The major thing I took away
from this film was a distinct desire to take up fencing. For the
sword-fights are superb and lightning-fast: Dances With Blades would be a
good alternate title. Banderas, Hopkins and Zeta-Jones are all good in
their respective roles of student, mentor and totty; however, the
villainish Spanish and Americans whom Zorro fights (or rather, the ZorroS
fight) are curiously colourless and the plot...well, let's gloss over the
painfully shallow crypto-Marxism, shall we? Otherwise, it's a warm blend of
action, comedy and romance, handled with a firm grasp by Goldeneye
director Campbell. Hopkins + Zeta-Jones, probably wisely, avoid major
attempts at Spanish accents which, bizarrely, leaves Banderas sounding the
dodgiest of the lot. Still, the urge to run down the street, with an
umbrella and a pack of witty one-liners, was almost overwhelming.
B-
