The quirky no-budget charm of El Mariachi may have gone, but director Robert Rodriguez here clearly revels in the chance to splash out with the backing of a studio to reimagine his modest debut feature effectively. Antonio Banderas assumes the mantle of the mysterious guitar-playing stranger who arrives south of the border seeking vengeance against an evil drugs baron, and keeps his tongue wedged firmly in cheek as he carries out his acrobatic slaughter of hordes of bad guys. Add to that a smouldering early appearance from Salma Hayek, sharp cameos from Quentin Tarantino and Steve Buscemi and a rootsy rocking soundtrack from Los Lobos, and you end up with joyfully mindless mayhem.

El Mariachi plunges headfirst into the dark border underworld when he follows a trail of blood to the last of the infamous Mexican drug lords, Bucho, for an action-packed, bullet-riddled showdown. With the help of his friend and a beautiful bookstore owner, El Mariachi tracks Bucho, takes on his army of desperados, and leaves his own trail of blood.