RETRO MOVIE REVIEW: The Mask of Zorro (1998)

Zorro is a character that I have a fondness for, though not one that I’m deeply immersed into as much as others. The idea is a compelling one—a Spanish nobleman in 19^th Century Spanish California who masquerades as a champion of the oppressed. The character is also an entertaining one, with his swashbuckling style, his signature weapons, and the lighter tone of the storytelling. Zorro has a mythic quality that has inspired many recognizable superheroes, most notably Batman. The result is a character who works very well on the screen.

His best-known modern portrayal is The Mask of Zorro, with Antonio Banderas as Alejandro Murrieta, the second man to bear the mantle. The result of this is a story about a legacy hero who must earn the right to succeed the original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins. This changes up the series from the traditional formula, which centered on de la Vega as Zorro in traditional swashbuckling adventure stories. However, the process of making The Mask of Zorro was somewhat complicated. Robert Rodriguez was originally slated to direct this film until he bowed out due to creative differences, leading Martin Campbell to take over as director. Fortunately, Rodriguez had already cast Banderas by that time, though he wanted the film to be darker and more violent than the finished film turned out to be. Though an A-list actor even at that time, Anthony Hopkins turned out to be the third person slated in the role of the original Zorro. The late Raul Julia (who likely would have made a magnificent Zorro) passed away before the film was made, and Sean Connery passed on the role, possibly because he’d done something similar already with Ramirez in Highlander. There was also controversy over the writing credits in the film due to legal issues. However, the movie managed to find its way regardless of these problems, resulting in a solid adaptation of a classic character.

The main writers credited for this film include Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who would eventually go on to write the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. On the strength of this film, it’s easy to see why they were chosen for Pirates years later, since The Mask of Zorro captures the tone of the series decently well. Like those movies, this film is a historical swashbuckler that keeps a light tone while telling an accessible story. More to the point, the tone was perfect for Zorro, keeping the fun sensibility of the classic films while making the character interesting and relatable. While the prologue begins on a darker note, with de la Vega imprisoned and his wife murdered, the movie doesn’t dwell on the darkness. It embraces the swashbuckling side of Zorro, using wit and grace to solve problems rather than the more violent style of film that Rodriguez might have preferred. This approach suits the character of Zorro best, and the film embraces everything that makes Zorro an entertaining character. At the same time, it builds on the Zorro mythology to establish the character of Alejandro Murrieta, basing him loosely on real historical figures. Murrieta holds his own with de la Vega, and by the end of the film, he earns his place as a worthy successor to the Zorro legacy. The dynamic between Alejandro and the original Zorro is also excellent, with de la Vega playing the role of Henry Higgins as well as a classic mentor figure. The villains are also reasonably interesting—Montero is a visionary with pathos as well as menace, while Captain Love is a savage underneath the uniform of a Union Army officer. The storytelling generally holds up quite well, boosted by the star power of its primary leads and some lively and impressive action sequences.

The film is largely sustained by the strength of its primary cast, headlined by Antonio Banderas in the role of the new Zorro. Banderas is close to perfect casting as it’s possible to get for Zorro. He is so good in the role, in fact, that if he’d been cast today, his casting would be comparable to a Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man or a Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Banderas is a charismatic actor who can be suave and charming, or roguish and swashbuckling, or angry and vindictive, all at the most dramatically appropriate moments. Banderas also shows different sides to his Zorro, and all of them come across as distinct characters. He looks like Zorro brought to life, and as a Spanish actor, he understands the cultural significance of the character. Catherine Zeta-Jones had not been a massive star until The Mask of Zorro, but her performance in this film catapulted her to the A-list. She brings a strong presence to the role and a real chemistry with Banderas, giving inner strength and feistiness to the character of Elena. Banderas and Zeta-Jones sparkle together on the screen, both in their romantic scenes and in their verbal sparring early on; the dance scene together is captivating to watch, with both contributing to the intensity of the scene. Sir Anthony Hopkins always brings his best to every role he’s in, and even as a third choice, he brings a gravitas and sorrow to his Diego de la Vega. He is very much the elder statesman of this cast, and his presence and experience offer a strong balance to the ensemble. Stuart Wilson is not an actor that I am deeply familiar with, but he holds his own with the major stars in this cast as Montero, the main villain of the piece. Montero is a complex character in this script, and Wilson displays the callous brutality as well as the pain through good physical expression. Matt Letscher puts in a solid performance as Harrison Love, Murrieta’s nemesis, though he’s a bit overshadowed by the tremendous talent of the film’s leads. Overall, the cast is entertaining to watch, with outstanding performances by the three main actors and the primary villain.

For anyone looking to see Zorro at his best, or even just a fun swashbuckling adventure film, The Mask of Zorro will more than provide that. In some ways, this movie is a precursor to films that would explode in popularity in the early 2000’s, especially the Pirates of the Caribbean films and modern superhero films. This movie arrived only a few scant years before that, leading it to be somewhat forgotten, but it does everything that a good superhero film should do, even though Zorro is more of a pulp character than a traditional superhero. Still, if you want to see a well-written, entertaining, and decently cast film in the mold of a modern superhero film, The Mask of Zorro will more than scratch that itch.

Score: 4.5/5

Director: Martin Campbell

Writers: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Randall Jahnson, David S. Ward (uncredited)

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Stuart Wilson, Matt Letscher, Pedro Armendariz, Jr., L.Q. Jones

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Steve Sellers

Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).