The
Mask Of Zorro
Well,
what can you say? I wasn't vastly bothered about seeing this,
as it looked highly cheesy and I wasn't a great fan of the original
Zorro. But, when all is said and done, I do enjoy a good old-fashioned
adventure yarn, and this is certainly one of those.
Captured in his youth by the wicked
governor, Don Rafael (Stuart Wilson), Don Diego/ "Zorro" (Anthony
Hopkins) is sent to a dank dungeon. With his wife dead and his
baby daughter taken by Don Rafael, his life seems over. When Don
Rafael returns to California years later with his daughter, Elena (Catherine
Zeta-Jones), who is actually Don Diego's baby daughter grown-up, Don
Diego manufactures his escape and begins to train Alejandro (Antonio
Banderas), a petty thief, as the new Zorro, to bring fresh hope to the
populace and resistance to Don Rafael and his evil captain, Harrison
Love (Matt Letscher).
This is indeed a romp and a half,
reminiscent of days of old. Tongues are put in cheek, witticisms
abound, and there is much swordery, leapage and bodice-ripping.
Great fun, not too taxing on the grey matter, and a rest for the senses
for an hour or so. All the cast play it for fun, and look like
they had a whale of a time in their flouncy costumes and waving swords
about. Hopkins is excellent as usual, as are Wilson and Banderas.
Even Zeta Jones is quite good, which surprised me.
The plot isn't vastly complex, and
needn't be so- it would detract from the general fluffiness of it all,
to be honest, and one of the endearing things is the removal of the
need to listen intently and just to let the eye enjoy it.
Recommended as a entertaining piece
of light entertainment, but nothing more. Surprisingly fun.
DJY
STORYLINE:
60%
ACTING: 62%
SPECIAL EFFECTS: 68%
CINEMATOGRAPHY: 75%
OVERALL:
69%
BEST
QUOTE: Don Diego de la Vega: Do you know how to use that thing?
Alejandro Murrieta: Yes! The pointy
end goes into the other man.
Main
Cast List
Antonio Banderas......Alejandro
Murieta/Zorro
Anthony Hopkins......Don Diego
de la Vega/Zorro
Catherine Zeta-Jones......Elena
Montero
Stuart Wilson......Don Rafael
Montero
Matt Letscher......Captain Harrison
Love
For
further information click here.
