Rating: 
Summary: Zorro No Longer a Hero
Review: Zorro, the hero of Pulps, movies, books, comics and television, has a new movie out. Antonio Banderas, on Larry King Live, mentioned that he hoped this movie would help to keep alive the spirit of the only Spanish super-hero (he in not the only one nor was he at the time of the interview). Well, I think it will do much to keep the name alive but not the spirit.Anthony Hopkins is Zorro, the Fox. After years of struggle, Spain is pulling out of California and leaving it to the Mexicans. But Zorro slips up and the evil Governor tracks him down, kills his wife, steals his daughter and throws him in prison. Twenty years later Don Diego (Zorro) hears that the Governor is back. Minutes later he has escaped from prison (what was he waiting for?) and is destined to run into Antonio Banderas. After their meeting, Don Diego trains Antonio to be the new Zorro. The rest of the movie involves the plan to create the Independent Republic of California by buying it from Santa Ana with gold dug out of its soil and stamped to look Spanish. Mexico is willing to make the sale because of their war with the United States (it is now 1841). If you are looking for a fun swashbuckling adventure, then this is definitely the movie to see. If, however, you want to see Zorro, you might find yourself a little disappointed. Gone is Zorro, the defender of the common people and the innocent. In his place is, not one, but two, Zorro's who are bent on personal vendetta's and enlightened self-interest. It is actually Don Diego's daughter who helps some enslaved Mexicans near the end of the movie. The transition from one Zorro to another takes the Fox out of the wealthy and privileged and makes him a commoner. The new Zorro is also a thief (in a wonderfully fun scene the young Zorro steals his horse, a very serious crime at the time). Having Zorro break so common a law seemed wrong to me. To have Zorro flaunt the breaking of laws meant to worsen the lives of the commoners is another thing entirely. But in this movie Zorro does not taunt authority. He plots against it, to be sure, but for his own reasons and not for the good of the people. As this movie has two Zorros, there are now also two villains to be defeated (one each). The elder Zorro still has his old nemesis to contend with while the younger Zorro has made a personal enemy of Captain Love, a young Cavalry officer who seems to be in the wrong country. Both villains are vile and easy to hate. This make the personal vendettas a little more palatable as well as making the ending a lot more fun. The other main problem with this film is that Zorro loses. Zorro never loses. but in this film Zorro loses big time. He loses his wife, his home, his daughter, his name and twenty years of his life. Granted, he briefly regains his daughter but gone is the hero who can laugh in the face of danger and triumph brilliantly. The last thing I wanted to mention is that, probably due to the controversy over the new Jeffrey Irons film, Zorro is no longer married to his wife Lolita. Her name has been changed (how dare they) to the more common Esperanza. I can understand the concern of some but Don Diego won the heart of Lolita before the Roaring Twenties. As in the Nabakov novel, Lolita is a valid name before it was turned into an adjective. Next thing you know people are going to try and get Disney to change the name of Bambi because they think it is a girl's name (Bambi was the prince of the forest). So, if you want to see The Mask of Zorro because, to you, it means an exciting swashbuckling movie, you will really enjoy this one. But if you want to see the movie to watch the continuing adventures of a hero that has entertained all generations since his debut almost eighty years ago, part of you will be disappointed in what has happened to the character.
Rating: 
Summary: New Zorro, New Age
Review: I have never been a huge fan of Antonio or Jones until I saw this film. With its breathtaking scenery, action and atmosphere it makes you love zorro again! A new zorro for a new age! Very well done film with superb acting. The dvd is full on with excellent picture quality and sound.
Rating: 
Summary: The Mask Of Zorro
Review: Zorro is back in this epic adventure film for the entire family to enjoy. Although the movie falls into the same cliches and the characters are stereotyped, it's still worth watching. The story takes place after Zorro is already married, but his life is drastically altered when the Santanna realizes Zorro's true identity. Now several years later, a young man's brother is murdered by Santanna, so he now seeks revenge. With help and training from the legend himself, a new Zorro is born to rise and fight the injustice. Overall, this film may not be the best action film out there, but it's definitely worth noticing.
Rating:
Summary: Zorro at his best
Review: Completely predictable Hollywood version of the famous swashbuckler, the focus is on the snappy one-liners and the sweeping swordfights. But somewhere between bending over backwards to make sure that we take Zeta-Jones' character seriously (she's from the 1800s, but has the confidence and power that a modern gender-conscious audience demands) and bending over backwards to make sure that we take Anthony Hopkins' character seriously (he may be an old drunk man, but he can fight like the devil once he finds his inspiration), this movie lost me.
Rating:
Summary: A swashbuckling movie!
Review: One of the insights I gained into The Man In The Iron Mask from listening to the commentary was that the word swashbuckling had been banned from the set, since a swashbuckling movie was not the intent of the filmmakers. Well, swashbuckling is very much the intent of The Mask of Zorro, a larger-than-life comic action adventure.
