The Mask of Zorro
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Letscher, Tony Amendola, Pedro Armendariz, Victor Rivers, Julieta Rosen, L.Q. Jones
In early-19th-century California, masked swordsman hero Zorro (Sir Anthony Hopkins) was a champion of the people, protecting them against the tyranny of Spanish rule, represented by the ruthless Governor, Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson). Unfortunately, on the eve of his greatest triumph, the liberation of California, Montero learns the truth of Zorro's secret identity and attacks the rebel in his house, leaving Diego de la Vega imprisoned, his wife dead, and his infant daughter abducted by his mortal enemy. Twenty years later, Montero returns to California, intent on bringing California back under his total control. Upon learning of his return, Don Diego escapes from his long imprisonment and prepares for his revenge. When he encounters an orphan (Antonio Banderas), who helped Zorro as a child, he chooses Alejandro to become his successor. Together, the two must prepare to do battle with Montero and his henchman to save California and reunite Diego de la Vega with his lost daughter, Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who was raised by his mortal enemy. So once again, the enemies of freedom and justice in California must fear of the man who leaves the mark of Zorro.
One of the most predominant themes in the film is the reincarnation of Zorro and how this identity connects Don Diego de la Vega with his young protégé, Alejandro.
When the story begins, the old Zorro is taking his last ride. His days of being a hero are spent and he is ready to relinquish his mask and sword and devote his life to being with his wife, Esperanza, and his beautiful daughter, Elena, rather than the people. When a cruel twist of fate causes Zorro to lose everything he holds most dear, he is cast into darkness, his days of being a hero all but a distant memory. When Diego de la Vega re-emerges after being imprisoned by his sworn enemy for twenty years, his identity as the noble warrior, Zorro, is restored when he realizes that the memory of Zorro has not been entirely forgotten, but the essence of that identity is transformed. Although he is still the legendary hero, Zorro, Diego is now the wise and disciplined master who will train his new pupil, Alejandro, to embrace the identity of Zorro so that Alejandro – like Diego - may finally take his revenge with honor.
Alejandro’s transformation is like that of a caterpillar being transformed into a butterfly. He starts out his journey to becoming Zorro as this renegade thief; a desperate and grief-crazed outlaw, who craves revenge against the man who murdered his brother. This was the only facet to Alejandro’s character until he encounters Diego and thus finds his chance for redemption. He becomes an impersonator of Zorro, but although he has the mask and the sword and the black horse, he doesn't truly respect and understand this identity as Zorro yet. When he and Don Diego begin their plan for revenge, he is transformed again...this time into a nobleman (and he even says, "I look like a butterfly.") His final transformation into Zorro comes when Diego gives Alejandro the real Zorro mask and they take their revenge with honor.
Romneya flowers play a powerful role in the film in symbolizing the bond between Don Diego de la Vega and his beautiful daughter, Elena. When Elena was just a baby, her father would hang these flowers from her crib to perfume the air with their scent. When he returns from his final mission, Diego tells his little daughter the story about how the brave and noble prince protected the people from the vile and evil king, and he is holding the Romneya flowers as he is telling Elena the story. When Elena returns to California with her adopted father, she is given these same flowers as a gift, and her childhood memory is triggered when she recognizes the delicate scent of the flower. When Elena learns who her true father is – and that it is Diego de la Vega and not Don Rafael – this truth is confirmed for her when she remembers a chance encounter at the marketplace, where her nanny told Elena that she used to hang flowers from her crib. Her real father tells Elena that this is the truth…and that the flowers they hung from her crib were Romneya flowers…and it is this same truth which compels Elena to rescue Diego de la Vega.
