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Movies / On DVD / El Mariachi
El Mariachi

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El Mariachi (1992)

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92 %
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Reviews Counted: 26

Fresh: 24

Rotten:2

Average Rating: 7/10

Consensus: Made on a shoestring budget, El Mariachi's story is not new. However, the movie has so much energy that it's thoroughly enjoyable.

Runtime: 81 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

Synopsis: While earning room and board for a song, a down-on-his-luck musician gets into deep hot water when he's mistaken for a guitar case-toting hitman in a small Mexican town. EL MARIACHI was produced by do-it-yourself Austin, Texas auteur... While earning room and board for a song, a down-on-his-luck musician gets into deep hot water when he's mistaken for a guitar case-toting hitman in a small Mexican town. EL MARIACHI was produced by do-it-yourself Austin, Texas auteur Robert Rodriguez (FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, SPY KIDS) on a shoe-string budget for the Mexican video market but earned a major studio release. Winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. [More]

Starring: Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gomez, Peter Marquardt

Starring: Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gomez, Peter Marquardt

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Screenwriter: Robert Rodriguez
Producer: Carlos Gallardo, Robert Rodriguez

[See More Credits]

DVD Info

 
 
 
 
Release:

Aug 26, 2003

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 2.0 - English

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - 1. Robert Rodrigues - Director
  • Featurette - 1. Robert Rodriguez's Short Film "Bedhead"
  • 2. 10 MINUTE FILM SCHOOL
  • 3. Sneak Peek At ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO

Reviews for El Mariachi

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By: Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
Ratings Image

The unrelenting tempo is bolstered by Rodriguez's camera work and editing: nearly every frame seems to have been shot with a careening, handheld camera, and they're cut together in a skillful, fluid fashion that enhances the tension and pace.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
03/13/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Ratings Image

Juicy, adroit, and likable.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
03/13/07
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Ratings Image

No festival is true to its name if it doesn't display at least one discovery. In 1992 that spot was occupied by Robert Rodriguez, who made a charming actioner for $7,500; never mind that Columbia later invested $1 million for its theatrical release.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
06/26/06
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image

Rodriguez goes for broke with a breakneck pace, swarms of bullets, cinematic tricks, and a tone as playful as it is knowing of genre conventions. The director's light touch is all his own; and this unpretentious offering delivers in all departments.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Ratings Image

No review available.

comment Comment
11/01/05
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Ratings Image

An endlessly inventive and charming zero-budget action movie.

comment Comment
07/08/05
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Ratings Image

No review available.

comment Comment
12/18/04
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image

Brilliant low-budget filmmaking. Better than most action films with ten times the budget.

comment Comment
07/20/04
Widgett Walls
Needcoffee.com
Ratings Image

Nowhere near as extravagant as its succesors, yet it remains a constant simple pleasure, best enjoyed with a shot of Patron and a cold Corona

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/21/04
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image

Inspiring but misses a few cylinders

comment Comment
10/08/03
Karina Montgomery
Cinerina
Ratings Image

A silly adventure tale that would have failed even with a $200 million budget.

Full Review Source: Reno Gazette-Journal | comment 1 Comment
09/26/03
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal
Ratings Image

Has tons more charm than its star-studded, big-budget reprise, Desperado.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
08/09/03
Bill Chambers
Film Freak Central
Ratings Image

No review available.

comment Comment
06/02/03
Kevin N. Laforest
Montreal Film Journal
Ratings Image

It goes without saying that Mr. Rodriguez, having made such a clever and inventive debut, is prepared for a big future of his own.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image

No review available.

comment Comment
03/27/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Ratings Image

No review available.

comment Comment
10/18/02
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)
Ratings Image

Arguably the most amazing film made in 1990s.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
09/09/02
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews
Ratings Image

Low-budget filmmaking at its most clever.

comment Comment
08/05/02
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat
Ratings Image

No review available.

comment Comment
07/30/02
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Ratings Image

Not exactly a monumental contribution to cinematic art, but it's a lot of fun.

Full Review Source: Movieline | comment Comment
01/09/02
Stephen Farber
Movieline
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
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Latest News for El Mariachi

December 06, 2004: David Arquette & Kristin Davis Meet Up With Shark Boy and Lava Girl
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