Product Details

• Actors: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matt Letscher
• Directors: Martin Campbell
• Writers: John Eskow, Johnston McCulley, Randall Jahnson, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
• Producers: David Foster, Doug Claybourne
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: December 1, 1998
• Run Time: 136 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (438 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0800124456
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,819 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A lusty and rousing adventure, this calls to mind those glorious costume dramas produced so capably by the old Hollywood studio system--hardly surprising, in that its title character, a de facto Robin Hood in Old California, provided starring vehicles for Douglas Fairbanks and Tyrone Power, the '50s TV hit, and dozens of serials and features. Zorro, a pop-fiction creation invented by Johnston McCulley in 1918, is given new blood in this fast-moving and engaging version, which actually works as a sequel to the story line in the Fairbanks-Power saga, The Mark of Zorro. A self-assured Anthony Hopkins is Don Diego de la Vega, a Mexican freedom fighter captured and imprisoned just as Spain concedes California to Santa Ana. Twenty years later, he escapes from prison to face down his mortal enemy, a land grabbing governor played with slimy spitefulness by Stuart Wilson. Too old to save the local peasants on his own, he trains bandito Antonio Banderas to take his place. Much swashbuckling ensues as Banderas woos Catherine Zeta-Jones, becomes a better human being, and saves the disenfranchised rabble. Director Martin Campbell wisely instills a measure of frivolity into the deftly choreographed action sequences, while letting a serious tone creep in when appropriate. This covers much ground under the banner of romantic-action-adventure, and it does so most excellently. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Product Description

Packaged in the original full-color printed cardboard sleeve, this classic VHS tape is in excellent condition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Quality DVD, Swashbuckling Fun....HALF the Price!, December 21, 2002

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Mask of Zorro (DVD)

This review refers to the Columbia TriStar DVD Dec 2000 release of "The Mask of Zorro"......

You're a big fan of this Zorro film but don't want to shell out big bucks? This DVD is for you. Columbia/TriStar's transfer to DVD is one of the best I've seen. There isn't one detail about it that's inferior. The picture is presented in beautiful anamorphic widescreen(2.35:1), and shows off the incredible cinematography of the Mexico/California regions. The colors are outstanding. They jump out at you and take your breath away.The sound including the wonderful score, the dialouge and all the swashbuckling action is outstanding in the Dolby Dgigtal 5.1(THX) surround. You can also set it up for 2.0 stereo if you choose.You won't find a ton a special features, but there is "making of" featurette, with some commentary by cast and crew, that is entertaining and informative.For those who would prefer more on the side of extras and don't mind paying more, there is a "special edition" release that has lots of goodies including a video, and lots of commentary(see buying info). There is also a "super-bit" version, also more expensive if you choose.(Don't look for extras there).

The movie is packed with action, adventure, romance, and comedy and drama.It will appeal to you if you love westerns, history, or swashbucklers. The story opens with Zorro(Anthony Hopkins)bounding in to help save the Mexican people from the ruthless Don Rafeal Montero(Stuart Wilson). They have been under Spanish rule and are now about to be free. Montero and Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro have been sworn enemies for years. Montero follows De La Vega back to his home, finds that he is Zorro, a swordfight ensues, Diego's wife is murdered, his baby girl stolen and he is imprisoned.Montero flees back to Spain and raises the child as his own.

Twenty years later........Diego learning of Montero's return, see's a chance to reclaim his daughter, Elena(the beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones) and breaks out of prison. He now trains a younger and stronger man, Alejandro Murietta(Antonio Banderas), to take his place and to help save the people once again from the ruthless Montero.Lots of adventure abounds as they set out to accomplish these feats, and of course lots of romantic adventure as well between Alejandro and Elena.You never knew sword fighting was so much fun and so sexy until you see these two in a duel!

Hopkins is exquiste as the older Zorro, Banderas charming, funny, and handsome as ever,and Zeta-Jones in one of her earliest roles really shines through. Other notables to watch for are L.Q. Jones as "Three-Fingered Jack", and Pedro Armendariz Jr as Don Pedro. Cinematography by Phil Meheux(The Saint/Goldeneye)is outstanding, Musical score by James Horner brillant as always in giving the perfect feeling to the story, and wonderful direction by Martin Campbell(Vertical Limit/Goldeneye).

Watch for "The Sign of the Z"........Laurie

41 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Zorro has never been given a better treatment!, March 27, 2001

By 

D. Litton (Wilmington, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mask of Zorro (DVD)

Remember all those old movies where the swashbuckling hero swoops down to the rescue and saves the day for one and all, defeating the enemies and getting the girl all within a few hours' entertainment? "The Mask of Zorro" is a testament to those movies, embodying all of these characteristics in its magnificent story and exhilarating action sequences. With a powerhouse cast that seems as if they were born to play the parts they play, as well as strong music and a solid story, Zorro once again rises from Hollywood deterioration to save the day in a movie that is good, old-fashioned fun from beginning to end!

