The Mask of Zorro was the Pirates of the Caribbean of its day. A classic swashbuckling story packed with action and romance, yet still presented in a family-friendly style that hearkened back to the days of the old Saturday afternoon matinée. Indiana Jones was conceived in this style, as was Disney’s National Treasure, in a way. There is a ton of room in the marketplace for PG and PG-13 rated films like this, as it provides something that the whole family can not only attend at the theater, but t…uly enjoy. I wish Hollywood made more films like this. Now, I certainly have a soft spot for the standard hard R flicks, but who doesn’t love a good classic (mostly) wholesome adventure tale?
In addition to being the highlight of Antonio Banderas’ questionable career, this film brought the movie-going world a wonderful gift in the package of Catherine Zeta-Jones. Michael Douglas will eternally be grateful for this inspired casting choice, as she became an instant superstar after her scene-stealing performances in this film.
Audio
In a word, excellent. This is a track that truly envelops the listener… something that occurs far too infrequently these days. The surrounds are given a workout on this disc, as are the viewers ears. Dialog is clear, and bass levels are deep and smooth. One wouldn’t think that there would be much for a subwoofer track to do on a film set in the 1800’s, but this soundtrack definitely makes the most of it.
Video
While the quality of the video is decent, it is nowhere near as great as that of the audio. The image is basically clean, though there are some halos present around the widescreen bars and around some edges. It is regrettable that the colors seem to be off as well. It is entirely possible that this faded effect was done on purpose to lend an air of nostalgia to the film, but if so, the effect is distracting. Further problems come up with some video noise on objects with a tight stripe or pattern. I am truly disappointed with the quality of the image here, especially since this is the second release of this film on DVD.
Special Features
I am always suspicious when a film is re-released on DVD to correspond with a sequel hitting theaters. I become even more suspicious when said re-release is only available in a single-disc configuration. How much better can it be when it is still just a single-disc release? The answer in this case is “plenty”. Whereas the former release included a short featurette and a photo gallery, this single-disc is absolutely stuffed full of value added content.
First up is an all-new director’s commentary recorded specifically for this release. There was clearly not a big demand for this track,but it is always a treat to get to hear the director of a film talk about his work while it is running in front of him. Next up is a collection of deleted scenes as well as a documentary on the making of the film. Further extras include a music video, photo galleries and a collection of trailers.
Let’s not forget that this is a release meant to promote the sequel, however. In addition to the aforementioned extras, there is also an Exclusive Sneak Peek at The Legend of Zorro, as well as a completed scene from The Legend of Zorro. This disc provides something old as well as something new.
Conclusion
This is a fun flick, and picture aside, a nice little disc. The sound here is first class, the extras are surprisingly plentiful, and the film is a true adventure piece. Sure, none of these Mexicans and Spaniards actually speak Spanish, and some of the action is over-the-top, but the film is just plain fun. In fact, there might even be enough here to warrant the re-purchase of this disc by those that own the original release.
Special Features List
- Director’s Commentary
- Exclusive Documentary; Unmasking Zorro
- Deleted Scenes
- Exclusive Scene From The Legend of Zorro
- The Legend of Zorro Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peek
- Advertising Materials
- Costume Designs
- Music Video
- Talent Files
- The Mask of Zorro Theatrical Teaser (Dolby Digital 5.1)
- The Mask of Zorro Theatrical Teaser (Dolby Digital 5.1)
- The Legend of Zorro Trailer
- Bewitched Trailer
