The Mask of Zorro (1998)

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This February is “Frame of Reference” month at Catching Up On Cinema!

All month long, Trevor and Kyle will be reviewing films that have frequently been referenced in recent episodes of the podcast.

This week, Trevor and Kyle review Martin Campbell's, The Mask of Zorro (1998)!

A long gestating project that encountered many delays, ran over budget, and saw many directors step into and out of the director's chair, The Mask of Zorro (1998) would ultimately be ushered into theaters by director Martin Campbell in the summer of '98.

Starring Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins as the titular Zorro, and featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones in a star making turn as Elena, The Mask of Zorro is a gorgeous production, both in terms of the aesthetic appeal of its stars and starlets, and the sumptuous production design.

Much as was the case in director Campbell's previous film, GoldenEye (1995), the stunt work and action choreography in The Mask of Zorro is top-notch, showcasing dynamic swordplay, horseback riding, and acrobatics.

Energetically scored by James Horner, the soundtrack for The Mask of Zorro is highly thematic, with memorable flourishes and melodies sprinkled throughout, and some truly show stopping action cues making the production soar whenever Zorro jumps into the fray.

Unlike other modern takes on comic book and radio heroes such as The Shadow (1994) or The Phantom (1996), The Mask of Zorro successfully manages to find a comfortable balance in showing reverence for and paying homage to classic Hollywood, resulting in a film that is wholly modern in its pacing and editing, while clearly bearing the DNA of swashbucklers of old.

A magnificent action film with a period charm, The Mask of a Zorro is a movie that this reviewer eagerly anticipated prior to its release, greatly enjoyed when it arrived in theaters and on VHS, and now, roughly 25 years later, has grown to truly love.

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