The old Zorro legend is given a new twist with this film, which begins with Don Diego de la Vega, the original and legendary Zorro, saving a group of prisoners from execution in the town square and leaving his mark on his nemesis, Don Raphael, warning him to leave and never return. Raphael does leave, but not before killing de la Vega's wife and taking his child, also having him imprisoned. Many years later, Raphael returns, "daughter" in tow, to name himself the new governer and to make sure his past enemy is all but alive in his prison. Through extreme craftiness and cunning, de la Vega escapes, only to discover his life is no longer what it once was.

His venture into the public brings him to the attention of one Alejandro Murrieta, who quarrels with him in the marketplace and then resolves himself to friendship. The two do share a past: on the day of Zorro's last battle, Alejandro, along with his brother, saved him from death. Now, Alejandro is distraught and torn with revenge for Captain Harrison Love, the murderer of his brother, and agrees to take on the mask once worn by de la Vega, who in turn will teach him the art of fighting with honor and grace.

The movie is one of those tributes to the old movies of the past, which played out the story of a hero who won all the goods and the girl in the ending. This one admittedly involves a few more characters than those old movies, but that's not to say that they don't each play a special part in the advancement of the movie. The romance, epic scale, action sequences and extreme wit are all present, making this a very exciting and memorable movie experience.

The advancement of the plot lies within the external battle between Raphael and our two heroes, who devise plan after plan to bring him to his downfall. They discover that he has made plans of tricking Santa Anna out of his own land, thus setting the stage for the impending climax which pits good against evil. The characters are all given the chance to become complex and intelligent, which is important in a movie like this. As they begin to outmatch one another, this adds on to the movie's tension over who will win out in the end.

The settings and music have a vast effect on the look and feel of this movie, which takes place in the 19th century. The sets are full of artistic influences from Spanish backgrounds and artists, giving it the true look and feel of the time period. Costume design also adds to the grandeur and pomp of the aristocracy as well as the impoverished conditions of the poor, adding to the contrast between the two differing demographics. The music, composed by James Horner, is amazing, employing Spanish instruments and rhythms while keeping a mordern feel to its score as well. The music adds a lot of heart to the movie, bringing out the intensity, the romance, the passion, and the victories with stylish and rousing compositions that fit right into the entire picture.

The choreography and stunts for this film are what really make it work for the audience, dazzling us with some of the most effective swordplay ever acted out on film. Most of the battle scenes involve men with swords, fighting against one another with an honorable form of battle. Actors Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson and Matt Letscher all hit the swordplay as if they are prose, adding believability as well as excitement to these scenes.

The actors mentioned above bring so much to the movie. Banderas is magnificent in his role as Alejandro, the new Zorro, a role he seems destined to have played. His looks, his charm, and his wit and personality all make this Zorro one of the finest ever. Hopkins brings his usual presence to the movie, establishing his character as one of immense wit and intelligence, while also possessing a vast knowledge of the art of fighting. Catherine Zeta-Jones sparkles in her role as Elena, de la Vega's daughter, and the chemistry between she and Banderas is dazzling and intense. Stuart Wilson and Matt Matt Letscher play our enemies, and they do so with performances to match those of the heroes.

"The Mask of Zorro" is one big piece of fun that works on many different levels. Some will find pleasure in watching the actors work with the material, some will find intrigue in watching the romance unfold, while the action and adventure will most likely be the most influential factor that wins over the audience. It never stops moving, and keeps dishing out the thrills, the laughs, and the cheers.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blu-ray: Wow! "The Mask of Zorro" looks and sounds great on HD!!! Definitely a majo improvement over the original DVD release!, December 2, 2009

By 

Dennis A. Amith (kndy) (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Mask of Zorro [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

For 90 years, many fans of "Zorro" have seen quite a few adaptation of the swashbuckling hero who dons a black mask, cape, clothing and his sword.

From the original books from 1919 by pulp writer Johnston McCulley to the silent films by Douglas Fairbanks and one of my favorites, the 1958-1960 Disney television series starring Guy Williams. But there has been a sort of lull when it came to "Zorro" films and before the 1998 film "The Mask of Zorro", we were left with the George Hamilton comedy "Zorro, the Gay Blade" in 1981.

But in 1998, producer Steven Spielberg ("Indiana Jones" films, "Schindler's List", "E.T.", "Jurassic Park" films) along with director Martin Campbell ("Casino Royale", "Vertical Limit", "GoldenEye") began working on a new action film based on the hero for a new generation of moviegoers. Featuring a screenplay by John Eskow ("Air America", "Pink Cadillac"), Ted Elliott ("National Treasure"and "Pirates of the Carribean" films) and Terry Rossio ("Pirates of the Carribean" films), music by James Horner ("The Spiderwicke Chronicles", "Troy", "Enemy at the Gates") and cinematographer Phil Meheux ("Casino Royale", "Around the World in 80 Days", "GoldenEye").

The film was released in theaters during the Summer of `98 and with a budget of $95 million, the film went on to make over $250 million worldwide and was received positively by critics.


