SummaryAntonio Banderas stars as the Mariachi without a name in this much anticipated follow-up to the critically-acclaimed 1992 hit, El Mariachi. This time the Mariachi (Banderas) plunges headfirst into the dark border underworld when he follows a trail of blood to the last of the infamous Mexican druglords, Bucho (De Almeida), showdown. (Sony...
SummaryAntonio Banderas stars as the Mariachi without a name in this much anticipated follow-up to the critically-acclaimed 1992 hit, El Mariachi. This time the Mariachi (Banderas) plunges headfirst into the dark border underworld when he follows a trail of blood to the last of the infamous Mexican druglords, Bucho (De Almeida), showdown. (Sony...
Take nothing seriously - not the action, not the gore, not the plot, not the theme. Instead, view Desperado as it's meant to be seen - a comedy - and you're in for an unalloyed treat; heck, you're in for one of the funniest flicks of the year.
The stunts dazzle until you miss the low-key charm and cost-conscious inventiveness of the original. Desperado is best when Rodriguez lets his playful side cut through the blare of a born filmmaker indulging his first chance at high-end Hollywood fireworks.
What's mainly missing is the sort of conviction and passion that gave El mariachi its charge; one feels at almost every moment that Rodriguez is fulfilling a contract rather than saying something he has to say. There's a lot of panache here, but not much inspiration.
The real problem with Desperado, however, is that this sequel is without purpose and may be the most unnecessary follow-up since the second "Crocodile Dundee."
While being superior to "El Mariachi" in pretty much every aspects, it lacks the heart of it's predecessor. Fortunately for the movie, the acting, the shootout sequences and the violence were all good enough to support the film and make it at the very least a little bit enjoyable. If you liked "El Mariachi" or if you're a fan of Rodriguez's filmography, you will probably enjoy the movie.
The Desperado is one of those movies that is both a bad and a good movie at the same time. This movie is absolutely hilarious in my opinion. If this movie was made ironically, I would give 10 hands down. But because it isn't, it leaves me with mixed feelings. Desperado is a good movie as long as you can take it as a joke. If you don't, well, then it's not.
Desperado is a good bad movie. Would recommend for a comedy night, but for being the purpose it is, it's bad.
The one-liners, I can see, would make the whole screen scream for Antonio Banderas, I know I would.
Desperado
The director Robert Rodriguiz cannot get my attention enough. And I love it. The entire filmography of his tickles my brain. What? Why? And how? First of all, his commercialized version of a film is pretty close to the art form he wishes to speak. Now, this is my window in. I love these aspects of his films. The Tarantino alike- it is not a surprise since they have collaborated with each other plenty of time over the years- stories or call it a monologue that these guys share is the way to hook you in. So why not go through it. Now take Tarantino's films for instance. These stories, fables, tid bits is what we call the crisp, the entertainment part of the film.
Just as the violence, the action in the film is. What then Tarantino does with the rest of the time, is ground these parties, the enjoyment, the weekend of the film with is proper heavy and profound themes with a new take and perspective. Now, this is where Robert falls short. His film, if not rummaging around the jokes and the action, will simply color the film and the characters with incredibly filmy or more expressively lofty substances.
Not even substances but scenarios. These scenes that he wishes to project doesn't only feel forced but also questionable. The choices that these stereotypical one dimensional characters make, is something wrongly unfathomable. And to add more trouble Robert too isn't balancing the laws that he establishes. Take the last act of Desperado. One where our protagonist after a battle that he fought with a half-grin plastered across his face, now is told to draw out empathy as a character that he is emotionally connected is hospitalized. I still don't understand the existence of that last piece and certainly not the way it is projected.