Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

In the third movie of Rodriguez's "Mariachi" trilogy, a Mexican drug lord pretends to overthrow the Mexican government, and is connected to a corrupt CIA agent who at that time, demands retribution from his worst enemy to carry out the drug lord's uprising against the government

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003): Dir: Robert Rodriguez / Cast: Antonio Banderas, Johnny Depp, Selma Hayek, Ruben Blades, Eva Mendes: Third film in the El Mariachi trilogy is an action film about time and place with mystic bandit El Mariachi's reputation with a guitar case that shelters a very large gun. Johnny Depp plays a corrupt C.I.A. agent who seeks Mariachi for a proposition that will regard protecting the Mexican President as well as avenging the death of his wife. Directed by Robert Rodriguez who details the film with striking characters. Antonio Banderas returns as Mariachi whose guitar produces beautiful music as well as a parade of bullets. Excellent supporting work by Depp who will realize that his mission has been compromised and suffers consequences. While despairing, Depp deals with these consequences as a strength. Selma Hayek as Mariachi's wife is seen in flashbacks and is given an exhilarating scene where both escape while joined by chain, and both hurl downward using the chain in swinging momentum. Ruben Blades plays a cop avenging the murder of his partner and gets far more than he bargained for. Eva Mendes has a great poisonous presence ready to stick the knife into anyone who stalls her plans. Well crafted bloodshed and brutality yet it portraits the ugly lifestyles that likely won't live happily ever after. Score: 8 / 10

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.

Credit IMDb. In this sequel to 'Desperado', a Mexican drug lord pretends to overthrow the Mexican government, and is connected to a corrupt CIA agent who at that time, demands retribution from his worst enemy to carry out the drug lord's uprising against the government.This had a couple of good action sequences, but other then that, and a big wasted cast, its all flash and no substance. Favorite sequence was the action scene in the Church. Salma Hayek's presence was sorely missed.Performances Antonio Banderas is decent, but his reprising of his role is kind of by the numbers. Johnny Depp is the best thing about this movie by far. Salma Hayek is barely in the movie. Rourke, Mendes, Trejo are all under used. Cheech Marin's role is fun.Bottom line. I wasn't that fussy on this trilogy, overblown and dull in my opinion. Worth a rental but that's it.5/10