The Mask of Zorro, 1998

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Director: Martin Campbell

Actors: Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta Jones, Stuart Wilson, Josh Brolin

Release date: July 17, 1998

Filmed: Mexico

Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment film division, with a budget of $60 million, The Mask of Zorro opened July 17, 1998 and made over $22 million in its first weekend, an excellent opening weekend and the most money ever for a movie starring Antonio. The critics loved the acting and the story and singled out the relationships between Antonio and Anthony Hopkins, and Antonio and Catherine Zita-Jones for special praise. The following weekend the Spielberg-directed Saving Private Ryan opened cutting into Zorro's mostly-adult audience. The movie did not reach official "blockbuster" status ($100 million) in North America but Variety labeled it a "HIT".

The Mask of Zorro is an adventure film, a love story, a comedy and a tragedy. As Alejandro Murietta, a bandit and horse-thief, Antonio plays Zorro-in-training with cheekiness, charm and tremendous physical comedy. Critics had this to say:

"Zorro is a role Banderas was born to play and not just because he's Spanish. Banderas is sexy, witty and sly. He is Zorro just as surely as Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones." - Louis B. Hobson, The Calgary Sun

"Banderas, of course, probably exudes sensuality when walking his dog, but 'The Mask of Zorro" is the first of his Hollywood films to package it for the masses." - Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press Published

"Then there is his jokey, hot-blooded protege, the role that Antonio Banderas was obviously born to play." - from the New York Times

"Banderas and Zeta-Jones are two peppers in a pot, and their three-alarm chemistry gives the flick real kick. In one scene, they face off as opponents in the horse barn. Zorro's sword goes snicker-snack, and Elena's dress is off in a trice." - Rod Dreher, New York Post

"Banderas, his dashing machismo notwithstanding, offers another surprising quality that raises the stakes of the film. He flashes his self-deprecating humor with the same adept strokes that he uses to handle his sword. This Zorro seems to know he's dressed for Hallowe'en, not heroism, and encourages us to laugh along. It makes for a potent mix." - Bruce Kirkland, Toronto Sun

"Somewhere on that big set in the sky, Errol Flynn is smiling. Rakishly, of course. His swashbuckling spirit has been grandly revived in The Mask of Zorro, an old-fashioned and stylish romantic adventure of clashing swords and sizzling lips. This isn't surprising. After all, it's that hunka hunka burning hormones Antonio Banderas in the black mask and butt-hugging leather pants. This Zorro works quite well as a summer escape, a fun, low-tech antidote to the joyless high-tech twaddle of Godzilla and Armageddon. Zorro has a sense of humor, handsome scenery and, amazingly, characters and a plot that are actually engaging -- at least as revivals of dusty fictional heroes go.
... As for Banderas, he may not fit the pumped-up mold of typical Hollywood heroes, but he moves with a dancer's grace, particularly handy during a hot tango. He's also charming as all get-out, and if he doesn't seem quite as potently smoldering and self-assured as in Desperado, it's because half the time he's doing slapstick or is wearing a truly awful beard or mask. It's a mistake to hide this man's face and particularly his eyes, perhaps the most expressive on-screen. With Zorro, Banderas should finally leave his mark on America." - Curtis Morgan, The Miami Herald

"More to the point, when was the last time a movie had panache?
Antonio Banderas reeks of it in the title role. He appears to have gained confidence from his muscular performance in ``Evita,'' and he gets to use it here, both in the clever, exciting sword fights (the climax of the movie cuts between two duels, with hundreds of lives hanging in the balance) and in ``Zorro's'' equally effective dialogue. Banderas has an oafishly charming, gung-ho quality as a guy taking lessons from the previous, aging Zorro (Anthony Hopkins), and he brings a lot of humor to the dueling Zorros scenes. ``Do you know how to use that thing?'' Hopkins asks skeptically of Banderas' sword. ``Yeah,'' replies Banderas. ``The pointy thing goes in the other guy.'' - Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Some of them have had more class than Banderas, but he takes the word "fox" (as "zorro" means in Spanish) literally: He's nimble, full of guile, amoral yet bearing his own dignity, and sensually earthy. He may be a shade rough to fit into Rafael's waxed-mustache set, but his virility equals Fairbanks'" - Lawrence Toppman, The Charlotte Observer Published

"Banderas gives his best performance since his breakout role in Philadelphia. There is some of the machismo that tarnished subsequent efforts such as Desperado, but that's played as foolishness, and his final product is a classy, convincing hero." - Rich Copley, Lexington Herald Leader

"But, not being as young as he use to be, (ten minutes earlier in the film), Zorro enlists the help of a scuffy young bandit, Alejandro Murileta, played brilliantly by Banderas. Hopkins then proceeds to turn Banderas into a new version of his old self. Hopkins teaches Banderas the fine points of dressing like a gentleman, hair grooming, which fork to use at state dinners, and oh yes, how to ride like the wind, and how to use a sword like, well, like Zorro.
The results are the best sword fighting scenes since Douglas Fairbanks graced the silver screen. The fight scenes are also interlaced with great humor that at times becomes hiliarious and gives the film a delicious comedic edge. At one point Banderas is asked if he knows how to use a sword? "The pointy end goes in the other man," is his deadpan reply.
...Hopkins is regal as the older Zorro. And I'm betting this role as the younger masked avenger will finally turn Banderas into an international mega-star." - Paul Clinton , CNN

"Banderas adds self-effacing charm and sly charisma to the stout heroism for which Zorro is known, and Hopkins has more weight, command and dignity than any glorified action potboiler deserves." - Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

Related Information

According to Access Hollywood, Antonio is now on the coveted "A" list of Hollywood actors which is almost unheard of for actors who are not American, Canadian or British.

President Bill Clinton rated The Mask of Zorro his favorite film of the summer.

The Mask of Zorro was purchased for television at a cost of $30 million.

Fencing master Bob Anderson says, "He (Antonio) is the best swordsman I have ever worked with."

Oscar-winner Paul LeBlanc is doing the makeup and hair for The Mask of Zorro. He says of Antonio: "He is truly divine -- and respects my judgment. He exudes charisma and is incredibly charming. He's wonderfully generous and kind -- he reminds me of Mel Gibson 10 years ago."

Antonio's says that The Mask of Zorro is his 51st film, so obviously there are a few we can't account for.

Some chicas at The Web Mall managed to see the movie almost 20 times and have memorized every line!