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Mask of Zorro, The
Sony Pictures Entertainment


8.9

based on 22 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 10 votes
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Rate this movie

FILM:

The Legend of Zorro

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some intense action and violence

Starring Antonio Banderas, José María de Tavira, Anthony Hopkins, Diego Sieres, Emiliano Guerra, and Catherine Zeta-Jones

A sweeping romantic adventure of love and honor, of tragedy and triumph set against Mexico's fight for independence from the iron fist of Spain. (Sony)

GENRE(S):	Adventure
WRITTEN BY:	John Eskow (also story), Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio (also story), Randall Jahnson (story) and Johnston McCulley (character Zorro)
DIRECTED BY:	Martin Campbell
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: September 25, 2001 Video: March 26, 2002 Theatrical: July 17, 1998
RUNNING TIME:	136 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

This is hot-weather escapism so earnestly retrograde that it seems new.

Variety Todd McCarthy

The return of the legendary swordsman is well served by a grandly mounted production in the classical style.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

A lively, old-fashioned adventure yarn with just a twist of modern attitude, it's the kind of pleasant entertainment that allows the paying customers to have as much fun as the people on screen.

Newsweek David Ansen

This spirited rerun, neatly mixing parody and panache, squeezes a surprising amount of fun out of the old war horse.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

The return to an Errol Flynn-style hero, who can swing from chandeliers, fight with two swords at once and ride a horse backward, recalls a movie era both sexier and more innocent.

Entertainment Weekly Staff(Not credited)

This pleasant movie anachronism, an assemblage of traditional Robin Hooded scenarios (and superior swordplay) that, in the right light, is a nostalgic treat, and in shadow evokes Monty Python.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Proudly old-fashioned in every way except the often excessive violence that director Martin Campbell splashes across the screen.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The film is a display of traditional movie craftsmanship, especially at the level of the screenplay, which respects the characters and story and doesn't simply use them for dialogue breaks between action sequences.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

A great deal of excitement and adventure, all brought to the screen by using a somewhat irreverent tone that keeps the mood light without trivializing the characters.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Old-fashioned fun that goes down as smoothly as a vintage cocktail.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

The Mask Of Zorro is disarming for the same reasons, coasting on the charisma of its stars and a few exciting action setpieces.

LA Weekly Manohla Dargis

A screenplay that not only has a way with genre cliché, but manages to score some deviously witty political points

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

A pleasantly vicarious slice of summertime falderol, innocuous in its presentation and often genuinely fun.

The New Yorker Bruce Diones

Director Martin Campbell's lumpy direction doesn't coalesce into anything much beyond a pleasant assembly of set pieces.

New York Magazine David Denby

Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas work with professional skill in a ludicrous vehicle.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Lavishly produced swashbuckler that should have been far more entertaining.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Entertaining, but it's about one notch below being something anybody really needs to see.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Antonio Banderas signs up for charisma lessons from Anthony Hopkins -- but they just don't take.

San Francisco Examiner Barbara Shulgasser

A slew of writers and an enthusiastic cast all do their jobs admirably enough to provide a couple of hours of unembarrassing entertainment.

Film Threat Anthony Miele

Nothing really works on any level above mediocrity.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Spectacular, fast, never boring. But it's also one of the more disappointing movies I've seen recently.

Dallas Observer Peter Rainer

A romantic adventure-movie slapstick that's too screwy for the action crowd and too old-fashioned for the Home Alone contingent.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

José A. gave it a10:
This a very very cool movie is great.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
A swashbuckler that works on its own terms. A little overlong in the middle act, though. The action's good, but it seems to be the lighthearted swashbuckling kind as opposed to the usual blood, viscerallity, and high body count. Rich people seem to be a common choice of villain in recent movies of late.

chuck y. gave it a9:
Catherine Zeta-Jones has never looked better!

Ray J. gave it a 10:
A great movie!!! It has all that a crowd needs...a romantic plot, a slight touch of comedy, a great deal of tragedy, and most important of all a lot of action!!!!

Abigail W. gave it a 10:
I think this is a great movie!

Pat C. gave it a 4:
Traditional slick button-pusher of a swashbuckler with star power and all the other Hollywood devices both old and new. Although it touches on an estranged child and parent subconsciously seeking to resolve their lost association, as a matinee serial gone full length it's not really convincing as about anything deep or important. The nameless faceless peons Zorro champions remain anonymous and expendable. OK for what it attempts to do, which is nothing new or memorable.

Sean R. gave it a 10:
It's beautiful, with lots of action!!!

Mask of Zorro, The Sony Pictures Entertainment

Mask of Zorro, The
Sony Pictures Entertainment