A I saw Desperado countless times before seeing the movie that made it all possible, Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi. Shot with a budget of only $7,000, the movie extends far beyond what Rodriguez ever thought possible, becoming a cult classic.

The story is simple enough; a musician (el mariachi) enters a small, Mexican town looking for work and is mistaken by a nearby drug lord as the guitar-case carrying killer. The musician (Carlos Gallardo) only finds safety in the home of Domino (Consuelo Gomez), a bartender that also hires him.

El Mariachi has no where as much action as Desperado has, but that is to be expected considering the budget. On the other hand, the direction is still fabulous, the script is pretty good, and the story is a little better than Desperado's. As you watch the movie it becomes clear why this movie is critically-acclaimed.

Even though there isn't nonstop action, the movie never slows down. There is always something happening whether it be a gunfight or a romantic scene between el mariachi and Domino.

El Mariachi is a must see for action fans, and you'll be impressed by how professional this movie looks even though Rodriguez made it on scrap money.

Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.