Desperado

State-of-the-art comic book cinema, this is a hot-blooded ballet of bullets and blood. Desperado is to El Mariachi (the breakout hit of the 1992 Sundance Film Festival produced by Robert Rodriguez for $7, 000) what The Road Warrior was to Mad Max; a studio-sanctioned, big budget expansion of the original. Antonio Banderas stars as the Mariachi With No Name, gunning for the local drug lord who killed the woman he loved. Not much story, but one incredible, blazing set piece after another. Cameos by Cheech Marin, Steve Buscemi and Quentin Tarantino, and music by Los Lobos add to the hipness factor. (D. Liebenson)Desperado: Special Edition--DVD Review--September 9, 2003--Columbia TriStar, 103 min., R, $19.95 ($27.95 w/El Mariachi)--So many Desperado's, so little time: Desperado: Special Edition is the third DVD iteration of Robert Rodriguez's 1995 Hollywood remake of his 1992 indie El Mariachi, after the original standard release and the Superbit edition (to make matters more confusing, the SE is also available on a double-disc set with El Mariachi--the best bargain). Boasting an excellent transfer and vigorous Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, the SE features a great commentary track by Rodriguez, a "10 More Minutes with Robert Rodriguez: Anatomy of a Shootout" featurette, and a sneak peek at the new sequel Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid action flick--the double-disc pack w/El Mariachi is a real deal. (R. Pitman)[Blu-ray Review—Jan 18, 2011—Sony, 189 min., R, $19.95—Making their first appearances on Blu-ray, 1993's El Mariachi and 1995's Desperado feature excellent transfers and 5.1 DTS-HD soundtracks. Blu-ray extras are almost identical to the previous DVD release. El Mariachi extras include audio commentary by director Robert Rodriguez, a “10 Minute Film School” (15 min.), and Rodriguez's student film short “Bed Head” (9 min.). Desperado extras include audio commentary by Rodriguez, a “10 More Minutes: Anatomy of a Shootout” featurette (10 min.), and the music videos “Morena De Mi Corazón” by Antonio Banderas and Los Lobos, and “Back to the House That Love Built” performed by Tito & Tarantula. New to this release is “The Cutting Room” editing option and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: an excellent two-fer Blu-ray debut for Rodriguez's classic indie original and his Hollywood remake.]