This
latest telling of the famous legend is one of the summer's best films! Martin
Campbell (Golden Eye and No Escape) directs with an energy that is lacking in
many of the year's big blockbusters. This time around, Anthony Hopkins plays the
spirited swordsman who decides to pass his sword down to a younger Antonio Banderas.
Thus, the adventure begins as our newly-masked hero sets out to fight for justice.
The
best part of this updated version of Zorro is Hopkins, who is absolutely superb!
Is there any part this actor can't play? And Banderas is a perfect fit for the
swashbuckling young Z-man. He's charismatic and offers a nice sense of humor to
the role. The love story is what seems to fall flat, despite Catherine Zeta-Jones'
extraordinary beauty. On the other hand, this is old fashioned cinema, so I guess
it can be forgiven.
Campbell
knows how to show the audience a good time--offering duel sequences that are truly
exhilarating. It also looks as if Zorro will return, because Campbell has stamped
sequel all over this throwback to the Errol Flynn days.
The
Mask of Zorro isn't the best film of the year, but it's certainly a nice diversion
from a summer full of films that go boom!
