Susan Granger’s review of “The Legend of Zorro” (Columbia Pictures)
So, the first question: is this sequel as good as the original? No. Few are. Second question: is it entertaining? Yes. It’s a bold, fun-filled, swashbuckling action-adventure for the whole family.
In “The Mark of Zorro,” Mexican aristocrat Don Alejandro de la Vega (Antonio Banderas) wooed and wed the feisty Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones). They now have an impudent 10 year-old son Joaquin (Adrian Alonso) and a serious marital issue: Alejandro’s secret identity as the daring Zorro and his devotion to duty. But it’s 1850. California is poised to be the 31st state and facing a very real threat from those who form a secret opposition to the United States of America, like the devious Armand (Rufus Sewell), a dastardly French aristocrat who has opened a nearby winery.
Screenwriters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman have concocted a complicated plot, peppered with undercurrents involving California’s relevance to the Confederacy in the upcoming Civil War. Yet director Martin Campbell delights with stunt-studded, whip-cracking action sequences and broad humor, much of it involving Zorro’s trusty horse Toronado. Photographer Phil Meheux thrills, especially as Zorro on horseback jumps onto a moving train. A sexy chemistry still sparks between the aging Banderas and Zeta-Jones, just not as much of it. But their dialogue is trite and the “drunk Zorro” scene seems inappropriate. What’s gone, of course, is Anthony Hopkins, and his presence is missed, particularly when the story sags as Zeta-Jones and Sewell are adjusting their wavering accents. On the other hand, defiantly devilish Adrian Alonso opens the door for “The Son of Zorro.” On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Legend of Zorro” is an exciting 8. Harken to the hacienda and hoist the tequila, the iconic Zorro is slashing “Z’s” again!
