I finally got hold of the R2 El Mariachi/Desperado disc and was REALLY disappointed with the picture quality of the older film. It is the first film I have where the 1.66 non anamorphic laserdisc is better looking than the 1.77 anamorphic dvd. Does anyone know why the picture is so bad? RR shows some of the original cut (videotape edit) during the 10 minute film school and they look great, so why not use this on the dvd?

Can anyone with the US version tell me what the transfer is like?

Also disappointed that all laserdisc references in the commentary had been removed - what a waste of someones time that was!

Cheers

El Mariachi was not put out by Criterion so I have no idea what you are asking for.

Robert Rodriguez explains all of this in the commentary, so listen to it. Basically, the handling of the 16mm negative has degraded it significantly. The film is indeed in better shape on the video version (because it was transfered by the film house before there was any indication that it would be released theatrically), but there are other artifacts on it that would make it a crappy master for DVD.

Yeah, don't know where I got that idea from (?)

Yes I did listen to it, hence the question about the US transfer, if it's the same as the laserdisc then it will be much better than the UK dvd.

Is there are R1 verison of just El Mariachi since I already one Desperado and don't need the double feature.

To the best of my knowledge the only way is to get the Double Feature, and is well worth it if you are a fan of Robert Rodriguez. I can't wait for the finale of his "Mariachi Trilogy" with Once Upon a Time in Mexico when it comes out late this year.

Looks like I may have to double dip, something I heardly ever do.

A stand alone version of El Mariachi is coming to DVD on 8/26/03.

Where did you hear that at? I haven't heard anything on it or found it for pre-order anywheres, if true, then it'll save me a ton since I almost ordered the double set off of DDD. Your help is needed, thanks!

Double set. Columbia House. CYCD. $5.

You'll need Dr Brown's flux capacitor to time travel back in order to use the now expired CYCD

I saw the double set for $14 or $15 at Walmart about a week ago...

I don't remember what site I read that on but I incorporated it into the Upcoming DVD release list that I compile weekly for the Borders I work at. I don't think that it was the Bits but probably DVDAngle.com

I remember seeing the cover art for the single disc release of El Mariachi recently, i believe it was at digital bits

I saw it too at Walmart for $14.44 a pop.

The "Director's Double Feature" of Desperado also has stuff like audio commentary and a followup to the "Ten Minute Film School" that's missing from the other DVD editions.

How's the transfer?

I got the Double Feature from CH a while back when it was still $39.95 MSRP.

Now it's pretty cheap.

I thought the El Mariachi transfer was pretty good considering it was shot on 16mm and cut on video.

I've never seen any other home video incarnations of it, though.

Still, the U.S. DVD is great - good commentaries and nice shorts about the filmmaking process.

"El Mariachi" was originally cut on video but when Columbia Pictures bought the theatrical rights Robert Rodriguez went back and made an identical edit on film. You can read all about it in "Rebel Without A Crew". Some people say the $7,000 budget is a myth due to all the promotion and post-production costs but the simple fact of the matter is this: Robert Rodriguez's original intention was to sell the movie to the Mexican Home Video market. He could have done so with his $7,000 cut-on-video version. The fact that Columbia dumped more money into it doesn't change the fact that there could have been an available version of the film with practically no more money invested had things gone another way.

That's a great book. A must read if you are interested in making your own low budget films. It's funny how close El Mariachi came to being released direct to video in the Mexican market only. We might not have ever heard of it.