If you watch Sergio Leone's "Dollars" trilogy closely you will realize that Clint Eastwood's 'Man With No Name' is not really the same character in each film. He is and he isn't. Clint's gunman is a man of mythological proportions. Leone made his character both familiar and foreign in each film. That is one of the reasons the films worked so well. Robert Rodriguez also follows this paradigm with his character "El Mariachi" (Antonio Banderas). In each of the three "El Mariachi" films, Banderas's history has changed. This doesn't matter, as he is a man of myth. In some ways, he is defined by those who encounter him. As Cheech Marin's character explains to Mr. Sands (Johnny Depp), "sometimes the story gets embellished." There are two common traits in all three films: El Mariachi is heart broken by the murder of the woman he loves, and he is one supreme bad ass. When you see El Mariachi playing guitar in this film, forget the fact that he couldn't play his guitar because of a bullet wound in the first two films. Forget any historical inconsistencies. El Mariachi is not a man, he is legend...a myth.

"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is pure comic book excitement. Robert Rodriguez almost achieves epic status with this film. I thought it a bold move to name a film "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" when you consider the classic status of Sergio Leone's two "Once Upon a Time" films. Rodriguez's film does not rise to the level of either of the Leone films. It does entertain though. This is formalist filmmaking. Do not go into this film expecting the realism of "Reservoir Dogs." "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is a cinematic graphic novel populated with larger than life heroes and villains.

Johnny Depp could not have chosen a better follow-up to "The Pirates of the Caribbean." Depp plays Mr. Sands, a manic CIA agent trying to manipulate a coup de tat in Mexico. He also has a number of other intrigues in the works, but I won't spoil them for you. His Sands is appropriately named. He shifts under your feet. If you hit him, he conforms to the punch. The rich, well-written part couldn't have been played by anyone else. While not as memorable as Jack Sparrow, Agent Sands is one of Mr. Depp's more memorable performances. When he is not on the screen, you wish he were. Sands is interested in keeping the balance in Mexico. He has psychotic ideas about how to achieve feng shui. Sands always orders the same meal at restaurants where ever he goes. He finds a restaurant that makes the dish better than anywhere else does. In order to maintain the balance, Sands kills the chef. Can't have anything too outstanding. All must be the same.

The film pays homage to "Once Upon a Time in the West" by having three almost godlike lead characters. Depp's agent Sands, Banderas's El Mariachi and Willem Dafoe's Barillo. Barillo is a drug kingpin who will kill anyone who gets in his way, even the President of Mexico. While Depp, Banderas and Dafoe do not captivate you the way Bronson, Fonda and Robards did in "Once Upon a Time in the West," they are not to be blamed. What could have been a classic film is merely a very good entertainment due to Rodriguez's script. The film veers very close to the edge of parody. Rodriguez is smart enough to hold the reigns. The action scenes are comic book in style, but they are consistent. Only the scene in which Banderas and Salma Hayek escape from a machine gun ambush does Rodriguez let one of the movie's proverbial wagon wheels hang over the edge of the parody cliff. He quickly pulls back. This momentary lapse can be forgiven. Rodriguez invents an imaginary world and obeys the laws he creates for that universe. There are no "Die Hard 3" lapses of reason. The laws of physics are bent, but not enough to prevent the willing suspension of disbelief.

Though she receives third billing, Salma Hayek has very little screen time. In this installment, she is the dead woman that El Mariachi must avenge. All of her scenes are told in flashback. While she looks great, do not expect a repeat of the steamy sex scene from "Desperado." Eva Mendes also provides eye candy for the guys (and gals who are so inclined) as Mexican drug cop Ajedrez. She looks like a more voluptuous Gina Gershon. Rubin Blades and Mickey Rourke also have nice supporting roles. All things considered, Johnny Depp steals the show. I'd pay to see this one again.

Rusty White, 2003