Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Theatrical Release Date: 2003 09 12 (USA)

UPC: 043396112810

Studio: Columbia TriStar

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Graphic Violence, Adult Language]

Summary: Director Robert Rodriguez returns to the characters of his breakthrough hits El Mariachi and Desperado in this grand scale south-of-the-border action-adventure saga. Sands (Johnny Depp) is a rogue CIA agent who is working in cahoots with Mexican officials who've caught wind of a plan by corrupt military leader General Marquez (Gerardo Vigil) and ruthless drug kingpin Barillo (Willem Dafoe) to assassinate Mexico's president (Pedro Armend?riz Jr.). Sands needs to recruit a gunman to take out Barillo's assassins before they can complete their mission, and through barman Belini (Cheech Marin), Sands learns of El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), a fabled musician turned vigilante with a remarkable talent for violence, and a score to settle with Marquez. El Mariachi is living quietly in hiding after the death of the woman he loved, Carolina (Salma Hayek), but Sands lures him back into action through the promise of a final showdown with his nemesis Marquez, forcing El Mariachi to retrieve his guitar case (containing a mighty arsenal) and once again do battle against the lawless. Robert Rodriguez not only directed Once Upon a Time in Mexico, but he wrote the screenplay, handled the camera work, edited the film, and composed the musical score. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Adventure

Features: Full-length movie
Widescreen presentation
DVD picture quality

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Format: Universal Media Disc

Release Date: 04/19/2005

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Alternate Wide Screen

Audio: 2 PCM stereo

Runtime: 102 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,Spanish,Portuguese

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Perry Seibert

Robert Rodriguez' Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a tribute to Sergio Leone in much more than just name only. What he takes from the master is a desire to pump up genre clich?s until they achieve an almost kabuki-like level of significance. There are many individual sequences that work quite well in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, but Rodriguez loses the fun after about 40 minutes. Johnny Depp's CIA agent is darkly humorous and gives the film some much needed comic relief, but much of the film is given over to Antonio Banderas brooding about his lost wife and child, and solemnly preparing to do what he has to do. This is a darker, more serious film than the two previous films in the franchise. A streak of Mexican nationalistic pride gives the film some thematic weight, but also leads to some easy audience pleasing moments that fail to replace the humor and charm of Desperado and El Mariachi. Once Upon a Time in Mexico will satisfy fans of Rodriguez distinct style and talent for action sequences, but it also feels like he used up all of his sense of fun while making three Spy Kids films in three years. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Carlos Gallardo  Producer 
Robert Rodriguez  Director 
Robert Rodriguez  Composer (Music Score) 
Robert Rodriguez  Producer 
Robert Rodriguez  Screenwriter 
Elizabeth Avellan  Producer 
Antonio Banderas  Actor 
Salma Hayek  Actor 
Johnny Depp  Actor 
Mickey Rourke  Actor 
Eva Mendes  Actor 
Danny Trejo  Actor 
Enrique Iglesias  Actor 
Marco Leonardi  Actor 
Cheech Marin  Actor 
Rubén Blades  Actor 
Willem Dafoe  Actor 
Gerardo Vigil  Actor 
Pedro Armendariz, Jr.  Actor