The Legend of Zorro

directed by Martin Campbell
Category: "Western"
Year of Release:2005
Date Added:04/24/2008
Date Watched:03/13/2006
Description:
My Rating:7

Reviews for The Legend of Zorro

Review - Legend of Zorro, The

Why I saw it: I enjoyed the first one, The Mask of Zorro (1998) and never got around to seeing this sequel in the theater.

Brief Synopsis: Armand, a French dude, is a member of a secret organization who wants to overthrow the United States. He sends his henchman, McGivens, to steal the ballots for the statehood vote. Zorro intervenes and saves the ballot box, but in the process is unmasked. He’s seen by two Pinkerton agents who are investigating Armand.

The two agents tell Elena (Zorro’s husband) that they will reveal Zorro’s identity if she doesn’t divorce Alejandro and take up with Armand, who she knew in Europe. Alejandro is devastated and turns to drink. Then one day he sees a massive explosion. He investigates and with the help of his eight-year-old son, Joaquin, discovers a shipment of soap. Further sneaking about reveals that Armand is turning the soap into nitroglycerine to be used in an attack on Washington D.C.

When Zorro gets too close to the truth, he’s captured by the Pinkerton agents who tell him about Elena. Joaquin helps Zorro escape. He goes to Armand’s vineyard where the nitro is made, contacts Elena and prepares to blow up the train full of nitro. But Armand catches on, grabs Elena and Joaquin and puts them on the train. Zorro gives himself up to save his family, then, with the help of his friend Brother Ignacio, escapes and takes off after the train. In the end, the shipment is destroyed, Armand is killed and Alejandro and Elena are married again.

What I liked about it: Banderas and Zeta-Jones do a great job with the parts, playing their roles with tongues firmly in cheeks. The action sequences are exciting, with the feel of an old-time swashbuckler.

What I didn’t like about it: The plot is flat-out stupid. Why wouldn’t Elena just go to Alejandro and tell him, “two guys grabbed me today and said I had to divorce you or they’d expose who you were”? He was Zorro, after all, and it would have avoided a lot of pain and confusion. The whole blowing up Washington with nitro bit was stupid too.

Quotes: Alejandro was in prison overnight, then was sprung by Joaquin. They are confronted by four armed guards and Alejandro defeats them easily. Joaquin (who doesn’t know his father is Zorro and things of him as a coward) asks, “Where did you learn to do that?”

Alejandro replies, “Prison changes a man.”

Bottom line: If you can pay no attention to the plot and enjoy the action sequences, the settings and the characters, you will enjoy it. I gave it a 7.

Other comments: Pretty violent and suggestive for PG.
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