Anthony Hopkins stars as the old Zorro, whose wife is killed in front of him by his arch-enemy Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson), and whose child is stolen from him by the same man. Vowing revenge, his day comes as a result of Antonio Banderas, a skilled thief and outlaw who seeks revenge for the death of his brother at the hands of Captain Harrison Love (Matthew Letscher). At the same time as these personal conflicts are being played out, the Mexican population of California are being oppressed by their Spanish tyrant overlords, and Zorro, being a man of the people, must save the day. Throw in Catherine Zeta-Jones as the old Zorro's feisty daughter, Elena, and you have your cast.
Zorro is deliberately way-over-the-top. It is done in almost a comic opera fashion, with highly implausible escapes and action sequences galore, featuring very vigorous but nonetheless highly choreographed swordfighting sequences. It is not a movie that stands up to repeated viewing, as the serious and numerous plotholes and implausibilies become more and more painfully obvious the more they are seen. At first viewing, credulity is stretched to the absolute limit, and subsequent viewings significantly diminish the movie's impact. The end action sequence, however, remains impressive.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling
Review: The movie opens with the fantastic exploits of the Mexican Robin Hood, Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins), before his young wife is killed, his baby daughter stolen away and himself thrown into prison by the Spanish tyrant Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson).
20 years elapses, before an escaped de la Vega begins to train a new Zorro, Alejandra Murrieta (Antonio Banderas) to defeat Montero, and his psychopathic henchman Captain Harrison Love (Matt Lescher).
What follows is a swashbuckling thrilling adventure, where Murrieta proves his mettle, and elopes with the beautiful Elena Montero -who is actually de la Vega's stolen daughter - (played by the very sexy Catherine Zeta Jones).
The scene where Murrieta overcomes Elena in the swordfight is an extremely sexy one , as was the dance scene before. Zeta Jones is an exquisite dancer as well as a great actress.
This Zorro is thrilling enough to acquit itself well with the earlier versions of the saga.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive Zorro
Review: Granted, I haven't seen any of the earlier films/TV series/silent movies, but from the various clips that were shown during the hour-long documentary, I think I'll stick to this one.
This has Catherine Zeta Jones in one of her earlier film roles, after the Titanic TV series (she's terrific in that), which got her this role. And no doubt the role that caught Michael Douglas's eye. She practically loses all her clothes from all her top half, but her overly long and fake mermaid hair covers everything, although it's funny watching her laugh about this scene in the documentary. (And as one reviewer describes her so well: this is a woman with the body of a film-star and the talent of a TV presenter.)
I've never been that big a fan of Antonio Banderas, and why all the women go all weak at the knees over him. Nor am I a fan of his overly possessive/jealous wife. (She needs to get a grip on reality and stop the plastic surgery) However, I did like him in this role. He's the first Spanish guy to play Zorro, but then his character in this is actually supposed to Mexican. Make sense of that if you can!
I love all the sword fighting in this, it's beautiful to watch, and particularly during the Zorro/Elena scene, is breath-taking. And there's some terrific chemistry during this particular scene too. I also love how Antonio turns from a wild-haired bandit to an reasonably good looking gentleman.
This special edition features a reasonable amount of extras, but the ones you need to watch are the hour long documentary and the music video. The hour long documentary shows basically everything about the film, from another deleted scene, to an alternate ending, which is almost as great as the original, I can't decide which one I like best. The music video isn't one of the most original videos ever made, but it does feature Jennifer Lopez's third hubby, Marc Anthony, wearing ridiculous looking glasses, with Tina Arena (who?). The song always reminds me of Aladdin for some reason, and it's a very beautiful song.
This is a great movie, a true classic, and doesn't need the use of sex, guns, gratuitous nudity or OTT swearing to get your attention.
Rating:
Summary: What a ride!
Review: Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Anthony Hopkins either separately or alone would make this one worth watching, but throw in a hellaciously good adventure story and you've got the ingredients for an all-time fave. Swashbuckling adventurers Hopkins and Banderas join together in a quest for revenge that is a non-stop roller coaster ride of thrills. Zeta-Jones more than holds her own as Hopkins' sexy, long-lost daughter. The violence, except for a head-in-a jar scene, is actually pretty mild and nothing to bother pre-teens. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Persiflage, pulchritude and parody
Review: The Zorro legend once loomed large in California. This film, whatever its flaws, might resurrect that romantic myth. The film has given us a fresh, stimulating picture of Zorro as a man instead of a demigod. Updating the story to present an elderly Zorro in the position of training his replacement gives it a solid postmodern footing. Choosing Anthony Hopkins for the role, however, was a superb inspiration. Banderas, although lacking "charm", according to Hopkins, manages to act as both foil and clone to the older Zorro. To keep our attention, the beauty of Catherine Zeta Jones adds grace to a story of intrigue and much violence.
