Have you heard the legend of the mariachi that carries a guitar case full of guns? Well, if you have then youve most likely seen Desperado or El Mariachi. The newest chapter, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, expands that legend, adding dazzling set pieces, colorful characters and a fun performance by Johnny Depp.   Director/Writer/Editor/Composer/Production Designer/Producer/Visual Effects Supervisor Robert Rodriguez, a man who must never sleep with all these jobs, has crafted a tale far better than its predecessors. Each film Rodriguez makes, most of which cost less than $30 million, improve upon the last. In this case, Mexico is beautifully formulated in the vein of a spaghetti western. Its title, Once Upon a Time in Mexico is actually a homage to western great Sergio Leone, whose Once Upon a Time in the West in considered by many to be the greatest western ever made.   

            To really understand whats going on here, one must know that each film is not really connected with the other; hence there is no 2 or 3 after the title. Each film is a legend, a folktale parents tell their children before bedtime. In fact, a lot of people after the movie were complaining that a lot of the characters from Desperado were here, but playing different people. Well, folks, thats why. This is not a sequel, but a legend. If we were to take this as a legend, then part one, El Mariachi, was the true story. It was the most realistic tale and is probably what really happened. Part two, Desperado, was what the original story became after it was passed down from person to person. The character changed faces (from actor Carlos Gallardo to Banderas). He was much bigger, darker and more vengeful. The third tale is yet another story about the Mariachi, but now he is a ghost, a spook that haunts his prey, in this case, a drug cartel leader and a cruel military general named Marquez. He no longer fears, he has nothing, he is dead.           

            Banderas was born for this role. He is a great actor, but he really churns out his best performances when he is the Mariachi. It is as though he really is a ghost in this film; torn by past events in his life, running from drug cartels. He hardly speaks, nor is he hardly seen making his presence all the stronger. He dominates every action set piece with a power that can only be described as God like. He leaps up walls like Spider-Man, he never misses a shot and he is protected by an almost spiritual force.

            Johnny Depp chimes in as CIA agent Sands. He feels more like a Bond villain (he has a fake third arm for starters) than a real person. His performance is comfortable and cool, a perfect film to follow his glitzy over-the-top performance in Pirates of the Caribbean. Every frame he is in is stolen by his charm, wit and cleverness. Willem Dafoe is also added to the mix as the drug cartel looking to overthrow Mexicos President. Hes not really in the movie all that much. In fact, I think Rodriguez might have pulled an Ed Wood on us and used a double for the last half of the film as Dafoes face is covered in bandages.

            Then theres Mickey Rourke. Oh, Mr. Rourke, what happened to you? I swear this guy just hangs around movie sets, drunk, until someone says, Alright, hes not going to go away until we give him a part. So give him something small and pointless. In this film, Rourke plays a washed up (imagine that) criminal named Billy, who hopes to get out of the business so he can spend some quality time with his Taco Bell dog. Im not kidding. Id like to think Rodriguez had nothing to do with Rourkes character arch.

            The only problem with this film is that, while Desperado was not complex enough, this tale is far too complex. It was hard to follow the plot at times because there were so many double and triple crosses going on. This isnt all that bad however. The first two tales were straight forward, often clichéd revenge stories, but this one takes on a lot more than just that. Its really a film about Mexican empowerment. Are you a Mexi-can or a Mexi-cant? Depp states. Yeah, the film's got the whole love story, revenge thing, but its really Rodriguezs swan song to Mexico, which actually makes the title all the better.

            The film was shot on digital video, a format that will one day take over the industry, but its still not perfect. I could tell it was video every once and while as the image would get jittery. Digital video does offer one big benefit though. The colors are bright, vibrant and almost tangible, creating a really beautiful cinematic presentation. The format isnt perfect yet, but its getting there. Fifty years from now, this entry will probably be considered a classic in western cinema. It is a B-movie that cleverly updates the old spaghetti westerns of the past, adding a new flavor to the mix; a flavor that will not be forgotten. Thank you Robert Rodriguez, for making Hollywood films that are worthwhile.