Hey folks, Harry here... with another look at THE LEGEND OF ZORRO. Remember, the film is months from release and at this stage in need of some trimming and final fx and music - all of which will help the timing and excitement of the film. Personally, I'm very much looking forward to this...
Okay, I just read the two reviews of Zorro and I'm wondering out loud, "did I see a different movie?" I was at that same screening last night. The movie was not awful, but should clearly be classified as "a rental." It's a little weird seeing Antonio as Zorro this long after the first movie. He is developing a double chin and Catherine Zeta-Jones is a little more plump, but still exceptionally hot.
The opening was the best action of the movie, probably because it was most reminiscent of the first movie. The humor in this movie was more broad than the original and that didn't help it. Many of the bits with Antonio and his horse were terrible. The contrivance to split Antonio and Catherine was so horrible that I thought most of the audience had to agree that Catherine had no faith in her hubby as Zorro even though he has been saving people's asses for years now. The movie was about a half-hour too long and really felt it too.
I like Rufus Sewell, especially in Dark City, but here he was not just bad, but horrendous. He must have went to Kevin Costner's acting coach for learning his French accent. Sometimes it was there, sometimes he sounded American, sometimes he sounded Spanish. You can't help but like Antonio as Zorro, you just can't, so no problems there. There was a friar in the movie who must have been from the Bronx. Everybody called him Padre, but I thought he was mafioso and should have been the Don instead of Antonio. The kid in the movie, okay this is where I have to disagree with the other reviews, because I wanted that kid shot. Is he a talented kid, yep. Is he funny? Sometimes. However, this movie pulled a "Mummy Returns." Why do sequels about couples who had a happy ending in the first movie insist on throwing in a punk kid? The movie is just all over the place because of the relationships between Antonio and Catherine, Catherine and Rufus, Antonio and his kid, and Antonio and his horse. Focus it a little people.
Was I entertained? Most of the time. That is the goal, so it mostly worked and as I watched it I forgave them some of this other crap. But, if you want mindless entertainment with pretty stars then Mr. & Mrs. Smith is the better option.
