With strike action impacting the future of every major movie and television show right now, and the summer blockbuster season serving up more middle-of-the-road movies than real trailblazers, you might be wondering what to watch. Well, how about instead of looking for something new to occupy your evenings, you instead invest your time in a stone-cold classic, which this week celebrates its 25th anniversary?
Originally released in July 1998, The Mask of Zorro is a swashbuckling, whip crackin’, action-packed epic. Directed by Martin Campbell, the film stars Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Anthony Hopkins, is easily one of the best action movies of the ’90s, and is probably a film you haven’t watched in a while.
Why haven’t you watched it in a while? Because despite it being ruddy magnificent, The Mask of Zorro often gets overlooked by lots of other films from the same era. However, The Mask of Zorro is a bloody brilliant picture, which is continually ripe for revisiting, and it offers over two-hours of top notch entertainment.
In the movie, the year is 1821, and the corrupt governor of Las Californias’, Don Rafael Montero, discovers that his friend, Don Diego de la Vega, is secretly the masked vigilante known as Zorro. Zorro is Montero’s sworn enemy, and upon figuring out his true identity, Montero ambushes de la Vega at his home and a fight quickly follows.
During the scuffle, de la Vega’s wife is accidentally killed, while he is dragged away to be imprisoned. Meanwhile, de la Vega’s baby daughter, Elena, is taken into the care of Montero, where he raises her for the next 20 years as his own daughter.
Fast forward to the year 1841, and after Montero returns to his home town, de la Vega is inspired to break out of prison to confront his old foe, reunite with his lost daughter, and get his revenge. But in order to do this, he will require assistance from someone younger who can take on the mantle of Zorro.
Partnering with a washed-up bandit called Alejandro Murrieta, de la Vega sets to work on training a successor. But before Murrieta can truly don the mask of Zorro, he needs to learn what it takes to become a hero.
To say The Mask of Zorro ticks all the right boxes would be an understatement. This film not only delivers action, drama, romance, and a captivating story, it does so with a spring in its step and plenty of swagger.
From the spirited opening, which introduces (then retires) Anthony Hopkins’ Zorro, through to an explosive showdown at Don Rafael Montero’s goldmine, the film is filled with exciting, dynamic, crowd-pleasing sequences. The Mask of Zorro also zips along at a thundering rate, packing in plenty of plot, as well as some excellent performances from the film’s three leads.
Banderas was born to play the role of the ‘new’ Zorro, and he brings charm, strength, and good looks to the part. His comic timing is excellent, he plays every scene with a twinkle in his eye, and he couldn’t be more dashing if he tried.
Backing up Banderas is a wonderful turn from Catherine Zeta-Jones as Elena, who shares sizzling chemistry with her on-screen partner, as well as a triumphant bit of support from Anthony Hopkins as de la Vega. Hopkins brings gravitas to the role, and his inter-play with Banderas provides the movie with some of its best scenes.
The casting in this film is note perfect. But then, so is everything else – including the fight choreography.
To talk about Zorro and not mention the spectacular fight sequences would be a monumental oversight. The Mask of Zorro has some of the most exhilarating action scenes and sword-play in any movie.
Whether it’s simple slapstick stunts, which are played for laughs, or it is large-scale, explosive scenes with a darker edge, the action sequences in The Mask of Zorro never fail to delight and capture the imagination. Forget all that greenscreen wizardry and CGI-nonsense we see nowadays, the good ol’ fashioned face-to-face combat and wire-work on offer in The Mask of Zorro runs rings around its peers, and then some!
At no point in the movie do any of the stunts feel drawn out, out of place, or underwhelming. All of them are energetic and exciting, and are absolutely magnificent to watch.
The Mask of Zorro is brilliant at every turn, but the action is something else. Hollywood doesn’t make movies like this anymore, but one can’t help but think it should.
With expert direction from Martin Campbell, along with some beautiful cinematography from Phil Méheux, and a sweeping, deeply romantic score from composer James Horner, The Mask of Zorro is a perfect movie. It offers up endless thrills and spills, an even balance of comedy, romance, and drama, and a constant, but never exhausting collection of stunt sequences.
Banderas creates his signature role, Campbell delivers a stunning picture, and audiences get all the enjoyment they could ask for. The Mask of Zorro is a cut above the rest and is without doubt simply marvellous.
Should you wish to watch the film for yourself, The Mask of Zorro is widely available on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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