“The Legend of Zorro” (Sony Pictures)
In 1998 Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones lit up the screen in the film “The Mask of Zorro.” Banderas played Alejandro AKA Zorro while Zeta-Jones was his true love Elena. At the end of that film the two were a happily ever after couple. Now Banderas and Zeta-Jones team up again in “The Legend of Zorro,” and the heat, heart and humor of the first film are back again.
When the new film opens several years have passed. Alejandro and Elena are married and have a ten-year-old son Joaquin (Adrian Alonso). Elena wants Alejandro to quit playing the role of Zorro and to put his family first. Things get so bad that the couple divorces and soon Elena is seeing a nobleman named Armand (Rufus Sewell).
There is also a plotline about the development of nitroglycerine and its danger to the people of California. Zorro hears the chapel bells toll five times and is off to do battle against the evil forces in his area. His heart still belongs to Elena but he must go when duty calls.
Meanwhile Joaquin is disappointed in his father because he is always absent. He does not know his father is also his hero Zorro. He only knows his mother and father are divorced and no one seems to have time for him.
All of this is played with swashbuckling excitement and a high degree of humor. This is an “entertainment” movie through and through with the good guys being really good and the bad guys being really bad. There are no in-betweens.
Banderas is perfectly cast as the caped crusader who can vanquish his enemies with his sword and women with his smoldering gaze. Opposite him Zeta-Jones can do some smoldering of her own. She is breathtakingly beautiful, and is also an accomplished swordsperson. In the fight sequences she is totally believable.
For a movie like this to work there has to be great chemistry between the two leads. Banderas and Zeta-Jones had it in the first film and it has not diminished. They singe the screen when they are together. As their child Alonso is as cute as can be and also quite the little daredevil himself. Who knows, we may be watching a “Zorro, Jr” movie some day.
The movie is rated PG for mild profanity and violence.
The only thing diminished in this sequel is the fact the characters are not new and fresh, but that is equalized by the comfort level you immediately feel with them. Anthony Hopkins is missed from the original but Alonso is a welcome addition. In all it balances out and this sequel is a fine way to spend an entertaining two hours.
I scored “The Legend of Zorro” a Z pack 7 out of 10.