VIDEO & AUDIO:

"The Mask of Zorro" is presented in 1080p High Definition (aspect ratio 2:40:1). I was quite pleased with the picture quality of the film as there was pretty good detail on the texture of the Mexican and Spanish clothing, detail of the interiors of Don's cave hideout and the dirt and grime on the Murrieta boys. A good number of shots were outdoors, so there was a good amount of lighting. Skin tones were natural and you can see Anthony Hopkins blue eyes quite clearly. I tend to get a bit unnerved with some films shot during the 80's and 90's because they look a bit waxy but "The Mask of Zorro" looks very good for a 1998 film.

As for audio, the film is presented in English, French and Portuguese 5.1 DTS-HD MA (and Spanish 5.1). The soundtrack for the film is actually fantastic. For an older film, I was expecting a front and center channel driven soundtrack but "The Mask of Zorro" really takes advantage of the surround and rear surround channels and also some LFE. You hear the crowds clapping all around you during a scene when Montero arrives back to California. Horses galloping and thunder is also well heard. Fighting sequences, gun shots, explosions are really utilized quite well and for the most part, similar to "Air Force One" which is a 90's film that was given great audio by Sony, the same can be said for "The Mask of Zorro". The lossless soundtrack is clear, understandable and quite immersive during the action sequences.

Subtitles are in English, English SDH, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

"The Mask of Zorro" comes with the following special features presented in standard definition, English stereo and optional Portuguese or Spanish subtitles:

* movieIQ - With BD-Live, you can obtain information about the film online while watching the film (optional).
* Director's Commentary - Featuring audio commentary with director Marc Campbell. Campbell provides insight on each scene and very thorough in his explanation of the talent, the set and more.
* Exclusive Documentary: Unmasking Zorro - (45:05) The making of "The Mask of Zorro" featuring director Martin Campbell, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Antonio Banderas and more talking about the film, the history of Zorro, the production and costume design of the film, the music and more.
* Deleted Scenes - (4:50) Featuring two deleted scenes: The Wallet and The Resolution.
* "The Legend of Zorro" Behind-the-Scenes Peek - (5:02) A behind-the-scenes look at the making of "The Legend of Zorro" and interviews with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Antonio Banderas and director Martin Campbell who talk about reuniting seven years later for the sequel of "The Mask of Zorro".
* Music Video by Marc Anthony and Tina Arena -(4:51) Music video for "I Spent My Whole Life Loving You" by Marc Anthony and Tina Arena.
* Exclusive Scene from "The Legend of Zorro" - (1:43) A short sneak peek of the 2005 film "Legend of Zorro".

JUDGMENT CALL:

It actually has been a Zorro month for me during Fall/Winter 2009. Having watched the complete "Zorro" TV series from 1958-1960, I was enchanted by the humor, drama and the action. So, watching "The Mask of Zorro", I felt that it was perfect timing on my part because the film was almost like a continuation of previous films and even the TV series because you forward to the future in which the hero Don de la Vega is now an older man, married and knowing that he's getting too old to be doing jumps and escaping harm.

I was a bit skeptical at first seeing Anthony Hopkins taking on the role of Don Diego. Mainly because I've gotten so used to seeing Guy Williams playing the role of "Zorro" but because this role calls for an older Don Diego, Hopkins is such a talented actor, that he makes you feel comfortable towards his character.

You easily accept him and sympathize for him as Don Diego goes through the worst, imaginable things that the hero has ever experienced. But enter Antonio Banderas. One thing that Guy Williams captured in the classic TV series is a character with class, charisma and is able to deliver in the action. Banderas starts off as a bit of a ruffian but through the course of the film, we see the thief become the hero and much more refined.

And as for Catherine Zeta-Jones, she looks absolutely beautiful in this film and together, she and Banderas played their characters of Alejandro and Elena quite well. They both have that chemical/sexual attraction towards each other but also, aside from the dramatics, the two also have a good repertoire for utilizing their characters to earn some laughs from the audience.

One thing that the original TV series had was high production value in which Walt Disney himself made sure "Zorro" utilized. So, when Steven Spielberg was the name behind the producing of this film, you knew that there would be significant action scenes and most of all, a film that would receive good financing to pull off these fight scenes that Zorro is known for. May it be him battling with a sword, climbing on rooftops or chandeliers, being chased on horseback to Zorro taking on dozens of men, fight choreography was done well and cinematography was also solid and for the most part, those scenes were highly enjoyable.

"The Mask of Zorro" was definitely a hallmark for Zorro films. After that periodic lull of having nothing satisfying since the late 1950's and early 60's, it was great to see the character of Zorro done well for this film. A screenplay that is not only action-driven but also character driven and you get all the humor and sexual attraction in this film as well.

Having seen the TV series and a few of the Zorro films in the past, I'm confident to say that "The Mask of Zorro" is the best Zorro film ever made thus far. For those of us who grew up watching the adventures of Don Diego de la Vega, this film is simply the passing of the title to a new character for a new generation of viewers. Fortunately, the film was handled quite well and I really enjoyed seeing this film again and I'm sure you will too. Definitely recommended!