rodriguez tells the story of how he made El Mariachi for $7,000 - which was roughly the cost of the film stock. "10 minute film school" is a must for novice and budget filmmakers.
J**G
This is an excellent film, and though I haven't rewatched it with ...
I've been dying to see El Mariachi as I've been a big fan of Despertado for some time. This is an excellent film, and though I haven't rewatched it with the commentary yet, the 10 minute film school documentary was a great addition, exposing Robert Rodriguez's true budget movie maker's tips and tricks. Very cool for someone with no film making interest.Also includes a very silly short 'Bedhead', which is good for a laugh.
D**R
Good Robert Rodriguez double feature
Bought the dvd more for Desperado than El Mariachi but thoroughly enjoyed them both.
K**1
wth?
bought this double set for the el mariachi movie, only to realize after watching it that it has commentary throughout the entire movie. i found this interesting, but i wanted to see the actual movie without the commentary, which you can't do. i like desperado, luckily it doesnt have the commentary throughout the movie that you cant turn off.
B**N
great movie
the film that cost 7000.00 to make and took the world by storm
T**A
El Mariachi--1st part of the Trilogy but you'll survive without it
I already has Desperado but didn't have the first movie, El Mariachi. El Mariachi is a good story but it is not in English, you'll be reading subtitles(for those of you who mind reading them). They more or less cover the El Mariachi story in Desperado so if you want it to complete the set, buy it. If you don't, than skip it.
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