Review: The Legend of Zorro (2005)
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A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
Demand a director's cut -- at least 30-40 minutes shorter -- before you pay
to see THE LEGEND OF ZORRO. The film, as directed by Martin Campbell
(BEYOND BORDERS, which was beyond bad, and the last Zorro movie, THE MASK OF
ZORRO), is little more than one long stunt extravaganza. Zorro (Antonio
Banderas) fights multiple men a multitude of times, never killing them but
carefully knocking them down or out. The bad guys aren't so scrupulous.
Although a much shorter version of the film might sizzle, this tediously
repetitive version makes you hunger for its brief comedic interludes. The
best of these feature the son of Zorro, almost certain to get a spin-off
film if THE LEGEND OF ZORRO is a box office success. An 11-year-old scene
stealer named Adrian Alonso plays Joaquin, the son of Don Alejandro de la
Vega, whose alter ego is Zorro. Looking no older than 8, the kid is a
slingshot wielding, acrobatic extrovert who is clearly a chip off the old
block. All of his scenes are good, something that can't be said of the
adult actors in the movie.
The villains, played lamely by Rufus Sewell and Michael Emerson, provide
little competition for Zorro and family. As always, the lovely and athletic
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Elena de la Vega, Don Alejandro's wife. In
addition to the fine portrayal of the sassy Joaquin, the movie features some
good chemistry between Don Alejandro and Elena. But this married couple has
little time for chemistry, they are way too busy swashbuckling.
The plot, set in the mid-1800s, concerns terrorists and WMD -- I'm not
kidding. Both husband and wife do what they can to foil a big plot that's
brewing. Little Zorro does his part too.
The stunts are the best when they're the most outlandish. A particularly
memorable sequence has Zorro and his horse on top of a train about to enter
a small tunnel that looks certain to chop their heads off. Zorro figures
out an imaginative way to save the day. But the movie, which takes forever
to get going, feels mainly like an endurance contest, which you'll likely
feel you're losing, as you witness stunt after stunt. Did they just forget
to edit this picture?
James Horner's over-the-top score is relentless, screaming at the top of its
lungs exactly what emotions we are supposed to feel during each and every
scene.
When the film comes out on DVD, you'll be able to use the fast forward
button to do the editing that should have already been done for you.
THE LEGEND OF ZORRO runs an exhausting 2:13. It is rated PG for "sequences
of violence/peril and action, language and a couple of suggestive moments"
and would be acceptable for kids around 7 and up.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, October 28, 2005.
In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century
theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Email: Steve....@InternetReviews.com
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