The Legend of Zorro (2005)
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A masked vigilante must balance his secret identity with his crumbling marriage while uncovering a plot to destroy the United States.
The story
In 1850, as California debates joining the United States, the masked vigilante Zorro—secretly Don Alejandro De La Vega—foils a plot to steal election ballots. However, his secret identity causes a rift in his marriage to Elena, leading to a separation. While Alejandro feels demoralized, his son Joaquin gets into trouble at school. The family's lives are further complicated when Elena begins dating a French Count, Armand. Alejandro soon discovers that Armand is involved in a dangerous conspiracy involving a secret society known as the Knights of Aragon, who seek to destroy the United States using explosives.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1850, California is on the verge of joining the U.S. Zorro (Don Alejandro De La Vega) foils a ballot theft but is outed as Zorro by Pinkerton agents. This leads to a strained marriage and a divorce from Elena. Three months later, Alejandro discovers Elena is dating Count Armand. He suspects Armand after witnessing an explosion at the Count's vineyard. Elena discovers Armand's plot with the Knights of Aragon to build a railroad and use nitroglycerin explosives to attack Washington, D.C. during the Confederate war. The Pinkertons capture Alejandro, revealing they blackmailed Elena into seducing Armand to learn the Knights' secrets. Joaquin frees Alejandro from prison. Zorro and Elena reconcile to stop the train carrying the explosives. After a series of battles, Zorro captures Armand, ties him to the engine, and escapes just as the train derails, killing Armand. California becomes the 31st state, and Alejandro remarries Elena, agreeing to keep Zorro's identity a family secret.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Spanish
- Directors
- Martin Campbell
- Writers
- Roberto Orci · screenplay; Alex Kurtzman · screenplay; Roberto Orci · story; Alex Kurtzman · story; Ted Elliott · story; Terry Rossio · story
- Cast and characters
- Antonio Banderas · Don Alejandro de la Vega / Zorro; Catherine Zeta-Jones · Elena de la Vega; Rufus Sewell · Count Armand; Nick Chinlund · Jacob McGivens; Adrián Alonso · Joaquin de la Vega; Julio Oscar Mechoso · Padre Felipe; Shuler Hensley · Pike; Michael Emerson · Harrigan
- Genres
- Western; swashbuckler; action; adventure
- Themes
- Secret Identity; Family Conflict; Patriotism; Conspiracy
- Tone and mood
- Action-Adventure; Swashbuckling
- Premise and plot tags
- Sequel; Historical Fiction; Vigilante Justice
- Source material / true-story basis
- Works by Johnston McCulley
- Franchise connections
- Zorro
- Reception
- The film received poor reviews, with critics generally praising the acting but criticizing the screenplay, special effects, tone, and humor. It performed reasonably well at the box office but did not match its predecessor's success.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 47 · scale: 100 · review count: 33; Rotten Tomatoes · score: 27% · scale: 100% · review count: 139
- Production trivia
- A cancelled crossover sequel titled Django/Zorro was planned by Quentin Tarantino.; The film was released on 4K UHD on August 22, 2023.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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