Zorro’s medallion also plays a symbolic role in this film, as the catalyst that entwines the old master Don Diego with his young protégé, Alejandro (Antonio Banderas). When Alejandro and his brother are children, they witness Zorro’s final battle with Don Rafael and the brothers save Zorro’s life when they see Rafael’s men waiting to kill Zorro. As thanks for this brave deed, Zorro gives Alejandro’s brother, Joaquin, his silver pendant. The pendant also symbolizes Alejandro’s journey. When he first meets Don Diego, Alejandro is in the outer-most circle, his mind only on seeking revenge against Captain Love, the man who murdered Alejandro’s brother. When his brother is killed, Alejandro finds the pendant that Zorro gave his Joaquin lying in the dirt, and he holds tight to the pendant as mourns his brother’s death. The pendant is also what allowed Don Diego to recognize the young man who once saved his life and return the favor, saving Alejandro from dying at the hands of Captain Love, just for the sake of desperate revenge. He promises to help Alejandro avenge his brother with honor and live to celebrate it.
While Zorro is the catalyst that brings Alejandro and Diego together, their connection to the beautiful Elena is also what motivates both Alejandro and Diego to seek revenge against Don Raphael. When Raphael discovered Diego’s secret and murdered his wife, he took Diego’s daughter Elena and raised her as his own daughter. When Diego discovers this, he is determined not only to avenge his wife’s death, but also to see his daughter safely restored to him. When Alejandro encounters the beautiful Elena after he sneaks into Don Raphael’s home to steal a horse, he finds himself drawn to her. After he romances her with a swordfight and a scintillating dance, he wins her heart. When Diego finally triumphs over Don Raphael, his journey as Zorro is finally complete, but with his victory comes a terrible price – his death. Although he is finally reunited with his daughter, it is only long enough to say goodbye. Finally at peace, Diego gives his blessing for Alejandro to marry Elena and a new Zorro is born when Alejandro takes his master’s place as the noble warrior.
When I first watched “The Mask of Zorro” I had only a vague sense of who Zorro was, but I must say, this movie is a brilliantly conveyed story that brings to life one of the world’s most intriguing heroes. The casting for this film is flawless, particularly for Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas who both give a perfect performance as Zorro. If you enjoy a good action film, then this movie is definitely worthy of your time.
© 2024 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Martin Campbell
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Letscher, Tony Amendola, Pedro Armendariz, Victor Rivers, Julieta Rosen, L.Q. Jones
In early-19th-century California, masked swordsman hero Zorro (Sir Anthony Hopkins) was a champion of the people, protecting them against the tyranny of Spanish rule, represented by the ruthless Governor, Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson). Unfortunately, on the eve of his greatest triumph, the liberation of California, Montero learns the truth of Zorro's secret identity and attacks the rebel in his house, leaving Diego de la Vega imprisoned, his wife dead, and his infant daughter abducted by his mortal enemy. Twenty years later, Montero returns to California, intent on bringing California back under his total control. Upon learning of his return, Don Diego escapes from his long imprisonment and prepares for his revenge. When he encounters an orphan (Antonio Banderas), who helped Zorro as a child, he chooses Alejandro to become his successor. Together, the two must prepare to do battle with Montero and his henchman to save California and reunite Diego de la Vega with his lost daughter, Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who was raised by his mortal enemy. So once again, the enemies of freedom and justice in California must fear of the man who leaves the mark of Zorro.
One of the most predominant themes in the film is the reincarnation of Zorro and how this identity connects Don Diego de la Vega with his young protégé, Alejandro.
When the story begins, the old Zorro is taking his last ride. His days of being a hero are spent and he is ready to relinquish his mask and sword and devote his life to being with his wife, Esperanza, and his beautiful daughter, Elena, rather than the people. When a cruel twist of fate causes Zorro to lose everything he holds most dear, he is cast into darkness, his days of being a hero all but a distant memory. When Diego de la Vega re-emerges after being imprisoned by his sworn enemy for twenty years, his identity as the noble warrior, Zorro, is restored when he realizes that the memory of Zorro has not been entirely forgotten, but the essence of that identity is transformed. Although he is still the legendary hero, Zorro, Diego is now the wise and disciplined master who will train his new pupil, Alejandro, to embrace the identity of Zorro so that Alejandro – like Diego - may finally take his revenge with honor.
