The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 68
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 12
Banderas returns as an aging Zorro in this surprisingly nimble, entertaining swashbuckler.
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 3
Banderas returns as an aging Zorro in this surprisingly nimble, entertaining swashbuckler.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 349,269
My Rating
Movie Info
Director Martin Campbell, well-known to the action arena after 1995's GoldenEye, teams up with executive producer Steven Spielberg to bring the first Hollywood production of creator Johnston McCulley's Zorro in over four decades to the big screen. With scenic 18th century Mexico as a backdrop, Anthony Hopkins plays the original Zorro, a.k.a. Don Diego de la Vega, intent on revenge after rival enemy Don Raphael Montero (Stuart Wilson) murdered his wife and took his daughter, Elena. After being
Jul 17, 1998 Wide
Dec 1, 1998
Sony Pictures Entertainment
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Cast
-
Antonio Banderas
Alejandro Murrieta/Zorr... -
Anthony Hopkins
Don Diego de la Vega -
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Elena -
Stuart Wilson
Don Rafael Montero -
Matt Letscher
Capt. Harrison Love -
Maury Chaykin
Prison Warden -
Tony Amendola
Don Luiz -
Pedro Armendariz Jr.
Don Pedro -
L.Q. Jones
Three-Fingered Jack -
Jose Perez
Corporal Armando Garcia -
William Marquez
Fray Felipe -
Victor Rivers
Joaquin Murrieta -
Julieta Rosen
Esperanza -
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All Critics (68) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (61) | Rotten (12) | DVD (30)
The Mask of Zorro stands as a pointed riposte to those who say they don't make 'em like that anymore.
Top CriticThe story is not important. The clash of swords, the leaps, the tumbles -- it's all very nice. But after 136 minutes, it becomes a bit much.
Banderas and Hopkins prove that there's life in the Z-boy yet, but by leaving in the dull patches, the filmmakers may find audiences catching zzzzzs in ways they never intended.
A lively, old-fashioned adventure yarn with just a twist of modern attitude, it's the kind of pleasant entertainment that allows the paying customers to have as much fun as the people on screen.
The Mask of Zorro has something you don't often see in modern action pictures: a sense of honor.
Banderas, with his flashing eyes, makes a good mock-Hidalgo, but the movie would be a lot more amusing if it weren't such kid stuff.
This is the best movie version of Zorro to date, and High-Definition makes it that much more exciting.
Crisp and competent and often witty, but it only does what it's supposed to do; it's never quite inspired or exhilarating...
Directed with snap and panache by Martin Campbell, Mask of Zorro gives audiences a pair of dashing whippersnappers for the price of one.
Not so much a blood-pounding swashbuckling adventure as it is a comfortable old friend--the kind of movie your grandfather might have seen at a Saturday matinee.
A sharp and shining steel blade among dull, rubber toy knives.
It's self-consciously stylized and unapologetically escapist, but a fun film as a result.
Buckling the swash in a way approaching Errol Flynn, Antonio is up for the action and handles the slapstick as the inept student with aplomb. The romance between him and Zeta-Jones has sparks, too.
Zorro follows the predictable paths of action movies, but re-energizes the pattern with adrenaline, exuberance, creativity, and humor.
A surprisingly good example of Hollywood's craftsmanship.
At its best, this 'Zorro' captures some of the dizzyingly romantic flavor of pulp fiction. ...Unfortunately, Martin Campbell has directed this Mexican melodrama in an often uninspired fashion.
If Hopkins makes the story important, Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones make it sexy.
Audience Reviews for The Mask of Zorro
Super Reviewer
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- Elena: [dancing with Capt. Love] Yes? Were you looking for something?
- Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: The sense of the miraculous in everyday life...
- Capt. Harrison Love: Oh really? Well why don't you try looking someplace else. The lady and I were trying to dance.
- Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: You were trying...she was succeeding! ... Forgive me, Capitan...a shameless joke at your expense, and I hope it will not be the last!
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- Don Diego de la Vega: You have passion Alejandro and your skill is growing. But when to Montero's world I must give you something which is COMPLETELY,..beyond your reach.
- Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: Ah yes? And what is that?!
- Don Diego de la Vega: Charm.
- Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: And what is that?....
- Don Diego de la Vega: [chuckles] Convince Montero that you're a gentleman of stature,...and he will let you into his circle.
- Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: Me?.....A gentleman?......Hmm..This is going to take a lot of work.
- Don Diego de la Vega: [blows a puff of smoke] Yes....
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- Don Rafael Montero: I would never have let any harm come to her...
- Don Diego de la Vega: She was never yours to protect.
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- Don Diego de la Vega: Do you know how to use that thing?
- Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: Yes. The pointy end goes into the other man.
- Don Diego de la Vega: [sighs] This is going to take a lot of work.
Discussion Forum
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Foreign Titles
- Le masque de Zorro (FR)
Some light fun! Initially this was in my "Not Interested" list and it happened to be the afternoon flick on TV which I couldn't be bothered to change since I don't have a remote. I allowed myself to somehow find some kindling in this story to take my mind of the stressing that was eating me that day and I'm so glad I did. I manage to enjoy the film and feel a little better.
It's a fun plot, the type which I don't mind seeing in different forms. It's well balanced according to my liking and I can watch this again. Cool characters and a cool story. I've probably seen this story many times like this but this really did a nice job with it and with a decent cast. I really liked the humor that's timed nicely through out the adventure with a crazy-cool romance thing happening as secrets are being spilled.
It's 1998 so I do appreciate the action for it's time and I thought the fighting sequences was pretty good. It did a good job of distracting me from what was bothering me so it's a winner for me! A great decision if you got spare time to waste or a nice choice for indecisiveness.