I had higher hopes for this movie. What’s left is the feeling that there isn't much here beyond a huge amount of action sequences—explosions, countless gunshots, and some unnecessary destruction. It brought to mind those older films labeled “blaxploitation” because they relied on stereotypes about African Americans; it seems like we see similar tropes applied to Latino and Mexican-Americans. Normally, I don't worry much about political correctness or stereotypes—I’m comfortable with that as a proud Portuguese person living in a Latin country. However, I sympathize with those who experience prejudice against the Latino community in places like the United States, which is a diverse group including Castilian and Portuguese speakers, overlooking the fact that Italian Americans also share cultural connections. Robert Rodriguez is Latino and his films often reflect that heritage; I imagine he’s proud of his background, and I think that's wonderful. We should all feel that pride. I believe he made this film with that in mind, but I do wonder: could a movie so focused on violence, drugs, and crime actually be harmful to the Latino community? Antonio Banderas is one of Spain’s finest actors and successfully moved into Hollywood, where his career really took off. Here, he did a solid job, combining elements of a Latin lover with a gangster and Zorro. He has the right look and was a good casting choice. I also enjoyed seeing Joaquim de Almeida, another Portuguese actor, in what is arguably his best American film to date—I think studios should invest more in him; he’s talented. Steve Buscemi brings some lightness to the movie, while Danny Trejo and Tarantino have short, unimportant roles. Salma Hayek, a capable actress, unfortunately seems limited to simply being attractive and seductive. I'm not sure what the film’s budget was, but it doesn't seem low-budget given the number of well-known actors involved; people don’t typically work for free these days. The special effects are also impressive—the sets look realistic, and the action sequences are carefully planned and executed. As an action movie, it works very well and is entertaining for fans of the genre. However, the script is disappointing, relying too heavily on stereotypes, weaknesses, predictable elements, and bland dialogue.

Source on TMDB