Leofwine_draca Well-known as the film that put director Robert Rodriguez "on the map" – he was able to remake it as an English-language film three years later, as DESPERADO with Antonio Banderas – EL MARIACHI is an entertaining little film that once again shows that it's possible to shoot decent action on a very low budget. In tone it reminds me a lot of the gritty crime thrillers that came out of Turkey in the 1970s, except with more comedy and romance. The story, one of mistaken identity, is kept simple but there are quite a few decent twists as things play out. Rodriguez really gave a tour-de-force effort behind the scenes; not only did he act as director and editor, he also performed most of the other duties behind the camera. His swooping, frenetic, perfectly-edited style brought him to Hollywood's attention and the rest is, as they say, history.Back to EL MARIACHI, and it's a film with some decent performances – first-timer Carlos Gallardo essays the reluctant hero role with some skill, while Reinol Martinez's thug-turned-assassin packs some real presence, and Peter Marquardt's villain is supremely slimy. I could have done without the wooden Consuelo Gomez in the romance scenes; thankfully she was replaced by Salma Hayek in DESPERADO. Said romance scenes drag the pacing of the film down in the middle and leave a hole of about twenty minutes where not a lot happens.Thankfully, things pick up for an engaging final shoot-out, and there's always an action scene never too far away. The shoot-outs are a lot of fun, as are the stunts – I especially liked the "bus swing" which shows you need practically no money or CGI effects to create an exciting shot. While the fact that it's a low-budget, Mexican, Spanish-language film – one that Rodriguez regarded as "practice" for his later Hollywood career – work against it and mean that most people will never have seen or heard of it – EL MARIACHI is a fun B-movie that fans of the director will enjoy.

powermandan Usually a movie is considered to be low-budget if it costs less than $1 million. El mariachi was a micro-budget that costed only $7,000. Robert Rodriguez was in charge of almost everything behind the scenes with some stars in the movie helping out. The low-budget is apparent, but you turn your attention away from the cost almost right away.El mariachi spawned two international blockbusters--Desperado (the best known) and Once Upon A Time In Mexico. Desperado is part sequel and part remake, but both sequel have poor connections with one another. Since El mariachi does not spawn from anything else, it has the most forgivable flaws.In all three movies, the tragic hero (played here by Carlos Gallardo and in the sequels by Antonio Banderas) is an unnamed guitar player (known as El Mariachi) who just wants to get a chance to play and make some money. He wanders from town to town with only his guitar in search of his destiny. So far he sounds pretty generic, but he has a tender heart and very nice appeal. He stumbles into a Mexican town where he meets a bar owner named Domino. The love story between these two is fantastic. We hope that she helps him rise and become a successful musician. This love story may not be the main premise, but it is defiantly something lyrical.The main story is a case of mistaken identity involving a drug lord, his nemesis, and El. Azul is a mean, rough-and-tough Spanish criminal who breaks out of jail and is after the drug lord known as "Moco."Azul loves to wear black and always carries a guitar case that's full of guns. Moco orders his men to kill anyone that fits that description. El also loves to wear black and always carries a guitar case. We all know where this is going. Action scenes and chases occur that are more exciting than stylistic. Style is what Rodriguez was really concerned with in the sequels. With such a low budget, there wasn't very many second takes, just other camera positions. That is what makes it such a great flair. El and Azul accidentally switch cases which makes matters worse. We have grown to love El and Domino, but Azul and Moco still have unfinished business. Sadly, tragedy ensues. Desperado features a recreation of the scene, so the viewer knows what will happen. But Rodriguez did in his first shot what very few directors can ever do: make the viewer wonder what will happen next and root for the best...even after you've seen the movie! This isn't very violent as the others are, but its character and plot developments are strong, and it has a higher emotional factor than any other Robert Rodriguez movie.

