The Mexico Trilogy: El Mariachi, Desperado & Once Upon a Time in Mexico Limited Edition [4K UHD/Blu-ray]

The best way to approach Robert Rodriguez’s series of action films are as more avante garde independent films. They’re much more obsessed with the mysticism and the lore of the mariachi than pursuing traditional action films. In the process he loses himself in a trio of imperfect often incoherent action films that, while fun, are hard to follow. “El Marciahi” for instance cost Rodriguez everything to make where he couldn’t even afford to film two takes for a lot of his shots. In spite of the troubles, the film made him an indie legend, inspiring many to go their own gold. “Desperado” is the partial remake and sequel now following Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi. The vengeful and vicious music player travels across Mexico with the aide of a gorgeous local nurse—played by then unknown Salma Hayek–as he sets out to put and end to their reign.

All the while he dodges various assassination attempts including one by then unknown Danny Trejo as Navajas. Still not a great movie, but it has its charms and Banderas and Hayek’s chemistry is palpable. The finale “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” is preceded by its reputation and tabloid buzz involving Johnny Depp, and the big return of the original stars from the series. While “Once Upon a Time” isn’t great, it’s a decent finale that makes good use of Depp’s screentime. Rodriguez has never been great about writing multiple characters, but the chaos works in this rare instance.

Disc 1 for 1992’s “El Mariachi” on Blu-Ray features the Original uncompressed Latin-American Spanish stereo audio, plus an English dub in lossless stereo and Optional English subtitles, plus English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. There’s a classic Commentary by writer-director Robert Rodriguez, Big Vision Low Budget: a newly filmed interview with Rodriguez, The Original Mariachi, a newly filmed interview with producer/star Carlos Gallardo and The Music of ‘El Mariachi’, a newly produced featurette on the music in the film, featuring interviews with composers Eric Guthrie, Chris Knudson, Alvaro Rodriguez and Marc Trujillo. There’s also the archival Ten Minute Film School, featurette produced and narrated by Rodriguez, Rodriguez’s 1991 Short film “Bed Head,” as well as the original theatrical trailer and TV spot for the hit indie film.

Discs 2 & 3 includes 1995’s Desperado on Blu-Ray and 4K Ultra HD with a New 4K restoration from the original camera negative by Sony Pictures, and Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio, as well as Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. There’s a classic audio commentary by Robert Rodriguez, as well as Lean and Mean, a newly filmed interview with Rodriguez. Shoot Like Crazy is a newly filmed interview with producer Bill Borden, and Kill Count, a newly filmed interview with dazzling stunt coordinator Steve Davison. Lock and Load is a newly filmed interview with special effects coordinator Bob Shelley, as well as Game Changer, a newly filmed appreciation by filmmaker Gareth Evans of “The Raid.” Ten More Minutes: Anatomy of a Shootout, is an archive featurette narrated by Rodriguez, along with the original theatrical trailers. Finally we get the textless opening for the great song “Morena de mis Corazón.”

Disc 4 for Once Upon a Time in Mexico on Blu-Ray includes Commentary by writer-director Robert Rodriguez, The Revolution Will Be Digitized, a newly filmed interview with Rodriguez, Troublemaking, a newly filmed interview with visual effects editor Ethan Maniquis, Eight deleted scenes, with optional commentary by Rodriguez, Ten Minute Flick School, an archive featurette narrated by Rodriguez, Inside Troublemaker Studios, an archive featurette on Rodriguez’s studio in Austin, Ten Minute Cooking School, an archive featurette in which Rodriguez shows you how to cook Puerco Pibil, Film is Dead: An Evening with Robert Rodriguez, a presentation by the director given in 2003, The Anti-Hero’s Journey, an archive featurette on the arc of the Mariachi, The Good, the Bad and the Bloody: Inside KNB FX, an archive featurette on the film’s special effects, and finally vintage Theatrical trailers.

Limited Edition Contents for the collectors includes Desperado Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Carlos Aguilar and Nicholas Clement, Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper, Double sided posters featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper with finally a Collectable poster featuring Robert Rodriguez’s original poster concept for El Mariachi.