Film Review: "The Mask of Zorro" / "The Legend of Zorro"

You might think because I'm a woman with very little romance in my life, my first choice in film is a sappy "boy meet girl, boys makes girl cry, boy sweeps girl off her feet" kinda of film. And as I must admit I do like those films, my first love is a good ole' rip-roarin' adventure flick.

Indiana Jones? -yep I'll take all three. Lord of the Rings? Oh yeah right at the top of the list. Pirates of the Caribbean? Absolutely must haves. The Mummy 1&2 - Killer flicks to die for.

Get my drift?

Now I have two more to add to my retinue.

"The Mask of Zorro" and "The Legend of Zorro"

I watched both this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed both.

In the first enstallment we meet Zorro played initially by Sir Anthony Hopkins who later passes on the torch..er uh..mask to Antonio Banderas. There's no need to go into the log lines for these films as you can read the premise of each on the back of the box. On the short side, the younger is trained by the former to take on the personna of Zorro and they team up to take down the governor of California when it was still part of Mexico.

In the second film, Zorro is torn between his need to continue wearing the mask and his wife's urging to let it go, only to end up in his next big adventure. This time his job is helping to make California part of the United States all the while trying to defeat his latest adversary and keep his family from falling apart.

Both films are enjoyable, action packed, rides. Antonio is a perfect match for the part of the masked man in black. He effortlessly weaves, courageous stunts, emotional pain and happiness, romance, and a witty humor into the role. His comfort with a sword as well as the dance floor clearly show and give our hero a flashy debonaire style; one that endures us to him.

As far as the two films go, the first and most notable difference is the screenwriting. Our first film brings us the dynamic duo Ted Elliot and Terry Russo, who also later bring us the Pirates of the Caribbean series where the later is written by the younger, go-for the action, tag team of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.

And it shows.

The first film has a much deeper layer of emotional tides flowing through it. Our Zorro grows from being a cras, lonely, drunken, thief, to a man very much in control of his emotions and his actions. He knows what he wants and exactly how to go about getting it. Plainly put...he's focused. The story is rich and flows cleanly, each sub-plot neatly entwining with the other. By the end of the film we see a clear transition of our hero from the irresponsible, childlike thief, to a mature, grown-up savior of the people.


The second installment has just as much adventure, action and romance but it is lacking in the same emotional depths as the first. When Zorro loses his wife to a divorce after 10 years of marriage our in control focused hero, reverts back to the clumsy drunken fool he once was. Not something I see a man doing so easily after 10 years of otherwise. He humiliates himself (albeit homorously) at a party by throwing himself into a drunken jealous fit. Not the best way to win back the heart of the woman he loves.

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As opposed to the "Mask", our "Legend" is less than legendary. Too may sub-plots and stories going this way and that, not melding well together. Where in the first film there was a clear irreversible change in our hero both mentally and emotionally, by the end of this film we simply feel like we've convinces his wife he should keep wearing the mask. No real change in character, more a change in opinion.

Granted our heroine played beautifully by Catherine Zeta-Jones sees a great deal more action herself in "Legend" and the chemisty between both her and Antonio on screen is fantastic. They play off each other wonderfully and are very comfortable in these two believable roles.

In the end we have two great films albiet the first far outshine it's successor. However the supurb acting by Antonio and Catherine (and Anthony in the first) make each well worth the watch. The first is worth seeing a few times, which I made sure I did before I returned it.

I'll definitely be adding these to my library.

Watch the Trailer:


The Mask of Zorro

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The Legend of Zorro