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Starring:
Antonio Banderas - Alejandro Murieta/Zorro
Anthony Hopkins - Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Elena Montero
Stuart Wilson - Don Rafael Montero
Matthew Letscher - Captain Harrison Love
Original score by James Horner
Directed by Martin Campbell
I'm not sure what stroke of casting genius put Antonio and Sir Anthony together in the same movie, but I'd like to shake that person's hand. In a summer of explosion- and expletive- and gunfire-excessive blockbusters, it's nice to see a movie with genuine heart that can get thrills without these tired methods.
The basic plot is simple. Zorro--er, Sir Anthony, that is--has fought what he thinks is his last battle as Santa Anna's army closes in on the viperous Don Rafael Montero, last governor of Spanish-held California. As he returns to his wife, Esperanza, Montero breaks into his hacienda. Esperanza is killed, their infant daughter, Elena, is taken by Montero to be raised as his own, and Zorro is imprisoned.
Twenty years later, a thief whose brother was killed by Captain Love of the US Cavalry, is stopped from avenging his brother's death by the recently-escaped Zorro, now gray and too old to don the mask of Zorro. So he teaches the thief, Alejandro Murrieta, all he knows, including, as Sir Anthony purrs, "Chahm." As Alejandro calms down and learns to think as Zorro, he penetrates the inner circle of Montero, who has recently returned from Spain to take back what he feels is his--California. At his side is his loyal "daughter", Elena.
Unbeknownst to many, Antonio Banderas was well-known in his native Spain for his roles in comedies. The middle section, the training section, is steeped in comedy and thrills as the two Tonys play off each other in a Merlin-Arthur-esque relationship. And Antonio is in his element as the charming, fictional Don who gets close to Montero. Of course, Sir Anthony delivers a top-notch performance, as he seems incapable of giving a bad one. Zeta-Jones is suprisingly fiery and three-dimensional as Elena, who is torn between her love for a bandit and her love for her father, and between her two fathers.
I said that there were genuine thrills. I guess what I really meant was "swordfights." There are stunning fencing matches involving fire, dresses, many-leveled sets for our heroes to leap about in, peasantfolk, and even bars of gold. There is one explosion, but it comes at the very end, where it actually matters. And this is mother of all explosions. That's all I'll say on that. There is one chase scene, as well, involving horses instead of squealing tires and gunfire. Martin Campbell seemed to know that in adventure films, less is more.
One interesting aspect is James Horner's score, which utilizes real flamenco music and dancers. The music is the best he's done in recent years (and don't even get me started on Titanic). It really adds an authentic flavor to the movie.
Praise goes to everyone on the production team, from the cinematographer to The Assistant to Mr. Banderas. The costumes are impeccable, the acting is involving, the plot never gets too heavy or too light-hearted. And it doesn't try to squeeze in a moral while it's at it. It's simply a good summer action flick.
Overall Score: A- Soundtrack Score: A
