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28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
A true family movie, fillied with heroic fighting action and genuine comedy
This movie gets high marks from me in the "PG" category. It can not truly be compared to 1998's Mask of Zorro, even though the characters are reprising their roles, because the original was a significantly darker "PG-13." Don't go with expectations that it will match the original.
When we revisit Don Alejandro de la Vega (aka Zorro, played by Antonio...
Published on January 17, 2006 by Jessica Lux
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17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
As "sequels" go, this is a success
I have no faith in sequels. All I have to do is think about "The Lost World", "Back to the Future 2", and "The Temple of Doom" to reassure me that I can spend my time and money more wisely. However, when the special edition of the original movie comes packed with a FREE ticket... can you really go wrong?
The ''Legend of Zorro'' retains a lot of the energy,...
Published on October 30, 2005 by William Smith
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28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
A true family movie, fillied with heroic fighting action and genuine comedy, January 17, 2006
This movie gets high marks from me in the "PG" category. It can not truly be compared to 1998's Mask of Zorro, even though the characters are reprising their roles, because the original was a significantly darker "PG-13." Don't go with expectations that it will match the original.
When we revisit Don Alejandro de la Vega (aka Zorro, played by Antonio Banderas) and his charming wife Elena (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones), ten years have passed since the original movie, and their son is a major player in their lives (he is masterfully and comically played by the young Adrian Alonso). As married life as gone on, Elena has continually urged Alejandro to give up his secret life as Zorro, but he keeps feeling the tug of his people. The two quarrel and separate, leading to separate lives amongst some major political upheaval and the arrival of a strange Frenchman who seems to have his own plans for the homeland. There are a few stretches in the plot, but nothing too outrageous for an action/comedy, and there is plenty of witty banter and sight gags to make up for it. (Of course, any history buff will find the plot laughable, but it's for entertainment, okay?) Elena gets to do some excellent fighting and espionage-types scenes in this plot, really coming in to her own.
As my review title states, this is a family movie. The darkest moments are Alejandro's sad drunken sloven days. Again and again, the values of family, fighting fair, not shooting anyone in the back, doing well in school, etc. are reinforced, but not in a preachy way. The young son of Zorro is quite a troublemaker in school, and he learns a lot about "doing the right thing" throughout the movie, much to the comic delight of the audience. See this with a younger audience and know that you are getting some good action/adventure, packed with comedy and romance, without anything vulgar. If you like darker entertainment, avoid this sequel.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
The Legend Continues, February 2, 2006
While it's not better than original. I found it to be a great sequel. What I enjoyed most that it wasn't predictable. It has a lot of suspense as well as drama. The movie starts with Elena and Alejandro divorcing as well his troubled relationship with his son Joaquin. Will it work out! Buy the DVD. Also the Special Features are great as well especially the behind the scenes footage.
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17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
As "sequels" go, this is a success, October 30, 2005
I have no faith in sequels. All I have to do is think about "The Lost World", "Back to the Future 2", and "The Temple of Doom" to reassure me that I can spend my time and money more wisely. However, when the special edition of the original movie comes packed with a FREE ticket... can you really go wrong?
The ''Legend of Zorro'' retains a lot of the energy, humor, and style from the first movie and that is more than enough to actually carry the film. I was worried going in to this that without Anthony Hopkins, the movie wouldn't have an anchor. I'm glad to report that Hopkins, while he is missed, is not an essential part of this new Zorro Universe and that is key.
The villians and story are "just good enough" to make sure this boat stays afloat while Banderas and Zeta-Jones do all the rowing. I'm sorry, but if you give this movie 1 star and are so bitter about it, you really must have a heavy heart... it's a fun-popcorn-movie!!
I did have my share of misgivings I hope can be righted in the next film.
Firstly, the balance of the cast is so good at general hand to hand combat [ie; children, women, peasants] that it does seem to undercut the heroic acts of Zorro. While viewing this one starts to get the idea that if ANY of the people in this film were wearing the mask, they too could be Zorro!!
Secondly, while I had a great time with the action scenes featuring Zorro, there were actually too few of them and again, the ones that were here were laced with other people kicking-butt.