Alejandro’s transformation is like that of a caterpillar being transformed into a butterfly. He starts out his journey to becoming Zorro as this renegade thief; a desperate and grief-crazed outlaw, who craves revenge against the man who murdered his brother. This was the only facet to Alejandro’s character until he encounters Diego and thus finds his chance for redemption. He becomes an impersonator of Zorro, but although he has the mask and the sword and the black horse, he doesn't truly respect and understand this identity as Zorro yet. When he and Don Diego begin their plan for revenge, he is transformed again...this time into a nobleman (and he even says, "I look like a butterfly.") His final transformation into Zorro comes when Diego gives Alejandro the real Zorro mask and they take their revenge with honor.
Romneya flowers play a powerful role in the film in symbolizing the bond between Don Diego de la Vega and his beautiful daughter, Elena. When Elena was just a baby, her father would hang these flowers from her crib to perfume the air with their scent. When he returns from his final mission, Diego tells his little daughter the story about how the brave and noble prince protected the people from the vile and evil king, and he is holding the Romneya flowers as he is telling Elena the story. When Elena returns to California with her adopted father, she is given these same flowers as a gift, and her childhood memory is triggered when she recognizes the delicate scent of the flower. When Elena learns who her true father is – and that it is Diego de la Vega and not Don Rafael – this truth is confirmed for her when she remembers a chance encounter at the marketplace, where her nanny told Elena that she used to hang flowers from her crib. Her real father tells Elena that this is the truth…and that the flowers they hung from her crib were Romneya flowers…and it is this same truth which compels Elena to rescue Diego de la Vega.
Zorro’s medallion also plays a symbolic role in this film, as the catalyst that entwines the old master Don Diego with his young protégé, Alejandro (Antonio Banderas). When Alejandro and his brother are children, they witness Zorro’s final battle with Don Rafael and the brothers save Zorro’s life when they see Rafael’s men waiting to kill Zorro. As thanks for this brave deed, Zorro gives Alejandro’s brother, Joaquin, his silver pendant. The pendant also symbolizes Alejandro’s journey. When he first meets Don Diego, Alejandro is in the outer-most circle, his mind only on seeking revenge against Captain Love, the man who murdered Alejandro’s brother. When his brother is killed, Alejandro finds the pendant that Zorro gave his Joaquin lying in the dirt, and he holds tight to the pendant as mourns his brother’s death. The pendant is also what allowed Don Diego to recognize the young man who once saved his life and return the favor, saving Alejandro from dying at the hands of Captain Love, just for the sake of desperate revenge. He promises to help Alejandro avenge his brother with honor and live to celebrate it.
While Zorro is the catalyst that brings Alejandro and Diego together, their connection to the beautiful Elena is also what motivates both Alejandro and Diego to seek revenge against Don Raphael. When Raphael discovered Diego’s secret and murdered his wife, he took Diego’s daughter Elena and raised her as his own daughter. When Diego discovers this, he is determined not only to avenge his wife’s death, but also to see his daughter safely restored to him. When Alejandro encounters the beautiful Elena after he sneaks into Don Raphael’s home to steal a horse, he finds himself drawn to her. After he romances her with a swordfight and a scintillating dance, he wins her heart. When Diego finally triumphs over Don Raphael, his journey as Zorro is finally complete, but with his victory comes a terrible price – his death. Although he is finally reunited with his daughter, it is only long enough to say goodbye. Finally at peace, Diego gives his blessing for Alejandro to marry Elena and a new Zorro is born when Alejandro takes his master’s place as the noble warrior.
When I first watched “The Mask of Zorro” I had only a vague sense of who Zorro was, but I must say, this movie is a brilliantly conveyed story that brings to life one of the world’s most intriguing heroes. The casting for this film is flawless, particularly for Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas who both give a perfect performance as Zorro. If you enjoy a good action film, then this movie is definitely worthy of your time.
© 2024 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.