The Legend of Zorro (2005)

26% of critics liked it
(134 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(432,136 ratings)

The legendary Mexican hero returns to the screen in this swashbuckling sequel to the 1998 box-office hit The Mask of Zorro. It's 1850, and the people of California, eager to improve their difficult lot in life, have launched a campaign to become part of the United States. Don Alejandro de la Vega… More The legendary Mexican hero returns to the screen in this swashbuckling sequel to the 1998 box-office hit The Mask of Zorro. It's 1850, and the people of California, eager to improve their difficult lot in life, have launched a campaign to become part of the United States. Don Alejandro de la Vega (Antonio Banderas) has become aware of a plot by moneyed Europeans to block the campaign for statehood through nefarious means, and it looks as if Alejandro's heroic alter ego, Zorro, may have to return to duty. However, Alejandro's wife, Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones), has grown weary of his secret life, and she demands that he choose between his family and his clandestine career as a champion of the people. This leads to a rift between Alejandro and Elena, and the couple separates, with Alejandro moving out while Elena continues to care for their son, Joaquin (Adrian Alonso). A few months later, Alejandro finds that Elena is already being wooed by Armand (Rufus Sewell), a suave French nobleman who wants her hand in marriage. However, Alejandro also learns that Armand is actually part of a plot to prevent California from attaining statehood by tampering with an upcoming election; meanwhile, there may be more to Elena's involvement with Armand than romantic courtship. Zorro must come to the rescue of the people of California and perhaps his beloved Elena as well before they both fall into dangerous hands. The Legend of Zorro was directed by Martin Campbell, who performed the same duties on The Mask of Zorro. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 9 min.
Directed By: Martin Campbell, Martin Campbell
Written By: Roberto Orci, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Alex Kurtzman-Counter
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Oct 28, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jan 31, 2006
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Matt Singer, Village Voice
It's Zorro, the domesticated blade!
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
In every imaginable way, this is a lesser film than the original.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
The Legend of Zorro spirals into a convoluted series of incidents, bordering on the impenetrable until they're finally revealed as nonsensical.
Mike Clark, USA Today
Though there's worse entertainment around, there may be more people rabid for the return of Prohibition than for a Zorro sequel seven years after the fact.
Susan Walker, Toronto Star
The CG-effects to replicate crowds and buildings, the fake scenery, the flimsy plot and the cheap dialogue all spell a budget-conscious production.
David Edelstein, Slate
Zorro is misnamed, since it's less about the legend than what happens when the legend goes home and gets yelled at by his wife.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
The Legend of Zorro is a campier sequel, occasionally given too much to childish antics. But once the story really kicks in, it transforms into a fine adventure film and a worthy addition to the Zorro film legacy.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Reasonably rousing, breezily hokey, and touchingly retrograde
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Catherine Zeta Jones' eminent allure and Antonio Banderas' leading man charm are reduced to mere furnishings for an ostensibly child-friendly adventure movie filled with tedious stunt sequences, endless sword fights and too many brutal murders.
Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media
Loud sequel to the PG-13 rated Mask of Zorro.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
excessively lengthy, swashbuckling-by-numbers exercise in tedium that fills the cinema with entirely the wrong kind of zs.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
The ludicrous plot and special effects featuring cartoon physics means this zero is strictly for those under the age of eight or so.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
The ludicrous plot and special effects featuring cartoon physics means this zero is strictly for those under the age of eight or so.
Todd Hertz, Christianity Today
We don't really see who Zorro really is. Instead of being the good-hearted peasant turned swash-buckling gentleman, he's often a bungling buffoon.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Pior que a infusão do nacionalismo pós-11 de Setembro na trama é a dinâmica formulaica e irritante da família Zorro.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Big stars, big budget, big stunts sabotaged by a scatterbrained plot.
Keith Uhlich, Slant Magazine
Bring home the Legend.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

Great to see Antonio Banderas (as the swashbuckling hero) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (as the daughter of the original Zorro) return to this action-adventure sequel of 1998's <i>The Mask of Zorro</i>. Banderas brings out with great comic sense and Zeta-Jones' role… More
Great to see Antonio Banderas (as the swashbuckling hero) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (as the daughter of the original Zorro) return to this action-adventure sequel of 1998's <i>The Mask of Zorro</i>. Banderas brings out with great comic sense and Zeta-Jones' role is enhanced and she gets to be more than a pretty face. There are plenty of funny scenes with the family (including the son) of the swashbuckling hero. And awesome action sequences of what Zorro comes to fight and rescue against the new villains - the best sequence is the train at the end.
Matt G

Here is the perfect example of having a big budget, a big studio, and big actors, but it just doesn't work. I would like to say that I enjoyed 'The Legend of Zorro' on at least some level, but I really didn't. I appreciate the director attempting to input a unique,… More
Here is the perfect example of having a big budget, a big studio, and big actors, but it just doesn't work. I would like to say that I enjoyed 'The Legend of Zorro' on at least some level, but I really didn't. I appreciate the director attempting to input a unique, generic tone in this, when it turns out to be a mess. The action sequences were poor too, especially the opening scene (if you've seen it you'll know what I'm talking about). I don't know what to say, this movie is an abomination.
Alexander D