Lastly, the writers seemed to try a bit too hard with the family dynamic. While on the one hand I can see them broadening the characters but on the other, it came off stiff and sometimes hollow.
Still, I cannot say this was a dissappointment. Zorro is a fantastic character and the Banderas-Jones one/two punch hopefully can live on through at least a few more movies... that is as long as they retain the direction of Martin Campbell and the reworked scores of James Horner.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Could Have but did not Renew the Zorro Franchise, April 7, 2006
Zorro is a franchise with utterly tremendous potential, especially as the U.S. increasingly Hispanisizes. While this movie has some elements to commend it, it does not come close to meeting the potential of the franchize. Without doubt, the core problem was the scriptwriting of this particular film.
The writer has yet to overcome the idealism that marked earlier Zorro films. Here we see Zorro as quite superhuman in action-abilities, while the writer at the same time tries to humanize him through is family troubles and his zeal for the poor and opressed. This contradiction is seriously discordant with the rest of the film.
The idealism driving this film can be seen in even its villian--his name is not memorable. He was nothing short of cheesy, as was Zorro's son. Each "cheesy" element must be dealt a categorical death-blow in future Zorro films.
Many of props were good, such as those that attempted to portray Zorro as within the aristocratic class, e.g., Zorro's home was indeed realistic of aristocrats of the very loosely historical seting of the film. However, the props elsewhere seriously lacked realism. The fireworks at the party were so sterotypical Holywood it made me want to turn off my DVD player, go barf in the bathroom, and commence to use my Zorro disk as a frisbee along with my pre-Batman Begins Batman-franchise disks.
It is essential that the Zorro franchise obtain a realist scriptwiter. The Batman franshise has renewed itself for probably decades through such a move. The Zorro franchise has not.
The greatest accomplishment of this particular Zorro film is that it weakly keeps the franshise within the public conscienseness until a truly remarkable and realist Zorro film can be made. While the film is a descently fun evening for un-sophisticated viewers, it's shortcomings are simply pathetic compared to its potential. The Zorro franshise and Holywood is capable of so much more than this.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
"Zorro" with a zzzzzzzzzzz, April 6, 2006
Yeah, yeah, sequels are supposed to suck, so I shouldn't be shocked that this "Mask of Zorro" follow-up followed the pattern...but, still, I was very disappointed. "Legend" took the old-fashioned fun of "Mask" and modernized it with cliche takes on fatherhood, divorce (!) and patriotism. Yes, patriotism. Apparently, according to this film, California would have never been voted into statehood if it weren't for Zorro saving the ballots... Also, the villain is French. But none of this tops the jaw-dropping stupidity of Zorro's pint-sized son engaging in a ruler duel with his strict teacher. Ay caramba!
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Worth Viewing, but not as good as the first with Antonio, January 31, 2006
I am of the belief that any movie starring Antonio Banderas with a sword is proabbly going to be better than most movies that don't star Antonio Banderas with a sword (or a guitar case full of guns for that matter). It is with this notion in mind that "The Legend of Zorro" is a fun film. The action is very well choreographed and very enjoyable. Zorro's stunts are breathtaking and far superior to the stunts and swordplay in the very enjoyable "Mask of Zorro" film. I would even go so far as to say that the majority of the plot in "Legend of Zorro" is also superior to the storyline that takes place in Antonio's first turn as the masked, Zorro.
The sole reason for this film's 3 star rating is Catherine Zeta-Jones. Actually, that isn't even her fault. Catherine's character, Elena, is absolutely repulsive in this movie. She is whiney, she is rude, she is darn-near unbelievably difficult to tolerate. For lack of a better word, she is absolutely a gigantic b****. In spite of Elena's best attempts to make this movie no fun at all, Antonio's performance as Zorro and as a father are way fun and very enjoyable.
Buy this movie only if you are a total completist (as I am) and feel the need to own it simply because you own the first. Otherwise, this movie is probably not worth much more than a one-night rental, and it's honestly all Elena's fault.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
This Could Have Been so Great!!!, April 7, 2006
In an age of sperheroes as real "heros with hangups," this movie is at least fifteen years behind the times. This is a cheesy incarnation of the otherwise potential-filled Zorro character. What a waste of acting talent, money, hope, and my time this movie was! What do you think, Hispanics are shallow and want Soap Operas???
