DVD It is twenty years on since Zorro last fought Don Rafael, who robbed him of his freedom, his child and his wife. Now Don Rafael has returned and Zorro must find a successor to wear the mask to defend the weak and avenge his wife's death.
Details
Don Diego de la Vega, played by Anthony Hopkins (who makes little effort to hide his Welsh accent), is the original Zorro who has grown too old to continue the fight. After spending years imprisoned by his old enemy Don Rafael Montero, he escapes with revenge on his mind. Montero has returned from exile with plans to seize control of California and turn it into his own independent empire, and only the return of Zorro can stop him.
De la Vega finds a potential successor in the form of a charming but reckless bandit named Alejandro Murrieta, played admirably by Antonio Banderas, who thankfully doesn't have to fake the Spanish accent. Vega begins training Alejandro in the art of sword fighting, horsemanship and the gentlemanly behaviour required to infiltrate Montero's social circle. During one mission Alejandro encounters Montero's daughter Elena, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their meeting leads to one of the film's stand-out moments - a fantastic fencing duel that mixes humour, flirtation and some extremely impressive choreography.
Picture & Sound
The picture is outstanding, with the wonders of DVD bringing out all of the detail in the superbly hand-crafted costumes and colourful sets. The transfer remains sharp throughout and does a fine job of presenting the sweeping outdoor locations and lavish production design. The sound is equally impressive, with plenty of explosions, galloping horses and the ringing clash of sword blades making full use of the surround channels.
Menu & Extras
It is the many fight scenes which make this film as good as it is. Only when you watch the Bonus Documentary do you discover the painstaking efforts each member of the cast went through to learn the carefully choreographed fighting routines. It is also worth the price of admission just to watch Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is simply stunning in every costume she wears.
Overall
Another big-budget television-to-film remake, and unlike a host of flops before it, The Mask of Zorro manages to combine sweeping action, superbly choreographed sword fights, glamorous characters and, most importantly for these remakes, a strong storyline. The result is an entertaining two hours of swashbuckling adventure that captures the spirit of the classic Zorro legend.
The film works because it remembers that the Zorro legend should be fun. The combination of action, humour and romance works extremely well, and both Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones bring plenty of energy and charisma to their roles. Anthony Hopkins adds some gravitas as the ageing Zorro passing on the mantle, making this both a continuation and reinvention of the classic character.
As for the DVD itself, yet again Columbia produces another superb disc bursting with extras. The transfer is excellent, the soundtrack lively and the bonus material genuinely interesting rather than the usual filler. The only minor complaint is the rather garish cover artwork which proudly blazes the words "fantastic special features" across the front. Please stop doing this.
Special features
- Unmasking Zorro - 60 Minute Documentary
- Alternate Ending
- Deleted Scene
- Director's Commentary
- Music Videos
- Theatrical Trailer
- Filmographies
- Photo Gallery
