The Legend of Zorro (PG)
Mike:
Scott:
Scott: Tonight we are reviewing The Legend of Zorro
, the sequel to the 1998 hit The Mask of Zorro. This movie finds our hero facing his most difficult task yet: married with a child.
What'd you think Mike?
Mike: I liked it, but then again I was a big fan of The Mask of Zorro.
How about you?
Scott: Well, that was a fun movie, this was too. This was kind of a comedy.
Mike: I think fun is the best description.
Scott: There were some pretty good lines and scenes sprinkled throughout the flick.
Mike: I loved the action scenes. I am a sucker for sword fights. Now the kids will know where lightsaber battles come from.
Scott: Yes. You know with this being Zorro, that there will be a bunch of swordfights in the movie. I think with this movie though, they look somewhat out of place with all of the guns.
Mike: This movie reminded me of the old action movies of the 30s and 40s.
Scott: How so?
Mike: Zorro is a character like many of the action heroes of those movies. Lots of hand to hand fights and acrobatics. The character is heroic and never has need of a gun. He has to depend on his quick wit and training. Occasionally, he has to be rescued by someone else. Characters like Indiana Jones are based on old characters like Zorro. In fact, I think even Batman owes some of his existence to Zorro.
Like in The Mask of Zorro, there are a lot of great shots that show Banderas looking very cool in his black outfit and cape. Very Batman.
Scott: I think the director tried to make the movie about a time when Zorro was becoming less relevant though. California is about to become a state and all that he has worked for was coming to fruition. He seemed like a relic with his mask and sword.
Mike: And his wife is desperate for him to quit. But he proves that he is still relevant and necessary... and effective. Many times this movie reminded me of the old Errol Flynn pirate movies, like Captain Blood and The Seahawk.
Scott: Of course, Armand (Rufus Sewell) comes calling with his plot to take over America by starting outside of the U.S. (with California not being a state). A little confusing there. There is also something about a prophecy that could have been left out for all of the plot it added. Bad guys don't need much reason to be bad, they are bad, so mostly that's enough.
Mike: I thought the prophecy was minor. I think they were trying to add in a secret society ala Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade or even The DaVinci Code.
Scott: I think you are right too. Too little time was devoted for it to be interesting though. It did add to the running time though.
Mike: I agree that there were some slow parts
I liked the fact that this movie takes place in the framework of it's time. There are no futuristic gadgets, that couldn't possibly have been invented at that time.
Scott: Except for the massive explosive devices that always are in summer blockbusters... oh wait, it isn't the summer... I was surprised to see this coming out now (October) and not in May or June.
Mike: I'm kind of glad it didn't come out in the summer, though, because it would have been buried by all the blockbusters.
This movie is one that whole families will be able to enjoy. I like that it talks a lot about family and what's right and wrong.
Scott: Yes, and you find out that prison can change a man too.
Mike: There are some great action scenes..
Scott: The ladder scene from Zorro I, was one of the best action sequences I have scene in a movie. This didn't have anything as eye catching.
Mike: The sequence on the scaffolding, where he fights like 5 guys comes close.
Scott: True, it comes so early in the movie though, that the rest of the action is almost a let down.
Mike: Also, I think the climax on the train is pretty exciting.
Scott: I thought the train fight scene was a bit too long.
Mike: I think that Antonio Banderas was the perfect choice for Zorro. I'm glad they were able to get him and Catherine Zeta Jones back. I'm also glad to see that both are in great shape. It looks like they both did quite a bit of training for the fight scenes. While watching it's easy to forget that 7 years has passed between movies.
Scott: I liked them both in this. They seem made for the roles. Banderas looked young. I looked for wrinkles on his face and it was smooth, he looked younger than I remembered.
Mike: I think Antonio has both respect and affection for the character of Zorro. He doesn't play it campy, but quite heroically.
Scott: It is not a cheesy, one-liner, role, you are correct. Although, there are some one-liners.
I think the kissing scenes were over-the-top. It looked liked they were trying to swallow the other's tongue. It was a bit much.
Mike: I have to say I didn't analyze the kisses quite that much!
Scott: They were working their jaws like they were chewing gum
Mike: Alrighty then.
Scott: Ok, it's just me.
What did you think of Rufus Sewell as Armand, the bad Frenchman?
Mike: I thought he was fine, but not that impressive. I think the fact that his character was a prissy French nobleman, kind of worked against him.
Scott: People in the U.S. are going to dislike him off the bat. His accent came and went throughout, in the beginning I couldn't even pick it up.
Mike: His right hand man McGivens (Nick Chinlund) was more the villain you love to hate. He was just creepy looking.
Scott: That guy is often a bad guy, I guess he has that look.
Mike: I also want to mention Adrian Alonso, who played Joachin, Zorro's son. This kid is very likable in a role that could have been annoying if not played right. He came across more like Robin from Batman, than Will Robinson from Lost in Space. One is a good young sidekick and one is not.
I think this is a kid we will see more of.
Scott: Obviously, he had a good director for most of the movie.
There was only one scene where he didn't act as a kid would.
Mike: What's that?
Scott: When the priest was shot, he ran over to him and did a Home Alone type cringe with his hands to his face. Adult women do that, not kids.
A kid would never do that.
Mike: I think Martin Campbell did a nice job. There are some very clever camera shots in this film. And he seems to be able to handle action very well.
Scott: He did do The Mask of Zorro as well as GoldenEye.
Mike: I was checking him out, because he will be directing the next James Bond movie Casino Royale. I thought he did a great job with The Mask of Zorro, which is what had me anticipating this movie.
Thanks for reminding me about Goldeneye. That was Pierce Brosnan's introduction to the Bond series. Maybe Daniel Craig's will be just as good.
Scott: I want to mention the soundtrack as well. I liked it, but then again, it was very similar to the first Zorro's soundtrack. So alike, that I think it was the same soundtrack.
Mike: It's a James Horner score.
Here's my little trivia comment. There is one scene with Mary Crosby in it, do you remember her?
Mike: It's like they put in just so you could say, 'Oh that's the girl who shot J.R. on Dallas'.
Or is that before your time?
Scott: Before my time. I did see her though; she even had a small speaking part.
I looked her up on IMDB.com... Wow, she was in Ice Pirates, one of the best B movies of all time.
Mike: One more thing, one of the writers is Robert Orci, who works on my second favorite show Alias.
Scott: So, how do you rate it?
Mike: I give it a 4 overall and a 4 for action/family adventure movie.
Scott: Wow, that's pretty high. I think a 3 overall, and a 3.5 for family adventure. I think the kids would like it. Odd, it's only PG, not PG-13 like most movies these days.
Mike: I think it's great that it is not PG-13 for a change. It wasn't necessary for a movie like this. They kept the language and the violence to an almost old fashioned level.
In case you can't tell I liked this movie.
Scott: Yeah, I picked up on that.
Mike: I've been looking forward to it and was not disappointed for a change.
Scott: This has enough action to keep away the ZZZZZs.
Mike: Double groan.
The man in black is back!