Bad+
Conner R

Certainly a lot better than I remember, but that's mainly due to the fact that Antonio Banderas does such a great job with the character. While this was certainly a lot more kid friendly and less dynamic, it does retain the fun entertainment value. There's just a few too… More
Certainly a lot better than I remember, but that's mainly due to the fact that Antonio Banderas does such a great job with the character. While this was certainly a lot more kid friendly and less dynamic, it does retain the fun entertainment value. There's just a few too many goofy moments that take away from letting this truly live up to the quality of the first. Luckily, we are introduced to an even more sinister villain in the form of Rufus Sewell. I'm pretty sure he should have a monopoly on evil characters. His utter joy over seeing another fail is like watching a mad scientist at work. Theoretically, this entry should have been more dark, but it just refuses to emerge from its family oriented message. That being said, I still really like it and it fits alright into the overall story. It has its moments of greatness for sure, just not anything close to its predecessor.
Jeff "

Considering that the first one was absolutely terrific in delivering top notch action and delivering a solid story, this sequel is surprisingly average. The film has the feel and good ideas of the first, but the film mostly feels strained and forced. The film is still an entertaining… More
Considering that the first one was absolutely terrific in delivering top notch action and delivering a solid story, this sequel is surprisingly average. The film has the feel and good ideas of the first, but the film mostly feels strained and forced. The film is still an entertaining film but its also disappointing in the fact that the first one was so good. I thought The Legend Of Zorro delivered average action and an average plot, I felt that there was nothing special about the film. The film feels like they're trying to outdo the first one which of course was great. This sequel is at times silly and really doesn't live up to the original. Overall the film is bordeline good fun, it's nothing truly excellent or good. The film is average. I found the acting to be quite sloppy too. The kid annoyed me and he was probably written into the script to give the film a "needed" edge that almost every sequel needs, a kid that gets himself into a shitload of trouble for the sake of putting the main characters at risk. This is too bad, because The Legend Of Zorro could have been something truly terrific, but the end results is that of a strained sequel that tries to overdue it's predecessor. The Legend Of Zorro will disappoint fans of the first, and some will think that this is an average or mediocre film with a watered down plot. Borderline decent, but not good or great at all. I was disappointed.
MisterYoda ?

4 stars
KJ P

It was fun, and I haven't seen the first one. However I am going to stop here! This is my one and only Zorro route!
Thomas B

not as good as the first one, whilst zeta-jones is still hot as ever
Lady D

Catherine Zeta Jones looks so right in these period costumes and this is certainly a part of the film that worked well. There are some comical moments throughout the film (albeit some very corny moments) but unfortunately this seqel amounted to very little as at almost 2 hours long,… More
Catherine Zeta Jones looks so right in these period costumes and this is certainly a part of the film that worked well. There are some comical moments throughout the film (albeit some very corny moments) but unfortunately this seqel amounted to very little as at almost 2 hours long, it was a real struggle not to turn this off most of the way through. Finally a plus point was the young little Actor Adrian Alonso, who played the role of their son, adorable and talented.
Candy R

Who cares about Zorro? Boring movie.
Jason S

This one was cool for seeing what happened to the characters after the first movie but the story wasn't as fun as the last one.
Al S

It's Spectacular action-packed entertainment. Faster, funnier and more furious than the first. Full-throttle fun from start to finish. Dazzeling, stunning and exhilerating throughout. Romance, hilarious comedy, kinetic thrills and incrediable action make this film pure spun… More
It's Spectacular action-packed entertainment. Faster, funnier and more furious than the first. Full-throttle fun from start to finish. Dazzeling, stunning and exhilerating throughout. Romance, hilarious comedy, kinetic thrills and incrediable action make this film pure spun entertainment gold. Antonio Banderas returns in his classic supergero role and never misses a note in his teriffic performance. A wonderful piece of popcorn movie fun.
Tim S

Nostalgia.
Red L

eh, if you've seen one Zorro, you've seen them all. Other than looking at a sexy woman swordfighting (or a sexy man I guess), this movie is no great shakes.
Flutie A

Doesn't live up to the first film at all...Maybe they should have waited so long to make this one.
Curtis L

Trouble. I tell you we got Trouble. With a capital T and rhymes with T and that stands for TERRIBLE. The first one was awesome, but man did they go wrong with this one. I'd rather watch star wars prequels than this garbage.
Dean !

A top quality film, great swashbuckling fun for all!
Kylie B

Could've been better.
Emily A

This is a fun movie. It recaptures everything that made Mask of Zorro fun: great fight scenes, funny dialogue and silly near-miss dupes. I really like the scenes where Antonio Banderas acts drunk. This movie is fun for when you watch it, but I don't think I'd be able to tell… More
This is a fun movie. It recaptures everything that made Mask of Zorro fun: great fight scenes, funny dialogue and silly near-miss dupes. I really like the scenes where Antonio Banderas acts drunk. This movie is fun for when you watch it, but I don't think I'd be able to tell you what happened in it. It's pretty forgettable.
Jose Z

this movie is quite good. full of action and adventure and some funny mments. also it has a very good cast