Review of Desperado (1995) by Stuart K — 10 Aug 2010

After El Mariachi (1992) hit big, Robert Rodriguez was given a bigger budget by Columbia Pictures to do a sequel to the film, however, alot of people say it's a remake. But it's not, but maybe it is, or maybe it's both.

But, it's still a good piece of entertainment, with good action and good performances, and it saw Rodriguez improve his style. This has El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) seeking revenge for the death of his lover, and he's going after drugs criminal Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida), and once again El Mariachi is mistaken for a hitman, and a very high body count follows, and he finds refuge with local bookstore owner Carolina (Salma Hayek), who works for Bucho.

Then Bucho learns that Carolina has been hiding El Mariachi, and he's being followed by another man in black known as Navajas (Danny Trejo), who killed El's partner (Steve Buscemi). So, El calls in the cavalry with his friends Campa (Carlos Gallardo) and Quino (Albert Michel Jr.

) to help in the war against Bucho and his men. It's alot bigger in scope, even though it was made for a small budget, it looks like it cost alot more. Banderas gives an amazing performance as El Mariachi, and this helped put him on the map in Hollywood.

The film has good action, and is rounded off with cameos from Cheech Marin and Quentin Tarantino, who tells an amusing little joke. :P.