bts1984 For a movie that is so minimalist, 'El Mariachi' doesn't offer little and doesn't leave much to be desired. Generally speaking, the "minimalist philosophy" is practically omni-present in this movie. The story is simple, most actors are amateur, the scenario is real, and efficiency and the use of the brain replace any needless effects. Just about everything is authentic and economical. Not a bad way of thinking: makes it all the more realistic and at the same time keeps the costs lower.Nothing is overdone, even the action in it - although, I can't lie, this is a very violent movie at times and there is some disturbing content. But even the most shocking violence is kept in an acceptable league - that is, hardly more than the necessary. On the other hand, despite being a crime story, there is a good deal of clever humor (natural humor instead of bad taste humor or forceful humor).Time shows that this movie has gone down in history as a great success. And rightfully so. It has aged with dignity and is now old enough to be considered a little classic.The story of a good-natured mariachi who only wants to offer his music in exchange of very little money but is confounded with a violent criminal who looks nothing like him dressed in a similar style and carrying a guitar case just like his (however with guns and knives inside) is quite thrilling and involving.Peter Marquardt is great as Moco. Moco can be funny at times and yet he is so arrogant and cruel that you really hate him. But if he amuses you and at the same time fills you in hate that only means that the actor does his role very well. Carlos Gallardo is terrific as the mariachi. Consuelo Gómez is splendid as Dominó. Dominó is hot, sexy, beautiful and yet she has a strong personality: she has a devilish sense of humor, she can be aggressive in a sensual way, she has that exotic but severe look and she is obviously a powerful woman, a woman with guts. You gotta love her for all that. Dominó is one of the hottest women in cinema ever although, to be honest, the woman who manicures Moco's hands is just as hot.I find it cute and funny that the little turtle of the movie is credited. Not that it doesn't deserve. Why shouldn't animals deserve such honor? Tito Tortuga is great in its minor role as the turtle that crosses a road.All in all, an enjoyable movie. I only don't like the ending because Dominó is killed and the mariachi gets his hand shot. At least Moco gets what he deserves, but unfortunately too late for Dominó and the mariachi. Title in Portugal: 'El Mariachi'.

Terrell Howell (KnightsofNi11) In 1992, a little known director by the name of Robert Rodriguez surprised everyone at the Sundance Film Festival with his low budget action thriller El Mariachi. There isn't a whole lot too this film but that might be what makes it so great. It's a straightforward story about Robert Rodriguez's own "man with no name character." But instead of literally being called The Man With No Name, our protagonist is simple called El Mariachi. El Mariachi is a traveling guitar player whose only dream is to carry on the legacy his guitarist ancestors established. He has to take a detour from this dream when he is mistaken for someone with much more sinister intentions than he. A man by the name of Azul is taking out a drug dealer's men trying to get his money the drug dealer owes him. Moco the drug dealer sends his men out to find and kill Azul. The only problem is his men don't know what he looks like and their only identifier is that he wears all black and carries a guitar case filled with guns. Unfortunately for El Mariachi, he also fits this description minus the firearms. And even though the story is fairly simple, it feels like a lot happens in this film, especially for one that only runs 80 minutes.The most defining thing about El Mariachi is its independent feel, which doesn't hold the film back at all. In fact, it gives it a much more intense and gritty feel. It's lack of glamour and glitz makes it a lot more visceral and, to me at least, more exciting. Rodriguez directs this film with a very rough around the edges feel to it. There are a lot of close ups and plenty of quick hand-held shots that put you into the middle of the action, but due to the low budget aura of the film you don't feel shoved into the action, instead just precariously placed there to watch it all unfold in a very real sense without being over dramatized. You have to respect El Mariachi for what it is and if you do you can enjoy it much more.Like I said before, El Mariachi delivers a lot in under 90 minutes. Amidst the great low budget action sequences there really is a great story, despite any simplicity there is on the surface. The film gives us a quick and intense opening sequence in which Azul breaks out of jail and finds out he wont be receiving his money from Moco. We are then introduced to our protagonist and what he stands for. Then we are quickly thrown into the heat of the story as Azul goes on a killing spree for revenge, and El Mariachi is chased down as a result of these actions. The film never has a dull point, which isn't saying much for such a short film, but it still makes it much more enjoyable overall. And even though we see a simple storyline on the surface, we are actually delivered a very well constructed protagonist. He is somebody we are really able to feel sorry for. He pursues such a pure dream of being a renowned guitarist just like his ancestors before him, and yet he has that dream trashed and scattered by the evil of the world. He begins the film as pretty much the only character with good intentions. The rest of the cast, albeit small, are all greedy scoundrels who taint El Mariachi's good hope. In hindsight, it is actually very depressing. And then of course the film ends with a bittersweet set up for Rodriguez's sequel to El Mariachi, Desperado.El Mariachi is simply awesome. For something so low budget and so limited, Rodriguez does great things with this movie. It's a short but fun ride that begins strong, entertains in the middle, and ends with a bang. This film shows how much can be done with so little and how you can still make a great movie without an overtly complex concept. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I highly recommend it.