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The Mask of Zorro (1998)

tomatometer

82

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 68
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 12

Banderas returns as an aging Zorro in this surprisingly nimble, entertaining swashbuckler.

79

Average Rating: 6.6/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 3

Banderas returns as an aging Zorro in this surprisingly nimble, entertaining swashbuckler.

audience

70

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

Dec 1, 1998

Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Cast

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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.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The 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.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
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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.

May 11, 2001
Rolling Stone
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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.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Mask of Zorro has something you don't often see in modern action pictures: a sense of honor.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

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.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Magazine
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This is the best movie version of Zorro to date, and High-Definition makes it that much more exciting.

February 26, 2012 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
Movie Metropolis

Crisp and competent and often witty, but it only does what it's supposed to do; it's never quite inspired or exhilarating...

March 11, 2008 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com
eFilmCritic.com

Directed with snap and panache by Martin Campbell, Mask of Zorro gives audiences a pair of dashing whippersnappers for the price of one.

August 14, 2006 Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly

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.

May 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid
Combustible Celluloid

A sharp and shining steel blade among dull, rubber toy knives.

October 28, 2005 Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com
CinemaBlend.com

It's self-consciously stylized and unapologetically escapist, but a fun film as a result.

October 1, 2005 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
Movie Metropolis

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.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews
Reeling Reviews

Zorro follows the predictable paths of action movies, but re-energizes the pattern with adrenaline, exuberance, creativity, and humor.

December 6, 2004 Full Review Source: Looking Closer
Looking Closer

A surprisingly good example of Hollywood's craftsmanship.

June 15, 2004 Full Review
rec.arts.movies.reviews

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.

July 31, 2003 Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette
Kalamazoo Gazette

If Hopkins makes the story important, Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones make it sexy.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online
Film Quips Online

Audience Reviews for The Mask of Zorro

08/01/2011 (TELEVISION)

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.
April 23, 2007
EightThirty

Super Reviewer

This is such a beautiful interpretation of a long absent hero. I remember loving the Disney version when I was little and this was such an exciting moment. Bringing back the character in a way that pays homage to the original incarnation, but also creating a new story is the best way to go about it. Anthony Hopkins does a great job of brining back Don Diego de la Vega from cinematic death and making him just as charming and undeniably cool. Even when he plays the older version of the character, it's obvious how powerful his performance is. However, it really is Antonio Banderas' performance as the new Zorro, Alejandro Murrieta, that steals the show and makes you truly feel the weight of the legendary character. His approach is so much fun to watch. Martin Campbell sure makes an effort to have Zorro appear larger than life. I don't think I've ever seen such a large scale accompanying the character. He gives us ridiculously cool action sequences, amazing sets and a realistic backdrop of California in the 1800s. This also pits Zorro against two extremely evil villains that make for a lot of intensity. Having a cannibalistic blonde-haired goon is just a taste of the dynamite characters. I remember being completely blown away as a nine-year-old in the theater and it still sort've has the same effect all these years later.
January 11, 2010
ythelastman89

Super Reviewer

    1. Elena: [dancing with Capt. Love] Yes? Were you looking for something?
    2. Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: The sense of the miraculous in everyday life...
    3. Capt. Harrison Love: Oh really? Well why don't you try looking someplace else. The lady and I were trying to dance.
    4. 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!
    – Submitted by Jeff W (7 months ago)
    1. 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.
    2. Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: Ah yes? And what is that?!
    3. Don Diego de la Vega: Charm.
    4. Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: And what is that?....
    5. Don Diego de la Vega: [chuckles] Convince Montero that you're a gentleman of stature,...and he will let you into his circle.
    6. Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: Me?.....A gentleman?......Hmm..This is going to take a lot of work.
    7. Don Diego de la Vega: [blows a puff of smoke] Yes....
    – Submitted by Nick S (16 months ago)
    1. Don Rafael Montero: I would never have let any harm come to her...
    2. Don Diego de la Vega: She was never yours to protect.
    – Submitted by Adrian G (19 months ago)
    1. Don Diego de la Vega: Do you know how to use that thing?
    2. Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro: Yes. The pointy end goes into the other man.
    3. Don Diego de la Vega: [sighs] This is going to take a lot of work.
    – Submitted by Adrian G (19 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Le masque de Zorro (FR)
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