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Antonio Banderas returns in the new action adventure, The Legend of Zorro. California is on the verge of statehood and some serious bad guys want to keep that from happening. Zorro must now choose whether to fight for freedom or keep peace in his own hacienda. You would have to be a dumb Don not to figure out which one he opts for.

If you are a fan of the Zorro legend or the previous film, The Mask of Zorro, you will be highly disappointed in this swashbuckling bust. Gone are the writers of The Mask and the new team just doesn't hand in the goods. It is possible that they wanted to go the kid route and hence the addition of Joaquin (Adrian Alonso), the now ten year old son of Alejandro de la Vega/Zorro (Antonio Banderas) and his wife Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones).

Not only is Alonso not a very good actor but also the script was so filled with slapstick, kid humor that the action scenes became much less
adventurous and way campier than before. That is fine if this is supposed to be a kid’s movie which it ends up being regardless of the initial intent. This new direction hinders Banderas and puts him in the position of having to cater to this kid element and doesn't allow him to be the cool, larger than life hero that Zorro is known for. Z-Jones is the only stable character in the film as her side plot gives any if not all the depth of this soon to be forgotten legend.

Though there are entertaining moments they are too few and far between for anyone over the age of eleven. The plot is meaningless and seems to be there only as a loosely woven chord to get from beginning to end.  Basically, some people want to blow up America and what better event than the civil war to utilize their new found warfare.  The point just never was made in this one and with no amazing action to cover it up the film falls flat on it’s clanging sword.

So the call is yours as the mask is off and you can see this for what it truly is; a family adventure that the kids will love and the parents may
tolerate. But if you want a decent film that doesn't leave you Zorry you came, this isn't your flick. It’s rated PG for sequences of violence/peril and action, language and a couple of suggestive moments.

The Mungle (10/25/05)

Matt hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com