The Legend of Zorro (130 minutes)
My alternative title would be: Mailing it In Pony Express

SUPER MOVIE FAN'S RECOMMENDATION: 2, Wait and Rent

Who is in it?:
ANTONIO BANDERAS, CATHERINE ZETA-JONES, ADRIAN ALONSO

What is it about?
Elena (CATHEREINE ZETA-JONES) set the screen on fire in the Mask of Zorro in 1998. ANTONIO BANDERAS was a young mentee to SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS and was thrilling in his role as Zorro. This time they are a stale, fussy couple who argue over whether Zorro should work so much to save his people and the future of California (and the union). The best scenes are left for ADRIAN ALONSO as Joaquin, their 10-year-old son.

When and Where does this movie take place?
In California.

Why see it? Unfortunately, the Legend of Zorro is made like a good movie, with fine actors and great production value, but plays like a stale old tale with the magic gone. I am disappointed they could not find the spark that made the first one so much fun. Kids will enjoy it. The rest of us will snooze to find our "Zs" instead of thrill to those of Zorro.

How about the kids?
PG for some actions scenes and adult moments. Mostly fine.

Video Pick of the Week
Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith. I am excited to see the deleted scenes imbedded in the DVD.

Recap—this is episode three of the prequel to the original three Star Wars movies, meaning that this is the sixth and last of the tale told in reverse order. In the first of the series we saw the hero Rebels gain back control from the evil Empire; in the second episode the Empire comes back under the leadership of Darth Vader to get some mean revenge and in the third episode the Jedi return to force (and with the force with them) to knock out the Empire. In episode three, or six in GEORGE LUCAS numbering, we learn a lot about the Jedi heroes' lineages.

Next week, we'll review, The Legend of Zorro, ANTONIO BANDERAS and CATHERINE ZETA-JONES are back as Alejandro must decide between family and his cause as California is about to become the 31st state. Should be fun.

Then a few years and several hundred million dollars later, we go backward to learn the roots of this good and evil fable. The stories of the next three episodes (the most recent movies) are based on watching young Anakin Skywalker develop his Jedi skills and advance toward an ultimate confrontation within himself between good and evil.

There are several strengths to this movie, Wayne. Visually it is stunning. It gives a sense of completeness to the series that is good to have for those real fans out there. EWAN MCGREGOR is really good as Obi-Wan Kenobi. FRANK OZ is awesome as Yoda, and his character is way cool even in this one. Watching the creation of Darth Vader is awesome.

But there are also major weaknesses imbedded by creator, writer and director, GEORGE LUCAS. NATALIE PORTMAN as Padme, the friend then secret bride of Anakin, is a very poor actress. HAYDEN CHRISTENSEN is just plain bad as Anakin (he does better when he has no lines and just has to look angry under a hood). And the story doesn't really have any contributions to our knowledge more than we already had. If you read the second half of any book and then go back and read the first half after you know what happens, it really better be special. None of the last three installments (which are the first three in story line) are that good.

Next week we'll review, Jarhead, a very strong and intense story of a Marine during the first Gulf War. This is going to be an important, yet difficult movie to watch, Wayne.

John Fischetti can be heard Friday's on the Wayne Perkey show on Oldies 103, WRKA and can be reached at fischettij@uncw.edu



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