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Rating:
Robert Rodriguez' Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a tribute to Sergio Leone in much more than just name only. What he takes from the master is a desire to pump up genre clichés until they achieve an almost kabuki-like level of significance. There are many individual sequences that work quite well in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, but Rodriguez loses the fun after about 40 minutes. Johnny Depp's CIA agent is darkly humorous and gives the film some much needed comic relief, but much of the film is given over to Antonio Banderas brooding about his lost wife and child, and solemnly preparing to do what he has to do. This is a darker, more serious film than the two previous films in the franchise. A streak of Mexican nationalistic pride gives the film some thematic weight, but also leads to some easy audience pleasing moments that fail to replace the humor and charm of Desperado and El Mariachi. Once Upon a Time in Mexico will satisfy fans of Rodriguez distinct style and talent for action sequences, but it also feels like he used up all of his sense of fun while making three Spy Kids films in three years. Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

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