The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Anthony Hopkins is Zorro, going on one last ride just as a revolution ousts Don Rafael Montero as governor of California.

Montero has decided to execute three peasants. It’s a trap to lure Zorro out of hiding and into the gunsights of his men.

Well, it lures Zorro out of hiding. But with the help of two young onlookers — brothers Joaquin and Alejandro Murrieta — Zorro foils the execution, rides and jumps rings around Montero’s men and makes the governor look silly once again.

And as he heads back home, Zorro passes a medallion along to young Joaquin.

Alas, Montero has learned that Zorro is Don Diego de la Vega and shows up at his home with several of his soldiers.

He captures Zorro. But not before one of his men accidentally kills Zorro’s wife and sets his home ablaze.

Zorro heads to prison. Montero rides off carrying Zorro’s infant daughter Elena, deciding to raise her as his own.

Flash forward 20 years and an aging Don Diego has escaped prison, looking for revenge just as Montero makes a triumphant return to California.

Then he catches a glimspe of his daughter, now a lovely young woman. And at a local tavern, he meets a vengeance-minded young man trying to trade that medallion from long ago for another drink.

It’s Alejandro Murrieta, whose brother has since been killed by Capt. Harrison Love, a man under the employ of none other than Don Rafael Montero.

Don Diego convinces Alejandro to put off his quest for vengeance until he can be properly trained — in fighting, in swordsmanship, in patience and in how to pass himself off as a gentleman.

Once the training is completed, Zorro will be ready to ride again.

Review:

It’s an oft-told story, perhaps too often told. Unless, that is, it’s done with this much flair, this much action and this much comic relief.

The star trio of Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins serves up a rousing good time.

Banderas’ first outing as Zorro, as he’s trying to capture a black stallion — his own Tornado — is a wonderfully choreographed riot.

Just as funny and more charming is Elena’s confession to a priest, not realizing the man listening to her in the confessional booth isn’t a priest at all, but the new Zorro, hiding in the church.

And, of course, there’s the swordplay, including one scene in which Elena and Alejandro trade blades and another in which the new Zorro takes on both villains at once.

Reportedly, Banderas filmed many of his own stunts and trained with the Spanish Olympic team for four months to prepare for his role as an expert swordsman.

The film spawned a sequel, The Legend of Zorro (2005), which also starred Banderas and Zeta-Jones.

Directed by:
Martin Campbell

Cast:
Antonio Banderas … Alejandro Murrieta / Zorro
Anthony Hopkins … Don Diego de la Vega / Zorro
Catherine Zeta-Jones … Elena Montero
Stuart Wilson … Don Rafael Montero
Matt Letscher … Capt. Harrison Love
Tony Amendola … Don Luiz
Pedro Armendariz Jr. … Don Pedro
Victor Rivers … Joaquin Murrieta
William Marquez … Fray Felipe
L.Q. Jones … Three-Fingered Jack
Julieta Rosen … Esperanza De La Vega
Maury Chaykin … Prison warden
Jose Maria de Tavira … Young Alejandro Murrieta
Maria and Monica Fernandez Cruz … Infant Elena de la Vega
Diego Sieres … Young Joaquin Murrieta

Runtime: 137 min.

Memorable lines:

Zorro: “You would murder three innocent men just t o capture me?”
Don Rafael Montero: “I would murder 100 innocent men if it meant killing you.”

Don Rafael Montero: “Blood never lies.”

Don Diego de la Vega: “Do you know how to use that thing?”
Alejandro Murrieta: “Yes. The pointee end goes into the other man.”
Don Diego: “This is going to take a lot of work.”

Anthony Hopkins as Don Diego De La Vega, out of prison after two decades in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Antonio Banderas as Alejandro Murrieta, aka Zorro, about to show Elena how skilled he is with a sword in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Catherine Zeta-Jones as Elena Montero, suspecting Allejandro Murrieta, aka Zorro, of stealing from her father in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Victor Rivers as Joaquin Murrieta, hoping two pistols are enough to get him out of this jam in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Tony Amendola as Don Luiz, one of Don Rafael Montero’s allies in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Stuart Wilson as Don Rafael Montero, back in California and up to no good again in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Julieta Rosen as Esperanza and Anthony Hopkins as her husband Don Diego De La Vega, about to be interrupted by Montero and his men in The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Anthony Hopkins as Don Diego De La Vega, beginning the new Zorro’s lessons in swordsmanship in The Mask of Zorro (1998)