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Non-Review Review: El Mariachi

El Mariachi is the first film from director Robert Rodriguez. Although his first major success, Desperado, borrows heavily from the Mexican Western, there’s a certain playful exuberance which underpins his debut. It’s a very rough film – one which doesn’t quite have the shine of a finished major motion picture release – but there’s enough charm and wit bubbling away to carry the film over the line. It’s quirky and perhaps a little cheeky, but it’s also surprisingly respectful of the genre and of the films around it. It almost lacks the ridiculously gratuitous nature of his later efforts, though perhaps here he was restrained by a tiny budget.

An unconventional choice of instrument...

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Non-Review Review: Desperado

I’d never seen Desperado. I had seen once Upon a Time in Mexico, and found it to be an enjoyably over-the-top (if not particularly deep) action movie anchored in some strong performances. Mom and my sister happened to be attending a Take That concert, so Dad and I decided to stick in this now-classic actioner and put together our own opinion on the beastie.

El Mariachi's guitar solos went down the bomb in that bar...

El Mariachi's guitar solos went down the bomb in that bar...

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