Name: Retro Film Review: The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Item: The Mask of Zorro
Rating: 70
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

(SPECIAL NOTE: Capsule version of the review is available here.)

Compared with other nations, USA had relatively short history. As a result, there weren't that many opportunities for mythical heroes to emerge from centuries of folk tradition. Instead, mythical heroes used to come from the imagination of professional writers. One of those writers was Johnston McCulley, creator of Zorro. Character of Zorro quickly became one of the most recognisable American pop culture icons, mostly thanks to the medium of motion pictures. Last major film to use McCulley's character was The Mask of Zorro, 1998 period adventure directed by Martin Campbell.

The plot begins in 1821, when California used to be Spanish province. Diego de la Vega (played by Anthony Hopkins) is a rich aristocratic landowner who fights for the rights of peasants and other poor commoners by taking the mask of Zorro and harassing troops of evil governor Don Rafael Montero (played by Stuart Wilson). At the eve of Mexican independence Montero finally manages to expose de la Vega and arrest him, killing his wife and taking his young daughter Elena in the process. Twenty years later Montero returns to California together with Elena (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones) whom he raised as his daughter. In the meantime, de la Vega escapes from prison and encounters Alejandro Murrieta (played by Antonio Banderas), young bandit with promising martial spirit. Alejandro wants to avenge the death of his brother who was been killed by Captain Love (played by Matt Lescher), corrupt US Army officer in service of Montero. De la Vega decides to train Alejandro and turn him into new Zorro. In the meantime, Montero has devised a plan to become California's dictator by using gold from California's hidden mines.

The Mask of Zorro was one of the more surprising Hollywood successes of late 1990s. Secret of its commercial success could be found in film-makers' decision to go against the tide - in the age when each and every Hollywood film tried to be as "hip" as possible, The Mask of Zorro was refreshingly old-fashioned. There was simple division of characters between Good Guys and Bad Guys, characters' motives were simple and understandable and the mix of action and old-fashioned romance was as attractive to audience today as eight decades earlier. Three scriptwriters even added some interesting twists to McCulley's story by introducing two instead of one Zorro.

Antonio Banderas is very good in his role and proves to be more convincing as swashbuckling romantic hero than as modern-day pistolero in films by Robert Rodriguez. Furthermore, he has great chemistry with Catherine Zeta-Jones and the scenes when two of them appear together are delightful. Anthony Hopkins, despite occasionally bad make-up, is also good in the role of old Zorro. Matt Lescher is also very impressive in the role of villain's diabolical sidekick (who also happens to be blonde, which represents film's only concession to the rules of "politically correct" 1990s Hollywood). Music by James Horner, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired and sounds too much like Horner's work on Aliens. This won't matter much to audience, because most of the attention would be directed towards action scenes - many of them are not only breath-taking but inventive. Good example of that could be found in the scene where Zorro uses sword to disrobe Elena.

Like almost any period film made in 1990s Hollywood, The Mask of Zorro had to take liberal approach towards certain historical facts. But this flaw, just like few of plot holes, shouldn't discourage anyone from enjoying this film as surprisingly good example of Hollywood's craftsmanship.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on June 14th 2004)