Back in 1998 when The Mask of Zorro came out, I remember it being a pretty big deal. Antonio Banderas was a huge star and for me personally, movies like Assassins and Desperado made me a fan of his. Now that I think about it, The Mask of Zorro was the first Antonio Banderas movie I saw after I became a fan that I checked out in the theatre.
How to Download The Mask of Zorro
The Mask of Zorro was released on July 17, 1998. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you like Antonio Bandera, check him out also in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Journey to Bethlehem, and Babygirl
The Mask of Zorro Movie Review
I wanted to see the movie because Antonio Banderas was in it, but I felt like this movie was advertised everywhere, they did a great job of making it seem like Zorro was a big deal (to be fair, the character was) and I got caught up in this hype big time. I remember liking the movie, but I watched it again for the first time in many years, probably 20! I expected to like it, but man, this really surprised me as this was one hell of a fun swashbuckling adventure.
The Action-Packed Opening Scene
The movie starts with Zorro dealing with his nemesis, Don Montero. During a daring and exciting scene, Zorro is aided by two young brothers, Alejandro and Jaoquin, whom he rewards with a medallion. The start of the movie is just awesome and sets the tone for the great adventure you are going to be going on.
The Legendary Hero: Anthony Hopkins as Zorro
We have Anthony Hopkins as the original Zorro, a hero of the people who stood up against the corrupt leaders in the Californias. However, the evil Don Montero figures out that Zorro is Don Diego De La Vega and kills his wife, burns down his home, takes his daughter, Elena as his own, and then returns to Spain! To make matters worse, he does not kill Zorro, instead, he imprisons him so he has to live knowing what Don Montero did.
A Tale of Revenge and Redemption
Many years later, Alejandro (Antonio Banderas) and his brother end up in some trouble, trouble which sees Alejandro escape, but his brother ends up dead. Captain Harrison Love is the man who is responsible for this and it turns out that in America, he is the man that Don Montero has left in charge.
Don Montero returns to the USA with a now adult Elana (played by the gorgeous Catherine Zeta-Jones) and this makes De La Vega want to escape prison and get his revenge on Don Montero. Of course, De La Vega is now older and not quite the nimble warrior and hero he once was, but that is where Alejandro comes into play.
The New Zorro is Born
After a meeting, De La Vega realizes that Alejandro is the person who helped him all those years ago. De La Vega offers to make Alejandro his apprentice so he can become the new Zorro! This will allow De La Vega to get his revenge on Don Montero and Alejandro to get his revenge on Captain Love! We get some great training montages as De La Vega teaches Alejandro the ropes. It is not just all physical training though, Alejandro also learns what it means to be a real hero.
A Love Story and Electrifying Chemistry
We also have a love story as Alejandro meets and falls in love with Elena. Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have great chemistry together.
Final Thoughts on The Mask of Zorro
I was honestly blown away by how well this movie held up! It was actually far better than I remembered it being and I remembered it being pretty damn good! I picked this up on Blu-Ray, but even though it is early March I am writing this, I am 100 percent asking Santa Claus for the 4K this Christmas. I remember the sequel, The Legend of Zorro not being as good, but I need to watch that again, especially after how much I loved this!
