Conference bookie::movies

    But Ken.... didn't you find any of the movie funny?  I found myself
    laughing out loud more than once.  Sometimes it didn't feel appropriate
    given the level of violence, but then I got to thinking that the
    violence was so "over the top" and that the actors seemed in on it
    and were playing the violence as "campy" that I found myself really
    enjoying this film.  Quintin is well on his way to building up a cult
    following - when he came on the screen, there were actually cheers in
    the theatre.  I thought Antonio was very impressive - if you've ever
    seen any of his Spanish movies (directed by Pedro Almodovar) you would
    have realized that he can easily carry a film as the leading man.  This
    is the first of his "American" movies that I feel shows that he is
    comfortable in an english speaking role and is ready to carry the bulk
    of the work.
    
    I rate it ****.5 out of 5 for style, direction, music and acting and
    **.5 for story so I guess it depends on what you want out of it.

RE: .1

Yes, several parts of the movie were amusing: the best was at the end of one
of the big fight scenes where the main character and the remaining bad guy
were both out of bullets and grabbing for other peoples weapons lying all
over the floor, pointing them at each other, and firing only to find that
both weapons were also out of bullets.  This was good.

And certainly the leading man was good at carrying the movie.  But my wife
and I didn't think it was enough to make up for some of the other lacks, most 
specifically the lack of story between the (admittedly excellent) fight scenes.

-- Ken Moreau

    It should be funny.  It's a complete ripoff of Chow Yun Fat and John
    Woo movies.  Especially the scene where he's sliding backwards across
    the floor firing 2 guns at once.

    
    	The reviews make this look like alot of fun.
    
    	I'll definitely go to see it if it gets to the Drive-In.  If
    	not, I might see it anyways.
    

	if you enjoyed "el mariachi" on tape, you'll really like
	this one, because it's not only a sequel or a remake (or both),
	but was made with 7 million dollars, up $6,993,000 from the
	original mariachi film.  great music, sound, and action,
	and almost perfect casting.   cheech marin is supurb as a
	low-life bartender and antonio looks to be the next big action
	star.  three stars (out of four.)

	bill

    Yeah, but he'll never beat Chow Yun Fat.

    Well, it was certainly stylish.  I haven't decided if Robert Rodriguez
    is the second coming or not (along with all the other "new, hot, young
    directors" of recent years/months), but what I have decided is that his
    sense of pace (he edited this film) needs some work.
     
    "Desperado" was a cool film that moved *real* slow.  In fact, there
    were several scenes which didn't really need to be in there (the
    obligatory sex scene for example, pretty as it was).   "Desperado" was
    sometimes in desperate need of trimming.
    
    In case it hasn't been mentioned, the plot of "Desperado" centers
    around a marachi singer whose beloved was killed by despicable sorts. 
    He lugs around a guitar case full o' guns, stalking the Mexican
    countryside to hunt down "Bucho", the apparant boss of said despicable
    sorts.  The film is full of dusty browns and oranges and tanned skin
    and dark hair falling in faces -- everything *looks* like it was filmed
    in a perpetual desert sunset, to pretty effect.  There's plenty of
    shootings and some moderate blood spattering and stoic quips as our
    hero works towards his goal.  Hell, Steve Buscemi and Quentin Tarantino
    pop up, doing their usual schtick, so you know what kind of film it is
    right there.  There's a lovely senorita, overdone sound effects
    (everything is extra noisy, from bullets being removed from flesh to
    someone grinding out a ciggie butt under the heel of their boot), and
    drug bosses dressed in white suits.  Antonio Banderas does indeed
    strike a resemblance to Steven Segal, in a better looking way, and the
    folks who aren't easy on the eyes add character.
    
    It was an interesting, in not exactly novel, ride.  Again, my biggest
    beef is that this ride seemed to take too damned long to get to the
    interesting parts and didn't have all that much to say while it was
    getting there.   If Robert Rodriguez was indeed trying to make a Hong
    Kong-type movie, as has been suggested, he should remember that folks
    find mindless action more entertaining that mindless inaction.  :)
    
    
    **.5 out of **** 
    
    kim

    Thought it was worth $4.50 ticket price.  Stunts were not as good as in
    HK films, but this certainly beat any Hollywood film I've seen lately.
    It was a bit slow, though.
    
    Antonio is good as the lead, but he's still no Chow Yun Fat.  I will,
    however, forgive Robert Rodriguez for stealing a scene from the Killer,
    even though The Killer was far superior, even in body count.

    
    	And another thing ... Antonio is no Chow Yun Fat.
    
    	8^)
    
    	[I think we get the idea.]
    

    
    
    I liked the style of the movie very much. And the lead actress was
    very easy on the eyes. However I have one question behind the ff
    
    
    
    	The man who killed the mariachi's girl in the beginning of the
    movie was Bucho, I believe. Why didn't the mareiachi know that this was
    his brother. When he meets his at the end, he is surprised .
    
    ed

    Saw it on video... and loved it.  Just oozing with style.  My words
    after seeing it... "Supercool".
    
    Maybe spoiler...
    
    
    
    The dragging bloody body / mopping the floor scene was very funny.  It
    was funny in a sick and twisted sort of way like the "blowing off the
    head" scene was in Pulp Fiction.
    
    -Steve