The Mask of Zorro | 
| Director: Emiliano Guerra
Actors: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-jones, Yolanda Orisaga, Paco Morayta
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $1.38
You Save: $18.60 (93%)
New (10) Used (67) Collectible (2) from $1.38
Rating:  409 reviews
Sales Rank: 24298
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd, Thx, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 137 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: COLD21699D
ISBN: 6305182493
UPC: 043396216990
EAN: 9786305182498
ASIN: 6305182493
Theatrical Release Date: July 17, 1998
Release Date: December 1, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
A lusty and rousing adventure, this calls to mind those glorious costume dramas produced so capably by the old Hollywood studio system--hardly surprising, in that its title character, a de facto Robin Hood in Old California, provided starring vehicles for Douglas Fairbanks and Tyrone Power, the '50s TV hit, and dozens of serials and features. Zorro, a pop-fiction creation invented by Johnston McCulley in 1918, is given new blood in this fast-moving and engaging version, which actually works as a sequel to the story line in the Fairbanks-Power saga, The Mark of Zorro. A self-assured Anthony Hopkins is Don Diego de la Vega, a Mexican freedom fighter captured and imprisoned just as Spain concedes California to Santa Ana. Twenty years later, he escapes from prison to face down his mortal enemy, a land grabbing governor played with slimy spitefulness by Stuart Wilson. Too old to save the local peasants on his own, he trains bandito Antonio Banderas to take his place. Much swashbuckling ensues as Banderas woos Catherine Zeta-Jones, becomes a better human being, and saves the disenfranchised rabble. Director Martin Campbell wisely instills a measure of frivolity into the deftly choreographed action sequences, while letting a serious tone creep in when appropriate. This covers much ground under the banner of romantic-action-adventure, and it does so most excellently. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Amazon.com
In this day of movies in which one can't tell whether the action was manufactured by computer generation or by a cookie cutter, The Mask of Zorro is a grand throwback. It recalls and celebrates the fantasy workshop that Hollywood was and can be at its best. It's an audience pleaser in the best sense of the word, combining great-looking performers with gorgeous vistas and production design, a story that is familiar yet never insults the viewer's intelligence, and plenty of eye-popping action. Anthony Hopkins stars as the original Zorro, a masked vigilante protecting his people from official corruption in Mexico and what will become California (from Hannibal Lecter to Merchant-Ivory to action hero--is there nothing this man cannot do?). He's imprisoned for his troubles, and upon his release, mentors an impetuous pupil (Antonio Banderas, more suave than ever) in the fine arts of swordplay and triumphing over evil. Catherine Zeta-Jones capably portrays the beauty linked to both men--Zorro I's daughter, Zorro II's object of desire. The plotting contains few surprises, but the interplay between the three leads is always winning, and the winks to the swashbuckling genre are playful without ever being heavy-handed or campy. --David Kronke
Product Description
An epic adventure tells of love honor tragedy and triumph. It is set against the spanish conquest of mexico where 20 years earlier don diego de la vega fought oppression as a legendary hero named zorro. In an attempt to find a worthy successor the old man latches onto a drifter named alejandro murietta. Studio: Ingram Entertainment Release Date: 12/26/2000 Starring: Antonio Banderas Catherine Zeta-jones Run time: 137 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Matin Campbell
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| Customer Reviews: Read 404 more reviews...
 Fun, Old-Fashioned Adventure March 18, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
This movie had just a couple of things I would have changed but the overwhelming minutes of this 137-minute movie were well done: a nice old- fashioned adventure story.
Yes, it's hokey in spots, there is a needless irreverent scene in the confessional and the final action scene goes on too long, but all of that is almost standard fare in today's films. Anyway, the "good" in this film far outweighs the "bad."
Some of the "good" is beautiful cinematography featuring bold colors; good action scenes; very little profanity; interesting and somewhat likable lead characters (played by Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Bandaras and Catherine Zeta-Jones), a fun story and very good 5.1 surround sound.
Zeta-Jones was a brand new "face" when this movie came out and she's never looked better. Hopkins, as usual, is the best character as the older "Zorro" who teaches the young one (Bandaras). Some of the action scenes are almost cartoon-like in credibility (Bandaras doing flips while riding two horses at once!) but they are fun.
