'The Mask Of Zorro (1998)' is a swashbuckling adventure that sees the 'Zorro' mantle passed down from Hopkins' Don Diego de la Vega to Banderas' Alejandro Murrieta. Even though the latter is who springs to mind when you think of the character, the former gets a huge amount of screen-time. Thankfully, the actual training that goes on is brushed over refreshingly quickly, making this 'origin story' slightly less generic than expected. It does conform to its genre rather heavily, but it's an absolutely solid film regardless. It's the kind of movie that proves clichés are clichés for a reason: they work. On top of this, it feels old-school in the best of ways. It captures the 'adventure serial' aspect of its source material rather well, clearly being inspired by 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)' and itself inspiring 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)'. It's a lot of fun, with fantastically tangible set-pieces and a perfectly balanced tone. Two of its most noticeable issues are the obvious stunt performers and the fact that Hopkins' character is supposed to be Spanish. In the grand scheme of things, they're not really a big deal. The performances are absolutely solid and the stunt-work is impeccable, too. The flick slows down somewhat in its mid-section but it picks back up again for an excellent finale. It's also interesting that its A and B plots are pretty much inseparable; it's difficult to say exactly which is which, to be honest. Overall, the experience is just enjoyable. It's a really good time and that's what matters most. 7/10
Review of The Mask of Zorro
