Now, don't get me wrong, there's plenty of blood and body parts flying around, and although the plot gets a little wierd at times, it works out, the good guys and bad guys both pretty much get what's coming to them...often, more than they expected or really wanted.

But really, Rodriguez has nothing new to say, and no new stories to tell. This (with the exception of Johnny Depp's part) is just more of the same, because the filmmakers know that we'll all plonk down our 10 bucks to see it (although I rented it to watch at the Red Cross while doing apheresis...blood on the screen is a good way to spend your time while your own goes through tubes!). This is just a mishmosh of people all out to get each other and a big bloodbath finale at the end.

And ooh, I hate to say it, but I think maybe the high life is not agreeing with Serious Honey Antonio Banderas...he's looking a little less hard-edged than in his previous movies, and he never took his shirt off...this may be a case of Steven Seagal syndrome, we'll have to see...but he may be losing Honey status in future...

On the other hand, Salma Hayek, serious honey...is not actually in this movie. What she does is about 10 total minutes of flashbacks, because she's DEAD and Banderas is out for revenge...one of the complicating factors in the plot. Big disappointment there, although there is a great dream sequence where she kicks serioius butt in her charming fashion, nice.

Really, you'd be better off just watching Mariachi or Desperado again...except for Johnny Depp.

The movie opens with Depp in a bar, talking to a guy (Cheech Marin)...very much like the Buschemi character in Desperado...but what a difference. Depp is playing a CIA guy (at least he SAYS he's CIA) who is just having a wonderful time being a honcho, playing both ends off against the middle, running the show and pulling the strings...until it all comes crashing down on him. Depp is not only a serious honey, but a fine actor, arguably the best around today, and he is just excellent in this role. Everything he does is perfect, and when onscreen he draws your eyes like a magnet, even from such fine character actors as Willem Dafoe and Ruben Blades. Wow.

Rent it for the fight scenes and Depp. Not much else of interest here.