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pathall

Sep 25, 2003, 12:13 PM

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Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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I just saw this movie yesterday and I loved it. It was funny and sad. There must be something wrong with me because most of the reviews bombed it. The scenes from San Miguel, Queretaro, and Guanajuate were wonderful and so interesting. I was braced for some terribly gruesome scenes because it was listed as extremely violent. However I found the movie to be along the same lines as a James Bond movie -- everybody gets shot, but no one seems to suffer and so it doesn't even seem real. There were the same a la James Bond understated funny comments after the really violent parts that gave it a great comic relief. The scenes of Mexico were absolutely beautiful, but then I'm in love with San Miguel de Allende. I believe this movie is the third in a series called the Mariachi. I haven't seen the first two, but we do have the music on a CD that we bought in Mexico from one of the movies called the Mariachi. Has anyone out there seen the movies with Antonio Banderas called the Mariachi?

Now I'm waiting for it to come out in video so that I can stop it the motion and have another slow look at the background scenes.

pat

Sep 25, 2003, 4:36 PM

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Re: [pathall] Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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Interesting how two people can see the same movie and have totally opposite ideas about it. my wife and I went to see it because it was supposedly filmed in san Miguel. We both thought it was awful... Nothing but gratuitous violence and a far-fetched plot. I asked my wife if she wanted to leave about half way through, she shrugged her shoulders, so we ended up staying to the bitter end. It didn't get any better. I guess that's what they mean by different strokes....

Pat

Estanislao

Sep 25, 2003, 4:44 PM

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Re: [pathall] Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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I'm with Pat on this one - I wouldn't bother. I do have to admit, I enjoyed seeing many spots in SMA and Guanajuato that I recognized.
--
"It is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool again."
John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts - The Log From The Sea Of Cortez
--
Estanislao

mexigrl

Sep 25, 2003, 8:40 PM

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Re: [Estanislao] Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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Have to agree with Pat too - I was repulsed by the amount of bloodshed - the whole gouging out of the eyes thing really wasn't necessary. The scenes were beautiful but that was about all I can say. Actually - I did think Johnny Depp was very good in his role - wish he didn't have to keep killing the chefs! Violence does sell, it's a shame but that is what a lot of people want to see :(

Mexigrl

lbc

Sep 26, 2003, 5:31 PM

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Re: [pathall] Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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El Mariachi is also pretty violent but has an interesting subplot and is genuinely funny. It has been a long time that I saw it. Go check out www.mrqe.com for many different viewpoints on this film. I found it better than its sequel (forgot the name).

pathall

Sep 27, 2003, 5:12 PM

Post #6 of 6 (371 views)

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Re: [lbc] Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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Thanks. I checked it out. El Mariachi was released in 1993 and the sequel, Desperado, was released in 1995. Desperado starred Antonio Banderas and Selma Heyak, as did Once Upon a Time in Mexico.