The Mask of Zorro

July 17th, 1998







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The Mask of Zorro

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Still of Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins in The Mask of ZorroThe Mask of ZorroThe Mask of ZorroStill of Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Stuart Wilson in The Mask of ZorroThe Mask of ZorroThe Mask of Zorro

Plot
The elder Zorro trains his replacement to fight the enemy Montero.

Release Year: 1998

Rating: 6.7/10 (67,108 voted)

Critic's Score: 63/100

Director: Martin Campbell

Stars: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Storyline
The original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega, is captured and imprisoned just as Spain concedes California to Santa Anna. 20 years go by and his mortal enemy, Don Rafael Montero, returns to California with a plan to become wealthy at the expense of the peasants. The original Zorro escapes from prison and trains a new Zorro to take his place. Much swashbuckling and derring-do ensues.

Writers: Johnston McCulley, Ted Elliott

Cast:
Antonio Banderas - Alejandro Murrieta / Zorro
Anthony Hopkins - Don Diego de la Vega / Zorro
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Elena Montero / Elena Murrieta
Stuart Wilson - Don Rafael Montero
Matt Letscher - Capt. Harrison Love
Tony Amendola - Don Luiz
Pedro Armendáriz Jr. - Don Pedro (as Pedro Armendariz)
William Marquez - Fray Felipe
José Pérez - Cpl. Armando Garcia (as Jose Perez)
Victor Rivers - Joaquín Murrieta
L.Q. Jones - Three-Fingered Jack
Julieta Rosen - Esperanza de la Vega
Luisa Huertas - Nanny
José María de Tavira - Young Alejandro Murrieta (as Jose Maria de Tavira)
Raúl Martínez - Heavyset Lieutenant (as Raul Martinez)

Release Date: 17 July 1998

Filming Locations: Atotonilico de Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico

Box Office Details

Budget: $65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $22,525,855 (USA) (19 July 1998) (2515 Screens)

Gross: $139,600,000 (Worldwide) (except USA)



Technical Specs

Runtime:



Did You Know?

Trivia:
Sean Connery turned down the part later played by Anthony Hopkins.

Goofs:
Continuity: When Don Rafael arrives in the lifeboat, the camera in the boat shows six rowers, all wearing navy blue army uniforms and hats. In the next shot, there are only four rowers, and the two on the left side are wearing white bandannas on their heads.

Quotes:
Captain Harrison Love: Are you all right?
Don Rafael Montero: Do you have the map?
Captain Harrison Love: We'll find it.
Don Rafael Montero: Is your army ready to fight Santa Anna's?
Captain Harrison Love: No, sir.
Don Rafael Montero: Then why are you asking me if I'm all right? Of course I'm not all right.



User Review

Entertaining

Rating:

At the conclusion of The Mask of Zorro I heard something I haven't heard in a cinema for a long, long time – an outbreak of spontaneous applause. It happened because the audience felt so good at the conclusion of the film that they wanted to show their appreciation, to share with others the goodwill which this little slice of magic had brought into their lives. To a jaded movie-goer like myself, it was music to the ears.

This is a simple film, telling a simple story about justice conquering oppression and the power of all that is good in the world to put all that is evil to the sword. Anchored by three great performances from Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas and the luscious Catherine Zeta-Jones, it's a never-ending parade of derring-do which brings to mind the likes of The Crimson Pirate, the kind of film your parents tell you they just don't make anymore. It's played for laughs all the way down the line, but it's not a farce – the humour is gentle, the characters inhabiting a world which we know never existed but which damn well should have, a world where swordfights and horse chases and romantic love are the order of the day. I watched this film in an enraptured stupor, and for a short time I was twelve years old again, thrilling to the larger than life exploits of pirates, musketeers and the sons of Hercules.

Okay, so it isn't going to win any awards for depth of character, and you aren't going to be discussing the finer details of the plot over a bowl of gazpacho when it's over. But in an age when meanspirited movies seem to be becoming more and more common, it's a pure delight to come across something so untainted.

It's the sound of two hands clapping, folks. Miss it at your peril.





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