The Mask of Zorro (1998)

The man behind the mask...
"There are many who would proudly wear the mask of Zorro."

In 1995, Martin Campbell exploded onto the Hollywood action film-making scene with Goldeneye, a film that revitalized the stumbling Bond franchise and made Pierce Brosnan a star. In 1998, he released what stands as possibly his best film (even including the fantastic Casino Royale, which cemented Campbell as a Bond film director for the ages) which introduced modern audiences to Zorro, the Robin Hood of 19th-century Mexico and inspiration for Bob Kane's Batman. The Mask of Zorro not only serves as something of a sequel to the Tyrone Power-starring The Mark of Zorro (1940) and throwback to the romance adventure films of its ilk, it is quite simply a brilliant adventure movie that can stand alongside the best work of Fairbanks and Flynn.

Beginning in the 1820's, on the even of Spain's departure from Mexico, "Mask" tells of Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins), a Spanish nobleman who protects the opressed as Zorro from the greedy Govenor of California, Raphael Montero. After one final desperate attempt to capture Zorro ends with the hero riding victorious once more into the sunset, things go horribly wrong for the masked swashbuckler. Robbed of his title, lands, and his loved ones, the man once known as Zorro is thrown into prison and left to rot for decades as Montero sails back to spain with Diego's daughter in his arms.

Fast-forward twenty years, Diego escapes from prison only to find Alehandro (Antonio Banderas), a petty thief reeling from his brother's murder at the hands of the bloodthirsty US soldier-turned-mercenary Captain Harrison Love. When it becomes apparent that Love has been hired by Montero, now returned from Spain, for some sinister purpose that once against threatens the peace and prosperity of California, the old hero and the young rogue join forces in a quest for justice and revenge. It then becomes apparent the Montero has brought Diego's daughter, Elena (played by the scorching Catherine Zeta Jones), who remembers nothing of her real father, and things get complicated.

What makes the film work more than anything else is the character dynamics, both hero and villain. Banderas and Hopkins share a master/pupil relationship as Diego trains Alehandro in the ways and philosphies Zorro used to protect the people, and their parallels and personality clashes are well-written and acted with a beautiful on-screen chemistry. Likewise, the sizzling romantic tension between Banderas and Zeta Jones works well on every level, bringing a 90's sexuality to the classical hero/heroine banter seen in films like The Adventures of Robin Hood. And the villains, one an obsessed man who geniunely believes he is doing what's right, the other a borderline-psychotic, bring a contrast (and at times, even depth) not usually seen in antagonists in action films. The build-up to a dual clash between each hero and their opposite number is a perfect example of creating a path to satisfying payoff.

And the payoff is beautiful - sword duels, horse chases, explosions, and fist fights. No one set piece stands out simply because all are so beautifully-coreographed, imaginitively-staged, and perfectly-shot. The final clash at El Dorado demonstrates some of the finest action of its kind in decades. Each scene's musical accompaniment, provided by veteran composer James Horner (Aliens, Braveheart, Titanic) brings an extra level of melancholy to a forgotten father, a pounding cadence to a hectic escape, or a layer of sensuality to a provacative dance number, and everything in-between.

With the extravagant production values, larger than life heroics, and lavish clashes of heroes and villains, The Mask of Zorro does so many adventure films of its kind have failed to do since the days of The Seahawk. An imformative fist-ful of extras and a solid transfer round out a package that no swashbuckling fan should be without. Now if only someone could get Campbell working on that new Prince of Persia movie.

Mask of Zozo
I loved this movie. A top-notch cast, good music & excellent direction makes this movie very enjoyable to watch. Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones sizzle together (the Tango scene is a must-see). What surprised me was how well they blended in the humor to an otherwise serious storyline. I love the relationship Zoro has with his horse. This is definitely a movie you can watch over & over again.

A Whole Lotta Fun!
Now here's an action movie where, despite a lot of fighting, nobody gets hurt except the really bad guys!

This movie is just plain fun! Antonio Banderas is a manly gentleman, but vulnerable. Anthony Hopkins is.. Anthony Hopkins! He's captivating as usual. Catherine Zeta-Jones is incredibly beautiful and mesmerizing, and nobody looks finer in pre-usa California costume. The rest of the supporting cast does well too, and the casting well matches the script.

This movie has charm! The music is wonderful. The costumes and other production design elements are well done, and the casting is superb. There is a lot of action, a lot of humor, a lot of drama, and all in all, it's a light hearted romp through pre-statehood California, centered around that wonderful hero called Zorro! Who can resist that?

I'd give it more stars if Amazon's form allowed 'em. And even if it did, I'd still add more stars to the rating! This movie will have you cheering!