Hopkins rises to the role of ageing hero with his usual finesse. He's lost a wife to murder and a daughter to a heartless, ambitious descendent of the conquistadores. After two decades, justice is an elusive goal. Banderas is recruited as a trainee Zorro II. His wry expressions make you wonder if he's taking the film seriously. No matter - he puts enough energy and skill into it to evoke applause for his enthusiasm. Both Zorros use the lighter side of this story to keep it lively. And there are no dull scenes in this film
Zeta Jones, too, is a good choice for Elena, Zorro's daughter raised by the "bad guy" - Don Montero. It's not important for her to say much. She uses up much energy proving she's not lounging around as a couch potato between roles. A dance scene and a fencing episode ably demonstrate her physical fitness. A confrontation mingling truth, justice and fatherhood provides a serious episode. Then there's the heavy breathing for added enticement.
When Zorro films were made in the past, violence pervaded with lots of blood and many corpses. Modern filming uses a new technique. There's still lots of chandelier swinging, rapiers slashing and cries and moans - except the downed victims have been kicked or bludgeoned by sword hilts. Little blood here. Since the odds against the hero are the same whether the swords strike home or heads, we shrug and wait for Zeta Jones' next appearance. Stuart Wilson [playing a Spaniard?!] makes an admirable villian - cold, heartless, conniving. Yet he has a vision that twists the usual "good versus evil" scenario. He wants to make Mexican California into a republic without a revolution. His idea proves the pivot point of the story. Parody is subtly present in this film.
A Zorro film is hardly deeply inspiring or even able to delve into deep philosophical questions of human nature. It's action, romance, intrigue - in short, entertainment. If you haven't seen this film, i recommend it for that alone. Besides, anything with Anthony Hopkins, even in a subdued presence such as this, is worth attention. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Rating:
Summary: Zorro No Longer a Hero
Review: Zorro, the hero of Pulps, movies, books, comics and television, has a new movie out. Antonio Banderas, on Larry King Live, mentioned that he hoped this movie would help to keep alive the spirit of the only Spanish super-hero (he in not the only one nor was he at the time of the interview). Well, I think it will do much to keep the name alive but not the spirit. Anthony Hopkins is Zorro, the Fox. After years of struggle, Spain is pulling out of California and leaving it to the Mexicans. But Zorro slips up and the evil Governor tracks him down, kills his wife, steals his daughter and throws him in prison. Twenty years later Don Diego (Zorro) hears that the Governor is back. Minutes later he has escaped from prison (what was he waiting for?) and is destined to run into Antonio Banderas. After their meeting, Don Diego trains Antonio to be the new Zorro. The rest of the movie involves the plan to create the Independent Republic of California by buying it from Santa Ana with gold dug out of its soil and stamped to look Spanish. Mexico is willing to make the sale because of their war with the United States (it is now 1841). If you are looking for a fun swashbuckling adventure, then this is definitely the movie to see. If, however, you want to see Zorro, you might find yourself a little disappointed. Gone is Zorro, the defender of the common people and the innocent. In his place is, not one, but two, Zorro's who are bent on personal vendetta's and enlightened self-interest. It is actually Don Diego's daughter who helps some enslaved Mexicans near the end of the movie. The transition from one Zorro to another takes the Fox out of the wealthy and privileged and makes him a commoner. The new Zorro is also a thief (in a wonderfully fun scene the young Zorro steals his horse, a very serious crime at the time). Having Zorro break so common a law seemed wrong to me. To have Zorro flaunt the breaking of laws meant to worsen the lives of the commoners is another thing entirely. But in this movie Zorro does not taunt authority. He plots against it, to be sure, but for his own reasons and not for the good of the people. As this movie has two Zorros, there are now also two villains to be defeated (one each). The elder Zorro still has his old nemesis to contend with while the younger Zorro has made a personal enemy of Captain Love, a young Cavalry officer who seems to be in the wrong country. Both villains are vile and easy to hate. This make the personal vendettas a little more palatable as well as making the ending a lot more fun. The other main problem with this film is that Zorro loses. Zorro never loses. but in this film Zorro loses big time. He loses his wife, his home, his daughter, his name and twenty years of his life. Granted, he briefly regains his daughter but gone is the hero who can laugh in the face of danger and triumph brilliantly. The last thing I wanted to mention is that, probably due to the controversy over the new Jeffrey Irons film, Zorro is no longer married to his wife Lolita. Her name has been changed (how dare they) to the more common Esperanza. I can understand the concern of some but Don Diego won the heart of Lolita before the Roaring Twenties. As in the Nabakov novel, Lolita is a valid name before it was turned into an adjective. Next thing you know people are going to try and get Disney to change the name of Bambi because they think it is a girl's name (Bambi was the prince of the forest). So, if you want to see The Mask of Zorro because, to you, it means an exciting swashbuckling movie, you will really enjoy this one. But if you want to see the movie to watch the continuing adventures of a hero that has entertained all generations since his debut almost eighty years ago, part of you will be disappointed in what has happened to the character.
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