Other Titles • The Mask of Zorro • Mark of Zorro (1997) • Die Maske des Zorro (1998)
Synopses for The Mask of Zorro (1998)
1.
The old versus the new.
The original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega, is captured and imprisoned just as Spain concedes California to Santa Anna. 20 years go by and his mortal enemy, Don Rafael Montero, returns to California with a plan to become wealthy at the expense of the peasants.
(24 votes)
2.
Don Diego de la Vega (Hopkins) recruits Alejandro Murieta (Banderas) to become his replacement as Zorro, the legendary hero. Together, they infiltrate the circle of Don Raphael - the fiercest of the Spanish tyrants. Armed with his mask, sword, whip and jet-black stallion, Tornado, the new Zorro embarks on a mission to stop Don Raphael's plot to buy California, set right twenty years of wrongs, bring justice to the people ensnared by Spanish greed, and win the heart of Elma - Don Diego's daughter.
(24 votes)
3.
The story of an aging blade (Anthony Hopkins) passing along his wisdom and his edge to an angry young thief (Antonio Banderas). The young Zorro learns about politics, love, and war, at the feet of his teacher. His quest for personal revenge gives fire to his role as Colonial Mexico's most swashbuckling activist, one who must fight for his country and his woman (the ravishing newcomer Catherine Zeta-Jones, also quite handy with a sword).
(24 votes)
4.
A lusty and rousing adventure, this calls to mind those glorious costume dramas produced so capably by the old Hollywood studio system--hardly surprising, in that its title character, a de facto Robin Hood in Old California, provided starring vehicles for Douglas Fairbanks and Tyrone Power, the '50s TV hit, and dozens of serials and features. Zorro, a pop-fiction creation invented by Johnston McCulley in 1918, is given new blood in this fast-moving and engaging version, which actually works as a sequel to the story line in the Fairbanks-Power saga, The Mark of Zorro. A self-assured Anthony Hopkins is Don Diego de la Vega, a Mexican freedom fighter captured and imprisoned just as Spain concedes California to Santa Ana. Twenty years later, he escapes from prison to face down his mortal enemy, a land grabbing governor played with slimy spitefulness by Stuart Wilson. Too old to save the local peasants on his own, he trains bandito Antonio Banderas to take his place. Much swashbuckling ensues as Banderas woos Catherine Zeta-Jones, becomes a better human being, and saves the disenfranchised rabble. Director Martin Campbell wisely instills a measure of frivolity into the deftly choreographed action sequences, while letting a serious tone creep in when appropriate. This covers much ground under the banner of romantic-action-adventure, and it does so most excellently. --Rochelle O'Gorman
In this day of movies in which one can't tell whether the action was manufactured by computer generation or by a cookie cutter, The Mask of Zorro is a grand throwback. It recalls and celebrates the fantasy workshop that Hollywood was and can be at its best. It's an audience pleaser in the best sense of the word, combining great-looking performers with gorgeous vistas and production design, a story that is familiar yet never insults the viewer's intelligence, and plenty of eye-popping action.
Anthony Hopkins stars as the original Zorro, a masked vigilante protecting his people from official corruption in Mexico and what will become California (from Hannibal Lecter to Merchant-Ivory to action hero--is there nothing this man cannot do?). He's imprisoned for his troubles, and upon his release, mentors an impetuous pupil (Antonio Banderas, more suave than ever) in the fine arts of swordplay and triumphing over evil. Catherine Zeta-Jones capably portrays the beauty linked to both men--Zorro I's daughter, Zorro II's object of desire.
The plotting contains few surprises, but the interplay between the three leads is always winning, and the winks to the swashbuckling genre are playful without ever being heavy-handed or campy. --David Kronke
(23 votes)
5.
A swashbuckling tale set against Mexico's fight for independence from Spain, The Mask Of Zorro stars Antonio Banderas, and Academy Award® winners Anthony Hopkins (1991 Best Actor in a Leading Role The Silence Of The Lambs) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (2002 Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Chicago) This Deluxe Edition DVD features a sneak peek at the exciting sequel, The Legend Of Zorro, an entire scene from the new film, plus loads of bonus content. After twenty years, the legendary Zorro (Hopkins) escapes from prison to avenge the murder of his wife and kidnapping of his daughter Elena (Zeta Jones) at the hand of his enemy, Don Raphael Montero, but first he must transform a cocky young thief (Banderas) into the fearless hero and champion of the people he once was. With two Zorros on the scene, it's twice the adventure and twice the fun.
(23 votes)
6.
When a power crazed despot schemes to buy California from Mexico, it takes two Zorros, the legendary Don Diego de Vega (Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins) and his chosen successor Alejandro Murrieta (Antonio Banderas) a dashing bandit-turned-hero to defeat the tyrant's unscrupulous plans. But can even their combined skills, bravado and derring do be enough to achieve de la Vega's ultimate goal: revenge against the man who killed his wife, kidnapped his daughter and held him prisoner for twenty years?
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