VITAL STATS Director: Robert Rodriguez Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes Classification: Action Running Time: 98 minutes Synopsis: The third film in the “El Mariachi” trilogy. This movie tells how the Mariachi becomes embroiled in a plot to assassinate the Mexican president, orchestrated by a corrupt CIA agent and involving a drug cartel and a military general who murdered El's wife and daughter.

Mickey Rourke is also impressive as the world-weary gangster, forced to do unspeakable things in Barillo's service or face deportation back to the US, where he is still a wanted man.

Eva Mendes is sultry and sexy as the double-crossing Mexican federales agent, and Cheech Marin is once again at his lopsided humorous best.

Marco Leonardi and Enrique Iglesias (in his movie debut) portray the Mariachi's sidekicks, who have the most lethal guitar cases around.

The thing about Robert Rodriguez is that, much like his long-time ally Quentin Tarantino, you either enjoy his films or you don't, there is very little middle ground.

The El Mariachi trilogy, much like the spaghetti westerns it pays homage to, is violent, blood-strewn and completely over the top in terms of its action sequences, but it really is great fun, provided you enjoy that sort of film.

If you're going to watch this film, expect wild action sequences, plenty of gore, lots of humour and Rodriguez's trademark slow-focus cameras, 360-degree spins and explicit use of the dry and dusty Mexican terrain.

Do not expect a movie that is heavy on plot, overly realistic or does anything at all to advance the skill of artistic filmmaking.

If you're into mindless action that has a nice dark comic undertone, if you like Rodriguez's twisted scripts or just want to “veg” for a while, then this is the film for you.

Failing that, go and watch it just for Johnny Depp's sparkling performance, which takes a character with no morals and a real mean streak and turns him into the guy everyone is rooting for by the end.