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The Mask of Zorro Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 4.0
    63

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally favorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 50

    out of 100

    Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

    Spectacular, fast, never boring. But it's also one of the more disappointing movies I've seen recently.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly

    This pleasant movie anachronism, an assemblage of traditional Robin Hooded scenarios (and superior swordplay) that, in the right light, is a nostalgic treat, and in shadow evokes Monty Python.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    The film is a display of traditional movie craftsmanship, especially at the level of the screenplay, which respects the characters and story and doesn't simply use them for dialogue breaks between action sequences.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    ReelViews James Berardinelli

    A great deal of excitement and adventure, all brought to the screen by using a somewhat irreverent tone that keeps the mood light without trivializing the characters.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

    A lively, old-fashioned adventure yarn with just a twist of modern attitude, it's the kind of pleasant entertainment that allows the paying customers to have as much fun as the people on screen.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    Variety Todd McCarthy

    The return of the legendary swordsman is well served by a grandly mounted production in the classical style.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

    This is hot-weather escapism so earnestly retrograde that it seems new.

    Read Full Review

  • See all The Mask of Zorro reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 12+

Competently made action-adventure epic.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this film is an action epic, featuring mostly sword fighting and some significantly intense moments of violence and (cartoonish) gore. The film is not suitable for any child who is easily upset by intense action or simulated gore. Teenagers are its target audience, but not much in the film would bother younger children that are used to Hollywood action clichés.

  • Families can talk about the role adults have in training their children as future citizens. As with most action movies, the ambiguous morality of revenge is the film's central concern. Is it right for both Zorros to devote their lives to violence to avenge the wrongful deaths of their loved ones? When does justice become vigilantism? What is the proper role of individuals in righting clear social wrongs that are depicted in the film?

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: In typical action movie style, the film emphasizes the values of heroism in freeing the oppressed from the yoke of tyranny. However, the villains are amoral (see severed head and hands).

What to watch for
  • violence false5

    Violence: Most of the movie is filled with cartoonish swashbuckling, ranging from the very tame to the fairly intense (a number of people get stabbed in the chest by swords). A character presents a severed head and hands in a glass jar to another character off-screen in one disturbing scene. Rafael's men prematurely bury the elder Zorro, resulting in a brief but intense scene in which he knifes his way out of his grave.

  • sex false3

    Sex: A playful scene in which the younger Zorro's swashbuckling results in Elena's top falling off. He then kisses her, as she covers her bare breasts with his hat.

  • language false3

    Language: There are a few uses of the word "damn," but that's as salty as the film gets.

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: A character is inebriated, but his transformation from drunk to hero is a moral positive.

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 3.967
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5

by the_other_guy

Read all The Mask of Zorro reviews at Fandango
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