Speaking of swashbuckling, here’s another one for you. The Mask of Zorro was the 1998 attempt to revive the character for modern audiences. Sure, Zorro is a well-known character and there have been Zorro films and television series since the 1920s, but as far as films go, the gap between 1981’s Zorro, the Gay Blade and The Mask of Zorro is the longest and means they were literally bringing Zorro to a new generation. It was successful enough to warrant a sequel, 2005’s The Legend of Zorro, but that one’s not on my list for a reason.

The Mask of Zorro stars Anthony Hopkins as the now-old Diego de la Vega, the original Zorro, and Antonio Banderas as his masked-vigilante successor, Alejandro Murrieta. Catherine Zeta-Jones in her first starring role plays Diego’s daughter Elena. During a public execution, Diego as Zorro arrives just in time stop the proceedings. The governor of the area, Don Rafael, realizes that Diego is Zorro and captures him in his house during the night. Years later, Alejandro and his brother, Joaquin, are bandits who run the risk of being captured by Captain Harrison Love, Don Rafael’s right-hand-man. Alejandro successfully gets away but Joaquin is forced to shoot himself to avoid being taken in by Captain Love. Diego crosses paths with Alejandro after escaping prison and agrees to train him in swordfighting so that he can take revenge on Captain Love. Meanwhile, Diego intends to take his own revenge on Don Rafael for the murder of his wife and the kidnapping of his daughter, Elena. While training, Alejandro discovers that Diego was once the people’s hero, Zorro, and desires greatly to be his successor. Diego decides that Alejandro, if he is to be helpful to his revenge plans, must also be taught the ways of manners and nobility. Disguised as a nobleman named Don Alejandro del Castillo y Garcia, Alejandro arrives at a party hosted by Don Rafael and proceeds to charm him and Elena, who is convinced she is actually Don Rafael’s daughter. Through his efforts, Alejandro discovers that Don Rafael intends to harvest a gold mine using slave labor until he is able to purchase all of California from Santa Anna. Alejandro, Diego and Elena must all work together to prevent his plan.

I’ll admit, I have a few qualms with this movie. First, the evil plot of Don Rafael’s is kind of silly and doesn’t really warrant a climactic showdown, but hey, we still get one, so I’m not going to complain too much. Second, the movie is a little long. I think the movie’s editing could have been a little tighter, and a few things could have been cut, such as much of the party scene. But despite these issues, the movie remains thrilling throughout and an enjoyable action adventure. The actors all bring their best, as well. Antonio Banderas was just now becoming a well-known name after his work in Philadelphia and Desperado, so The Mask of Zorro was proof that he could carry a major blockbuster. Catherine Zeta-Jones was relatively unknown at the time (she was cast based on her performance in a little-seen miniseries about the Titanic). Once you get past the fact that Anthony Hopkins is the only man in California with a British accent, his performance is excellent as well. Unlike the other two leads, he was already a veteran by this time, so he fits the mentor role perfectly.

Two other highlights to address: First, the screenplay written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. These two share a resume that read like a greatest hits of 90s/00s action and animated hits, including Aladdin, Small Soldiers, The Road to El Dorado, Shrek, Treasure Planet, and the original Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. Their scripts are famous for ambiguous characters and subverting expectations in plot and genre. The Mask of Zorro doesn’t really have these characteristics, but it’s easy to see it as a stepping stone toward future bright spots. The second is the score from James Horner. The Spanish influences on the score ignite it and lift it to soaring heights as it swoons and sweeps through striking action taking place on screen.

The Mask of Zorro runs at just under two and a half hours, so again, it’s a little long, but it’s worth making a movie night out of.

Bonus Review: The Mark of Zorro (1940)

58 years before The Mask of Zorro, there was another great Zorro adventure starring Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone (whom you saw in The Adventures of Robin Hood, if you watched it like I told you to). 1940’s The Mark of Zorro is actually a remake of a movie of the same name from 1920, starring Douglas Fairbanks, putting Antonio Banderas in good company. Both are based on the 1919 novel, The Curse of Capistrano, the very first Zorro adventure.

The Mark of Zorro acts as an introduction to the character. It follows a young Diego Vega as he returns to California from training in Spain. Upon his arrival, he discovers that his father is no longer in charge of the area, and instead has been usurped Luis Quintero with the help of Rathbone’s Captain Esteban. Everyone’s initial view of Diego is that of a useless, spineless dandy, and he uses that to his advantage. Quintero and his army are searching for the new vigilante, Zorro, and because of his introduction, no one expects Diego of being the masked man – not even his own parents.

Director Rouben Mamoulian had an eclectic filmography, with experience in romance, comedy, film noir and even horror (he directed the most famous version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1931), and he uses all these skills together in The Mark of Zorro. It keeps the film exciting from start to finish. If you can tolerate older films, be sure to give this one a watch. Just don’t go down any dark alleys immediately after seeing it.