# Mask of Zorro, The (1998)

### reviewed by
Edward Johnson-Ott

The Mask of Zorro (1998) Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matt Letscher, Maury Chaykin, Tony Amendola, Pedro Armendariz, L.Q. Jones, Jose Perez, William Marquez, Victor Rivers, Julietta Rosen. Screenplay, John Eskow, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, story by Elliott, Rossio, Randall Jahnson. Directed by Martin Campbell. 136 minutes. Rated PG-13, 4 stars (out of five stars)

Review by Ed Johnson-Ott, NUVO Newsweekly www.nuvo-online.com/film/ Archive reviews at http://us.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Edward+Johnson-ott

In response to the critical drubbing he received for "Armageddon," director Michael Bay pointed to the box office receipts and speculated that film critics may be out of touch with popular tastes. Hopefully, Bay will catch a screening of "The Mask of Zorro" and realize that it's still possible to make a rousing popcorn flick without treating your audience like wide-eyed rubes suffering from attention-deficit disorder.

Packed with action, intrigue, humor and romance, "The Mask of Zorro" has all the payoffs one expects from a contemporary big summer movie, with the style of a classic Errol Flynn swashbuckler. It's the kind of film that leaves you sighing at the end, not just out of satisfaction, but also in relief that they didn't screw it up. Put that in your rocket- launcher and smoke it, Mr. Bay.

The prologue begins in 1821, when two young brothers help Zorro prevent the execution of a group of peasants. We learn that Zorro is the aristocratic Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins), mortal enemy of vile Spanish governor Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson). Just when the triumphant Don Diego is ready to retire and devote himself to his wife and young daughter, Montero invades his home and exacts a horrifying revenge.

Twenty years later, Montero returns with a new scheme for power. The aging Zorro recruits one of the brothers who helped him so long ago, outlaw Alejandro Murrieta (Antonio Banderas), and trains him to continue his legacy. Complicating things is the presence of the beautiful Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Don Diego's daughter, who Montero kidnapped and raised as his own.

"The Mask of Zorro" works because it takes the time to actually set up the story, and the trouble to create three-dimensional characters whose fates matter to the viewer. Having a whale of a cast doesn't hurt, either.

Anthony Hopkins is wonderful as the graying hero. His Zorro is noble, witty and just a bit full of himself. He insists on perfection as he trains young Murrieta, and has the strength of character to make you understand why the bandit obeys.

As the new Zorro, Antonio Banderas shines in a role he was born to play. Rakishly handsome, Banderas convinces both as an outlaw and later, as a hero. His Murrieta has a rough-hewn sense of style and a chip on his shoulder that Don Diego is more than happy to knock off. The two men work well together, despite their clashing egos.

Catherine Zeta-Jones proves that she's more than just an incredibly beautiful face as the smoldering Elena. Clearly her father's daughter, her fiery eyes glisten with defiance and intelligence. Sparks quickly fly between her and the dashing Murrieta, adding sexual chemistry to the film's mixture of passion and derring-do.

Of course, characters as rich as these need a juicy villain and Stuart Wilson gives them one as Montero, investing him with enough humanity to make his wicked deeds all the more horrifying.

Director Martin Campbell does an exceptional job bringing the script to life, giving the production a rich, fluid feel as he dances between heroics, romance and humor. The stunts and sword fights have a snap to them and the audience truly becomes involved in the action, even at its most far-fetched, thanks in large part to the passion given the characters. As opposed to typical summer entertainment, "Zorro" has only one big explosion. That one explosion pays off beautifully, because the filmmakers understand that restraint always works better than overkill.

At 136 minutes, "The Mask of Zorro" is just a little too long. As good as the sword fights and narrow escapes are, a few less would have helped this larger-than-life adventure. But that's small criticism for the first summer popcorn movie of 1998 to fully deliver all it promised.

    © 1998 Ed Johnson-Ott

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