The Mask Of Zorro (1998)
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82% of critics liked it
(68 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(349,269 ratings)
Director Martin Campbell, well-known to the action arena after 1995's GoldenEye, teams up with executive producer Steven Spielberg to bring the first Hollywood production of creator Johnston McCulley's Zorro in over four decades to the big screen. With scenic 18th century Mexico as a… More Director Martin Campbell, well-known to the action arena after 1995's GoldenEye, teams up with executive producer Steven Spielberg to bring the first Hollywood production of creator Johnston McCulley's Zorro in over four decades to the big screen. With scenic 18th century Mexico as a backdrop, Anthony Hopkins plays the original Zorro, a.k.a. Don Diego de la Vega, intent on revenge after rival enemy Don Raphael Montero (Stuart Wilson) murdered his wife and took his daughter, Elena. After being imprisoned for 20 years, the fabled hero removes his mask and takes on a tarnished young apprentice, Alejandro Murieta (Antonio Banderas), to infiltrate Montero's plan to take control of California from Santa Anna. A boisterous outlaw with his own desire for revenge, Murieta works with Diego to avenge his brother's death by the sword of Montero's right-hand man, Captain Harrison Love (Matt Letscher, in his big screen debut). After Diego's extensive training in swordfighting, discipline and manners, a new Zorro appears wreaking vengeance and stealing the heart of a now-grown Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones). A sizable summer hit, the film served as Zeta-Jones' stepping stone to leading lady status as the high-spirited heroine. ~ Rachel Koetje, Rovi
- Directed By
- Martin Campbell
- Written By
- John Eskow, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Romance
- In Theaters
- Jul 17, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Todd McCarthy, Variety
The Mask of Zorro stands as a pointed riposte to those who say they don't make 'em like that anymore.
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Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
The story is not important. The clash of swords, the leaps, the tumbles -- it's all very nice. But after 136 minutes, it becomes a bit much.
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Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Banderas and Hopkins prove that there's life in the Z-boy yet, but by leaving in the dull patches, the filmmakers may find audiences catching zzzzzs in ways they never intended.
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
A lively, old-fashioned adventure yarn with just a twist of modern attitude, it's the kind of pleasant entertainment that allows the paying customers to have as much fun as the people on screen.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Mask of Zorro has something you don't often see in modern action pictures: a sense of honor.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Antonio Banderas
as Alejandro Murrieta/Zorro
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Anthony Hopkins
as Don Diego de la Vega
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Catherine Zeta-Jones
as Elena
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Stuart Wilson
as Don Rafael Montero
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Matt Letscher
as Capt. Harrison Love
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Maury Chaykin
as Prison Warden
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Tony Amendola
as Don Luiz
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Pedro Armendariz Jr.
as Don Pedro
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L.Q. Jones
as Three-Fingered Jack
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Jose Perez
as Corporal Armando Garcia
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William Marquez
as Fray Felipe
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Victor Rivers
as Joaquin Murrieta
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Julieta Rosen
as Esperanza
- Matthew Letscher



