The Mask of Zorro

Z hits the spot

The Spanish rule of Mexico is about to end - the Mexican army of Santa Anna is only a few mile from the villa of the Spanish governer, Don Rafael Montero. However, before he flees, he distributes the land under his rule to the various Dons (land barons), knowing that Santa Anna will respect their property. He also has three hapless peasants lined up against a wall for execution. The reason is to lure the infamous Zorro out of hiding. Just as the Spanish soldiers are about to shoot, Zorro appears and rescues the peasants. He is far too nimble and skillful with his sword for the Spanish soldiers, and before he leaves, he etchs his mark (a 'Z') on the neck of Don Rafael, as a parting gift. Before escaping, he rewards two urchins who helped him during his rescue by giving them a medallion.

When Zorro returns to his lair, he is revealed as a Don, Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) who dotes on his baby daughter, Elena and his wife, Esperanza. However, he has been followed back to his home by Don Rafeal and his troops. there is a fight, Esperanza is killed, and, as de la Vega is carted off to jail, he sees his beloved baby daughter taken away by Don Rafael.

Twenty years later, the urchins, Joaquin and Alejandro (Antonio Banderas) have grown into a pair of scraggy thieves . The two brothers have just committed arobbery when they encounter an American army officer, with the unlikely name of Harrison Love, and his posse. Joaquin is slain and Alejandro vowes to avenge his brother's death. Meanwhile, de la Vega escapes from jail and, upon learning that Don Rafael has returned, plans to kill him. However, his plan is complicated when he sees his daughter Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who is now a beautiful young lady of the Spanish court, and who thinks that Don rafael is her natural father. The plot thickens (as only the best plots do) when it transpires that Captain Love and Don Rafael. are in cahoots together. Needless to say, de la Vega and Alejandro meet, and realising that his best swashbuckling days are behind him, de la Vega decides that he will teach Alejandro to be the new Zorro.

Martin Campbell's last job was directing Goldeneye, which successfully revived that franchise with a combination of spectacular setpieces, well-executed action, and lots of wit and humour. He brings the same sensibility to Zorro, and the result is one of the best action adventures since Raiders of the Lost Ark. The cast is outstanding - Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins make a perfect partnership. Banderas has already established his action movie credentials in Desperado and the absolutely lamentable Assassins and his swordplay is pretty convincing. As for the love interest, Catherine Zeta Jones lights up the screen and the sparks certainly fly between her and Antonio.

The funniest parts of the movie consists of Alejandro learning learning the ropes of how to be a superhero. De la Vega also trains him to be a gentleman, and in this guise, he meets Elena, who rather despises his exaggerated foppish behaviour. Of course, she has also met him as the masked Zorro and fallen in love with the masked version. His rival for her heart is the cruel Cpt. Love, whom Alejandro intends to punish for killing his brother.

Once the new Zorro has announced himself, Don Rafael and Love are determined to prevent him from interrupting their scheme (a plan of truly Bond-villian proportions). And therein lies the only real plot weakness of the movie. De la Vega's Zorro had a secret lair in his home (a sort of horse-powered Batcave). When de la Vega and Alejandro launch the new and improved Zorro, it never occurs to Don Rafael to look there, even though his troops are searching the countryside looking for them. It's a minor quibble.

Since the success of 'Raiders...', many other filmmakers have attempted to emulate it. But few have really succeeded in constructing characters and adventures engrossing enough to enable the audience to suspend disbelief sufficiently to sit back and enjoy the yarn. (Exhibit A for the prosecution - The Phantom). Zorro succeeds magnificently.  

Directed by Martin Campbell.

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