February 2, 1998

The Mask Of Zorro (1998) **

An old-fashioned swashbuckling adventure film about a Chicano bandito (Antonio Banderas) taking over as Zorro from an aging Californian aristocrat (Anthony Hopkins) and falling in love with his hot seniorita daughter (Catherine Zeta-Jones). The climax offers several variations on the familiar "you-have-killed/kidnapped-my wife/brother/daughter and now you're going to die" formula. Consistently entertaining, but devoid of any originality.