cinemajesty Movie Review: "The Mask of Zorro" (1998)Here is Hollywood at his best. Great story, great actors interacting with charms and wits from Sir Anthony Hopkins in mentor state for perfect-matching Antonio Banderas as about to become the masked avenger, finding his love interest embodied alongside with match-making screen-appearance by Catherine Zeta-Jones, when executive producing Steven Spielberg gives director Martin Campbell, known for resurrecting James Bond with the great "007: GoldenEye" (1995) starring Pierce Brosnan, opportunities to shine as filmmaker in western-action-battles with sword, guns and dynamite that after nearly 130 minutes of a non-stop entertaining ride there no doubts remaining that this has been a Hollywood picture well made, open to be rediscovered on video-on-demand for a motion picture striking evening.© 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

HotToastyRag If you missed seeing The Mask of Zorro in the theaters, you missed out on a key milestone of a childhood in the '90s. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat watching what was probably the first action movie I'd ever seen, falling in love with Antonio Banderas's wavy hair and Catherine Zeta-Jones's exquisitely beautiful face. Was there ever a more beautiful screen couple? Well, in 1998 I didn't think so, and the magic of childhood remembrance puts such a glow around them that no other screen couple will probably be able to touch them.In this film version of legend of the masked hero, Zorro is captured at the beginning of the movie. The bad guy, Stuart Wilson, grows his power for twenty years, until Zorro escapes from jail. The problem is, Anthony Hopkins is Zorro, and he's far too old to return to his swashbuckling days. The only solution is to find and train a new Zorro so that the legend will continue and justice will prevail. I'll never forget the exciting and grueling training sequence between Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas: it's a sequence between two good guys, but it's still just as thrilling as the action scenes later on in the film!Moviegoers who like swashbuckling movies, action flicks, or historical romances will love The Mask of Zorro. Antonio lives a double life, since no one knows the true identity of the masked avenger, and he's funny, daring, and charming as he woos Catherine-with and without the mask. There are political discussions, romantic tensions, and incredible fight and action scenes. This thrilling '90s masterpiece is not to be missed-even if you're seeing it for the first time as a grown-up, I'm sure you'll love it.

thehaunting This film has everything, not because it does so many things to you emotionally, but because it has enough of every ingredient to tick a checkbox. Action? Yes. Hot girl? Yes. Romance? Yes. Swords? Yes. Guns? Yes. Masked hero? Yes. Oppressed masses? Evil capitalists? Popular uprising? Board meeting of evil people? Father-daughter reunion? Master-protégé type situation? Masked dude kissing a girl and meeting her for a dance (sans mask)? Protégé marrying master's daughter and doing the same as he did?The action scenes were too long and boring. The baddies are just a series of people that Zorro has to beat up. There's no consequence to any of it. He doesn't get captured or hurt. A conveyor belt of tasks rolls faces to his fist/sword and he does what he must.This film needed to be dark, something like Batman, but instead it seems to be intended for children. Catherine Zeta Jones is there to attract adult men, and the romance and father-daughter stuff is there for women, I guess?This film tries to go for everyone, but ends up being for no one.

Fallen Eye This movie, is an absolute classic. A nostalgic depiction of heroism, story telling and of course, love.Who isn't amazing in it. Anthony Hopkins delivers an astounding, however subtle performance, as usual. Antonio Banderas; if you didn't love him before this film, your perception may take an acute turn.And as for Catherine Zeta-Jones; She's breathtakingly beautiful, her performance is sensational and her chemistry with the camera surly cut Martin Campbell's directorial duties in half.James Horner, even in your absence, your compositions still transcend.A definite 9/10. This movie did what it was supposed to; it engaged. It told a tale.