El Mariachi or Desperado?

[The Delfonics]

These are Rob Rod's best films and both kick a great deal of ass. However in the long run I think El Mariachi is the better movie mostly because of its low budget charm which inspired me a lot. Then again Banderas is sexy! (lol)

El Mariachi - 8/10
Desperado - 8/10

[VicVega]

I'll have to say El Mariachi is better. Sure, Desperado had the big bang special effects (which were too big bang in some scenes), but El Mariachi had that innocent gritty charm to it. But Antonio does make a better mariachi because, yes Derek, he IS damn sexy.

[radikill]

While El Mariachi was excellent for what it was, I think Desperado benefited from better acting, a more well-rounded story and a kick-ass soundtrack.

[Brock-Landers]

El Mariachi - (8/10)
Desperado - (9/10)

[EBastard]

I remember El Mariachi (1992, 7/10) being a bit cheesy in the beginning but in the end coming out great. But Desperado (1995, 8/10) was great from beginning to end.

And just taking a look at IMDB for stats on both EM and D; I read about the third and last chapter of the El Mariachi saga...Once Upon A Time In Mexico:

The film is based on the story of a drug lord Barrillo (Willem Dafoe), who pretends to overthrow the Mexican president. Within the drama, another of the principal persons is a corrupt CIA agent Sands (Johnny Depp) who at that time, demands retribution from his worst enemy in order to carry out the drug lord's uprising against the government. Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) is recruited by Sands to take out Gen. Marquez (has a huge score to settle with the Mariachi), who has major beef with Mariachi to begin with. He sends Cucuy (Danny Trejo) (the muscle for Sands) to shadow and keep tabs on the Mariachi. Marquez is working with Barrillo, and is about to assassinate El Presidente and assume power. Sands also convinces Jorge Ramirez (Rubin Blades) (retired-FBI, has old scores to settle with Barrillo) to come out of retirement and take out Barrillo and Dr. Guevera (personal Dr. to Barrillo, killed Jorge's partner a long time ago), who brutally tortured and killed Ramirez' FBI partner.

Sounds like it'll be nothing short of a masterpiece.

[Moviefan1234]

"Desperado"

[therealjohng]

This may sound retarded, but El Mariachi is only better because of the amazing commentary the Rodreguiz gives on the DVD. Amazing stuff, anyone who wants to be a director should listen to this track.

Desperado has some amazing action sequences in it though....

[DaveyJoeG]

I haven't seen either. Is Desperado a remake or a sequel?

[therealjohng]

You could argue it both ways, but I tend to think of it as a sequel.

[Roland Deschain]

Originally posted by therealjohng
You could argue it both ways, but I tend to think of it as a sequel.

**Spoilers**

I haven't seen Desperado for a while, but in the intro (the band scene) doesn't the bad guy from El Mariachi appear? He's dressed in white, played by the same guy. Plus in the first he is a mariachi but he gets shot in the hand, and in Desperado he can't play because of it (he also inherits the infamous guitar case in Mariachi).

In either case I believe they are treating it as a trilogy, anyway ;)

[MickeyKnox]

I think they are both equally good.I would give El Mariachi-(8/10) and Desperado-(8/10)

[The Delfonics]

Originally posted by therealjohng
You could argue it both ways, but I tend to think of it as a sequel.

Umm you cant argue it both ways because its a sequel based on the intro. Though a bit similar :)

[Jim H]

Desperado has one or two action scenes that are better.

El Mariachi is superior in plot construction and dialouge though, plus a lot of cool bizzare cinematography. It's also amazing technically, with a $7,000 budget, and the best (educationally) commentary EVER.

[APzombie]

El Mariachi was amazing for what it achieved, a real winner for the budget, but Desperado was more fulfilling for its action, cinimatography, comedy, acting, romance, music and coolness.

I hear that Once Upon A Time in Mexico will also be top notch (with Johnny Depp and William Dofoe joining the cast it better be)!

[therealjohng]

Originally posted by The Delfonics
Umm you cant argue it both ways because its a sequel based on the intro. Though a bit similar :)

I've heard other movie sites saying that it is a big budget remake of Mariahci. Just what I heard.....

[The Delfonics]

Well the thing is.... Desperado starts off where Mariachi ended.