Mexican standoff
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A Mexican standoff is a slang term defined as a stalemate or impasse, a confrontation that neither side can win. In popular culture, the Mexican standoff is usually portrayed as two or more opponents with guns drawn and ready, creating a very tense situation. Exacerbating the tension is that neither side wants to put down its weapons for fear that its opponents will shoot them. This situation forces the participants to resolve the situation either by diplomacy, surrender, or a pre-emptive strike. Discussions of the Soviet Union-United States nuclear confrontation during the Cold War frequently used the term, specifically in reference to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
This expression came into usage during the last decade of the 19th century, most likely originating in the American southwest, although one reputable source claims that the term is of Australian origin. One possibility is that it may relate to the difficult and paradoxical social and economic conditions of 19th and early 20th century Mexico. The term is considered derogatory by some, but its widespread use in a non-derogatory sense indicates that it is generally not meant to be offensive by most contemporary English speakers.
Mexican standoffs in popular culture
The Mexican standoff is now considered a movie cliché through its frequent use in Spaghetti Westerns and other B-movies. Nevertheless, it remains a staple in popular culture because of its potential for high-tension drama.
Film & Television
- 24
- Aladdin and the King of Thieves
- Assault on Precinct 13
- Battle Royale
- The Boondock Saints
- City on Fire
- Cowboy Bebop (Most Notably in Session 5: Ballad of a Fallen Angel, Session 26: The Real Folk Blues)
- Desperado
- Die Hard
- Drawn Together ("The One Wherein There Is a Big Twist")
- Enemy of the State
- Escape from L.A.
- Face/Off (Movie)
- Farscape (Series and miniseries)
- From Dusk Till Dawn
- GoldenEye
- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Hostage
- The Interpreter
- Kaante (Bollywood Combo-Remake of "Reservoir Dogs" and "The Usual Suspects")
- Kill Bill
- The Killer
- Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
- Lethal Weapon 4
- Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels
- Malibu's Most Wanted
- The Matrix Revolutions
- Mr. and Mrs. Smith
- The Mummy
- Munich
- Natural Born Killers
- Nick of Time
- Paycheck
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (with swords)
- The Professionals
- Pulp Fiction
- Once Upon A Time In Mexico
- Reservoir Dogs
- RoboCop
- The Rock (movie)
- Romeo Must Die
- Saving Private Ryan
- Shanghai Noon
- Shaun of the Dead
- The Siege
- The Simpsons An "Italian-American Mexican standoff," as described by Marge
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Straw Dogs
- The World Is Not Enough
- Three Kings
- Total Overdose
- True Romance
- The Wild Bunch
- Windtalkers
Video Games
- Killer 7
- Resident Evil Code: Veronica
- Final Fantasy X-2
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
An XBox 360 commercial pokes fun at the Mexican standoff.
See also
