The Film
The first two films of the "Mariachi" trilogy are presented here as a double feature with surprisingly good results. It is a bit jarring as the first film lacks the production values of its sequel. The original story is also a tad farfetched beginning with a case of mistaken identity that quickly turns into a blood bath. El Mariachi makes good use of the reported $7,000 budget, with then-unknown director Robert Rodriquez assembling a cast of friends and acquaintances including Carlos Gallardo as the title character, a musician that has the unfortunate luck of looking like a notorious gangster.
The nameless Mariachi returns in the Desperado - or at least we think it could be the same character but he now looks an awful lot like Antonio Banderas. He also doesn't exactly stumble into the situation but is out this time for pure revenge. In this sequel (or is it a remake?), the Mariachi is more akin to Clint Eastwood's "Man With No Name" character, a killer who isn't exactly ruthless though he may appear that way to those who have wronged him. Taken together, the two films are a blast in more ways than one.
The Picture
The video is a mixed bag, and that's to be expected. Even with the magic of Blu-ray you're not going to take a low budget film and make it look worthy of HD. That said the video for El Mariachi is actually better than expected. The 1.85:1 presentation is a step up from the DVD version from a decade ago, but just enough of the graininess remains to give it that indie feel. It is a tad washed out at times, but that's also how it looked when it was released.
Desperado is more disappointing because it should be slick, clean and free of the graininess. But at times it looks nearly as bad as El Mariachi. It too is an upgrade from DVD, but not enough that this 1080p 1.85:1 release will be the disc to show off the visuals of Blu-ray.
The Sound
Given what has been done with older films, it is surprising that El Mariachi is presented here with a 2.0 channel DTS-HD soundtrack. Maybe purists want it that way, but it really deserves more. This shows when you jump to Desperado, which features a 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. It brings out the sounds of the guitar, not to mention gunplay, with far better results. Dialog is also easier to understand, yet there isn't much in the use of subtle discrete sound. This is a film that is loud and over-the-top.
The Extras
Robert Rodriguez offers commentary tracks for both films, while a "Cutting Room" featurette offers viewers the ability to create their own cuts from clips from the films. These can be uploaded to BD-Live and shared with others. The disc includes Sony's own movieIQ+sync feature as well. More interesting is the director's student film "Bed Head," along with a "10 More Minutes: Anatomy of a Shootout" featurette, and a 10-minute film school featurette that shows how editing can enhance a scene. Finally, there are music videos from Los Lobos with Antonio Banderas ("Morena De Mi Corazon") and Tito & Tarantula ("Back to the House That Love Built").
Final Thoughts
Truth be told these films stand alone very well, particularly considering the first film's modest beginnings. But we can understand why the studio decided to package them together. Plus, given the fact that Rodriguez sees these as a trilogy, it gives viewers the chance to see the original "origin" story before jumping to the blast ‘em up film that is Desperado. Given the low price, bringing home the first two parts of the "El Mariachi" trilogy on Blu-ray is a no-brainer.
Product Details
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