The story is a familiar one that seems to always satisfy people: revenge
 Mask of Zorro November 16, 2008
F. Shaw (Riverside, CA)
I can't believe how quickly I received by product. Excellent. Would definately purchase from this seller again.
Superbit Deluxe release: Stunning anamorphic video & surround sound September 23, 2008
Henry J. Grimm (USA)
"The Mask of Zorro", released in 1998, was the first of two "new" Zorrro movies, the later entry being "The Legend of Zorro". Not only is the "Mask" highly entertaining--how could you go wrong with a cast that includes Anthony Hopkins (who plays the 'first' Zorro), Antonio Banderas (who takes over the Zorro role and is trained by Hopkins), and gorgeous Catherine Zeta-Jones? There is plenty of action (some great sword fighting scenes, but being PG-13, no profanity and minimal gore--but the villians finally get their just due at the end), humor, romance, some history (how much of the setting and events in the 1820s-1840s colonial California is acccurate is questionable--but who cares? This is fiction), beautiful sets, a decent plot, and great performances by the entire cast.
The "Superbit Deluxe Collection", a two-disc set, presents a stunning anamorphic widescreen transfer of this movie to DVD, with equally stellar DTS surround sound. The picture is flawless, crystal clear and free of any defects with fantastic color saturation. I could not believe this was not a high-definition DVD, the picture looked that good. Just as excellent is the DTS sound which filled the room.
Superbit, a Sony technology and a forerunner of Blu Ray, has been discontinued. It's a shame because Superbit DVDs can be played on regular DVD players. There is enhanced image resolution and sound on Superbit DVDs. I watched this DVD on my large-screen, high-definition TV, played on a Toshiba HD DVD player. You must have either a high-defintion DVD player or a high-quality DVD player than can "upconvert" the sound and image to see the advantage of Superbit. The Toshiba HD DVD players are quite good at this, as are the more recent Blu Ray players. There are also a number of new "upconverting" regular DVD players as well.
I bought a used copy of this movie from Amazon at a great price. Get a Superbit version of this movie while the supply lasts. You will not be disappointed with the picture and sound quality. Highly recommended!
Well done! August 24, 2008
C. Tracy
Great movie. My husband had his doubts when he saw the movie cover, but we both really enjoyed the great acting and action scenes.
A Fun and Entertaining Revisiting of the old Serials... August 8, 2008
Atticus (Omaha, NE, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Every once and a while Hollywood surprises us by making a movie like it used to. In this generation most movies contain top-notch special effects, dizzying action, unabashed, explicit sex and gore, and less-than-decent plot and character development. Needless to say, many of these shallow films are deeply unsatisfying.
But every once and a while Hollywood makes a movie without these things. The Mask of Zorro is one of these movies.
It is a rousing revisiting of the classic 20s and 30s serials, in which "the fox" defeats the villains, saves the peasants, and gets the girl all in one day. This time the original Zorro, Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins), loses everything within the first ten minutes of the film. After Diego's last Zorro ride, the evil Californian governor Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson) raids his home, kills his wife, and takes his infant child Elena to be raised as his own. Diego is thrown in prison for twenty-some-odd years before he escapes and finds common thief Alejandro (Antonio Banderas), who had a brief brush-in with Zorro in the past and has his own quarrels with Montero and his men. Diego must train Alejandro to take his place, all the while trying to connect with the daughter (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who doesn't know he exists.
The best thing about the film is the acting. All the actors are perfect in their roles (and who knows? Maybe the roles were written with the actors in mind). Antonio Banderas plays Alejandro with strong gusto, and his scenes with Zeta-Jones sparkle. Anthony Hopkins brings a level of dry wit to one of his trademark mentor roles. Stuart Wilson makes a nice addition as Montero, though Matt Letscher seems a bit dry in his role as Montero's sick-minded general Capt. Love.
The action bits are done quite nicely, and the sword duels are well choreographed by the legendary sword-master Bob Anderson (he did sword fights in Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, and The Princess Bride). The editing is slick and polished, and the score by James Horner (of Titanic fame) is lush and memorable. The camera twirls and swirls are swift and controlled, capturing many vibrant colors and angles, especially during the steamy Latin dance between Alejandro and Elena.
Every once and a while, Hollywood surprises us. And what a pleasant surprise this is.
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