Key takeaways:
– The Mexico Trilogy of Robert Rodriguez is coming to Arrow Video in an exclusive box set.
– Of the three films, only Desperado will have a 4K disc.
– El Mariachi was recorded on 16mm, limiting its resolution to 1080p HD.
– Despite its higher budget, Once Upon a Time in Mexico can only reach a maximum resolution of 1080p due to its HD digital production.
Fans of the Robert Rodriguez’s Mexico Trilogy, composed of El Mariachi, Desperado, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, are in for a treat. The popular series, recognized for showcasing Rodriguez’s exceptional directing prowess, will soon be released in a deluxe package by Arrow Video, complete with special features such as commentaries, new interviews, and deleted scenes. What’s more intriguing is that only Desperado is set to receive a 4K format upgrade.
Why Just One 4K Film?
The lack of necessary components for 4K resolution is cited as the primary reason for the absence of a similar upgrade for El Mariachi and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. El Mariachi was originally created with a budget of $7000 on 16mm film, limiting it to a maximum of 1080p HD resolution. On the other hand, the highest resolution of Once Upon a Time in Mexico, despite having a substantial budget, is 1080p due to the movie being an early entrant in HD digital filming. Only Desperado was shot on 35mm film, making it the candidate with the most suitable components for a spectacular 4K upgrade.
What’s in the Box Set?
Apart from the resplendent 4K version of Desperado, the box set is chock-full of additional features. Disc 1, El Mariachi, is a Blu-ray that includes original uncompressed Latin-American Spanish stereo audio, English dub, and subtitles for the hearing impaired, as well as a new featurette on the musical elements of the film. Rodriguez provides a teaching presentation, and a short film from 1991 called Bedhead is also included, along with theatrical trailers.
The second and third discs showcase Desperado, with a Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Expect a new 4K restoration from the original film negatives by Sony Pictures, and several newly filmed interviews with Rodriguez, producer Bill Borden, and stunt coordinator Steve Davison among others.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico, provided in a Blu-ray disc, is the fourth part of the set. It offers original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo audio, with special features that include eight deleted scenes and several archive features.
The deluxe box set of Robert Rodrigues’s Mexico Trilogy, bursting with a host of remarkable features, is sure to enthrall action cinema enthusiasts worldwide. If you’ve been swept off your feet by this classic series before, mark August 27th in your calendar for its release in the US and Canada.
