13YL Review: The Mask of Zorro
The Mask of Zorro
Year: 1998
Number for Year: 4/28.
Overall Number: 4.
This was the second and last movie I saw at the mainstream Lexington multiplex, but unlike The X-Files I know exactly why I saw this one there. This incarnation of Zorro was one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the summer, in large part due to one of the most effective movie trailers of all time. Key in that trailer was segments from the best scene in the movie, in which a sword fight between Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones leaves her mostly naked. The moral of the story, one supposes, is that one should not fight with Zorro. Sadly for the bad guys, most of them don't heed this cautionary tale. Since they are universally less attractive than Zeta-Jones, they usually end up dead, although if memory serves the head bad guy and his main henchman are killed when the bad guy is pulled off a cliff and lands on the henchman.
This movie was uniformly excellent. It featured solid acting in every role, stunts that flowed from the plot instead of dictating the plot, clever dialog ("You know how to use that? [sword]?" "Yes, the point goes into the other man."), horseback chases, one awesome tango, and a whole bunch of sword fights. Having Catherine Zeta-Jones at the absolute height of her hotness is a big plus. Antonio Banderas was excellent as Zorro. Bizarrely, he was the first Spanish or Hispanic actor to play Zorro ever, which I guess is progress of a sort, although I'm sure few people cared at the time. Even Anthony Hopkins seems like he's actually trying instead of just phoning it in for the paycheck.
This was easily one of the two or three best movies I saw in 1998. A small jaded part of me wonders if I'd think the same thing if this was a new movie this year, 700 movies later, but most of me is absolutely certain that it would still be awesome. I go now to Youtube to make sure I don't lose my sense of joy at films like this. There are probably better movies out there, but not many that are more fun.
Up Next: Out of Sight
On Deck: City of Angels
In the Hole: Godzilla
Year: 1998
Number for Year: 4/28.
Overall Number: 4.
This was the second and last movie I saw at the mainstream Lexington multiplex, but unlike The X-Files I know exactly why I saw this one there. This incarnation of Zorro was one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the summer, in large part due to one of the most effective movie trailers of all time. Key in that trailer was segments from the best scene in the movie, in which a sword fight between Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones leaves her mostly naked. The moral of the story, one supposes, is that one should not fight with Zorro. Sadly for the bad guys, most of them don't heed this cautionary tale. Since they are universally less attractive than Zeta-Jones, they usually end up dead, although if memory serves the head bad guy and his main henchman are killed when the bad guy is pulled off a cliff and lands on the henchman.
This movie was uniformly excellent. It featured solid acting in every role, stunts that flowed from the plot instead of dictating the plot, clever dialog ("You know how to use that? [sword]?" "Yes, the point goes into the other man."), horseback chases, one awesome tango, and a whole bunch of sword fights. Having Catherine Zeta-Jones at the absolute height of her hotness is a big plus. Antonio Banderas was excellent as Zorro. Bizarrely, he was the first Spanish or Hispanic actor to play Zorro ever, which I guess is progress of a sort, although I'm sure few people cared at the time. Even Anthony Hopkins seems like he's actually trying instead of just phoning it in for the paycheck.
This was easily one of the two or three best movies I saw in 1998. A small jaded part of me wonders if I'd think the same thing if this was a new movie this year, 700 movies later, but most of me is absolutely certain that it would still be awesome. I go now to Youtube to make sure I don't lose my sense of joy at films like this. There are probably better movies out there, but not many that are more fun.
Up Next: Out of Sight
On Deck: City of Angels
In the Hole: Godzilla