I absolutely loved the original movie "Mask of Zorro" that came out in 1998. and I could wait to see this one. I did find it rather odd that it took them 7 years to make a sequel...but none the less they finally made it.The good news is that they didn't try rehash the first film all over again with bigger special effects and slightly different circumstances(like many sequels do..example: Die Hard 2) The Bad news is that is cannot hold a candle to the 1998 original. This movie is no where near as good as the first one.Once again, just like with the first film,the music score is great, the actors are perfect for their roles, the scenery is beautiful and the stunts, special effects & action sequences are great.(the first movie got all of those same elements right too)But this movie unlike the first movie, the story isn't as good. at most times the plot is very predictable. However I felt like the writers tried to hard to work in way too much comic relief, and it bogged the story down. The story takes a long time to develop, and when it does finally develop, everything happens pretty much they way you already knew it would.overall its not a bad movie, and it does have its moments. but there is way too much comic relief, and the story moves way too slow.... it is an 5 out of 10. It worth watching once.And if you've not seen the first one...do yourself a favor and watch it

The legend of Zorro (2005) is a very fun action packed sequel to 1998's the mask of zorro. It stars Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta Jones and Rufus Sewell. Of course Banderas and Zeta-Jones play Zorro and Elena, now married with a son about 9 or 10 years old. The movies plot starts to picks up when Elena is confronted by two men who want to hire her to go undercover as Rufus Sewell's girlfriend in order to find out what he's up to. The acting in the film is good, I really enjoyed Catherine and Antonio's performances, they go from lovers to hating to joining together to save their son, stop Sewell, and kick some ass in the meantime. Speaking of ass kicking, the fighting and the action sequences are very well done, they aren't terribly rough or bloody but they are very intense and all over the place. And let me just say that I personally think that Catherine Zeta Jones can kick some villain ass a lot better than Antonio Banderas lol, get it girl. That's another good thing about the film, strong female empowerment and good examples of a woman taking charge and fighting for herself. It also shows good family love, so it's for sure a good pick for a family to view with children in late elementary or middle school. Like I said, the action is good, the acting is well done, and the sets and technical side of the movie is all done well. 8/10.

As so often happens with sequels of movies, this one falls far short of the 1998 film, "The Mask of Zorro." That was a reincarnation of the mythical character of Old California created by author Johnston McCulley (1883-1958). Since the first silent film, "The Mark of Zorro" that starred Douglas Fairbanks, Hollywood made at least one Zorro film every decade until this film in 2005.While this film keeps the same male and female leads as the 1998 film, it makes major story changes. The female lead is now the wife of Zorro (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones), who provides some of the swashbuckling. I can appreciate Hollywood going with the times and making films since the late 20th century about women in various adventurous, daring and female macho roles. We have had women heroes of derring-do as well as male from comic book stories (Superman, Superwoman, Batman, Batwoman, etc.). And, Hollywood creates an occasional new super-athletic female "fighting machine" of its own, as "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," played by Angelina Jolie. Those are fantasy fiction characters and stories, as are those with such male roles. But in "The Legend of Zorro," the female swashbuckler is a fantasy within a mythical story, or legend. The plot has a whole new look, and one that gets far-removed from the time the story is supposed to take place. Now, a fiery, sword-wielding female hardly needs the protection of a man. Indeed, she can save him. So, this film has sort of a role reversal and that plays against the aura and the mystic of the time, in Old California. It can't make up in other ways what it loses by this wholesale change of theme. So, this one doesn't work at all. Beyond some of the action that is fun to watch for how it is staged, there is very little to recommend this film.

Action Fans know for a Cosmological Certainty that as sure as the Moon is made of Blue Cheese that a "PG-13" Movie is Going to Compromise. So what is one to expect when a "Superhero", Kick-Evil-Butt, Foil the World Conquerors Film goes for the Dreaded PG. Yep. PG.Family Friendly, Politically Correct, Sit-Cominess is what We get here and if not for the Cool Character of Zorro and His Cool Costume, Cool Horse, and Derring-Do this would be Unwatchable.We are "Treated" to Fluffy Mom and Dad Squabbles and another Insufferable Kid, a Black Belt, Acrobat, Pint-Sized Urchin who Saves the Day. We're in "Bat-Mite" Territory Here.The Movie is Glossy and Good to Look at, but the Story, Dialog, and the Family Unit Situations are Not Welcome and the Movie's Biggest Flaw is that it Abandons the Premise of the "Lone Vigilante" and Domesticates and Neuters Our Hero. Worth a Watch for the Strong of Stomach and the Strong of Tolerance, but Purists Stay Far Away or be Prepared to Divorce Yourself from this Marriage. It's an Unforgivable Sell-Out and Shameful use of the First Costumed Vigilante to Wear a Mask, Cape, and Ride into the Night Fighting Injustice. This Movie does Zorro an Injustice.