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
One last ride..., January 8, 2006
I saw this film in Imax the weekend it first came out, and I have to say, it is as every bit as entertaining as the first film: THE MASK OF ZORRO. I do believe everyone from the original, including the director, came back for this second installment. Thankfully.
The film has all the elements of the previous Zorro film which made it successful, swashbuckling action, humor, romance and family. The only thing lacking is the tragedies that was in MASK OF ZORRO.
This time around, Alejandro dela Vega and Elena are having marital problems. Elena wishes that her husband retire from his swashbuckling ways and give more time to their son, Joaquin. As usual, forces beyond their control leave Alejandro no choice but to continue as the masked one. Even Elena fell into the trap of fate when she is forced to go undercover for the (SPOILER ALERT)u.s. secret service to investigate a french nobleman who has been wooed by her beaty in the past. She is forced to divorce Alejandro to protect him.
The people of California is also holding elections to become a state of the United States which a cult plans on stopping. The movie is like a period James Bond flick/family film. Young Joaquin has no idea that his father is in fact Zorro which is why he had grown more and more distant towards his sire.
The action is terrific! The sword fights are amazing and well-choreographed, and the script itself is not flawless but quite fitting to the movie. The train scene is the highlight of the film and builds up to its climax. I give this 3 1/2 stars or a weak 4 stars because I think the original movie is a strong 4 stars. In THE MASK OF ZORRO, the stakes were more personal.
To sum things up, it is a very enjoyable movie that's worth a second look. It is very entertaining, I only wish it came out sooner as a follow up sequel. I think this is the only reason it didn't do as good as the MASK OF ZORRO in the box-office. The first one was a box-office smash, I believed it came up short because it was too late. There are only a few franchises that can go over 4 years for a follow up sequel and still be a blockbuster: naming a feW FRANCHISES: ALIEN, TERMINATOR, and they're all sci-fi flicks.
All in all, THE LEGEND OF ZORRO is solid entertainment. I'm adding this one to my huge collection.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Tongue in Cheek Adventure Sequel, February 2, 2006
Unlike many of the inevitable sequels that follow popular expensive movies, THE LEGEND OF ZORRO is happily a lot of fun to watch. Though overlong in excess of two hours, and though the story line is pushed beyond tolerable limits, it is easy to forgive the many weaknesses of the film and just enjoy the verbal and physical jousting between Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
The story this time 'round concerns the broken promise Alejandro de la Vega (Banderas) made to his wife Elena (Zeta-Jones) at their marriage ten years ago: Alejandro would give up his dangerous life as the masked Zorro. But the upcoming opportunity of statehood for California is at stake and so, of course, the five bells ring and Zorro is on his faithful steed Tornado to right the wrongs. Elena informs him that if he goes on another mission, he may as well not come home, despite the fact that they now have a son Joaquin (Adrian Alonso). But Zorro rides and gradually we discover the covert underpinnings of the cause to which Zorro is called. There is a newcomer in town, one Frenchman Armand (Rufus Sewell) who is mysteriously tied to the worst of all possible deeds with the aid of the smarmy Jacob McGivens (Nick Chinlund).... Elena, no slouch of a wimpy wife, joins in the action in a wily way, and ultimately with the help of good priests Brother Ignacio (Alberto Reyes) and especially Frey Felipe (Julio Oscar Mechoso) good triumphs over evil (surprise!).
There are some well staged duels and fighting episodes and some tender moments about family, especially father/son repartee, but the ingredient that makes these Zorro films work is the fact that Banderas and Zeta-Jones look like their have such a good time. There are many hilarious lines in the most unexpected places. No, this is not a great movie, and despite the fact that yet another sequel is probably planned, enough is enough. But it is entertaining in its lighthearted way. Grady Harp, February 06
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Zorro "ZAPS" Less Than The First.., March 1, 2006
Good Family Movie! No doubt! Not too many action plots until the middle to end of it. Zorro plays his character well throughout the sequences as does his wife. The movie just lacks a little "Flash", but has more "Spunk" than the first only because there's a new "KID" in town----literally (his son)! The movie is a firestorm trailblazer and is fun for the whole family! Pick it up and don't forget your son!
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