Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

fcabanski I can't believe the other reviews I've read. Maybe they're talking about the first season, before the move to Family Channel and the total cast revamp. But the Family Channel version of this series, "Zorro" leaves a lot to be desired. It has some good points, that's why it's 4 stars instead of 1 star, but overall it is pretty bad.The main issue with this version is its swash doesn't buckle. Zorro is associated with terrific sword fights, and overall action. The version lacks both. The sword fights are poorly choreographed. Overall, the fights and chases are poorly done. Soldiers often trot after Zorro with their hands at their sides, not looking like they're running. Then Zorro steps aside so soldiers odd running from two directions run into each other.For some odd reason the beginning of the series, when Don Diego first becomes Zorro, is saved for the middle of season 1. The becoming Zorro part is pretty boring. But the wrapper story, Zorro supposedly killed falling off his horse, wraps up with some nice scenes, especially when Zorro takes the place of a dummy used to lay in for dead Zorro at his funeral. For a moment, there was hope for the series.The opening theme is weak. It's not Zorro music. It sounds like 80's techno music.The kid who plays Felipe is an awful actor. He often smirks or even smiles when he's supposed to be reporting dire news, or when he's in a sad or dangerous situation. For some odd reason, he's often used as an extra too. For example, in one episode the actor appeared as a tax delinquent farmer: he wore a cheesy mustache for that "role". In the same episode he was, while supposedly off to get Don Alejandro, also a towns person throwing rocks from the roof. The towns people walk on the roof without problem, but Zorro constantly stumbles and has to walk carefully on the same roof. Old ladies, old men" they maneuver more easily on a roof than Zorro maneuvers.Time and distance are oddly distorted. In one of the first episodes Felipe rides off to get Don Alehandro after Don Diego is arrested. Felipe rides off in a wagon. Less than a minute later Diego arrives in the cell. He looks out the cell window to see Felipe and Don Alejandro riding into Los Angeles on horses. Felipe rode home, told DA what was going on, traded the wagon for a horse, and rode back to Los Angeles in less than a minute.This Zorro tries to be more like batman, Zorro is always conducting scientific experiments. He builds various contraptions and devices which he uses in his adventures. But he uses them in odd ways. In one episode he makes a scope with special lenses that see in less colors, but also with less required light. He uses the night vision scope to see food foot prints on a roof. WHAT? Episodes frequently have big mistakes. For example, in one episode Don Diego compares a note sent by the new Padre of the mission with a note sent by a fake Padre. The note from the real Padre is a note about a new species of bird Diego discovered. The note from the fake Padre is supposedly about demanding a higher offering from the land owners. Diego notes the handwriting is not the same on the two letters supposedly sent by the same Padre. But when the camera pans to the letters, although the handwriting is different, both letters are the same: the letter about the birds.This is a disappointing Zorro series.

Jon Torino I found this movie and another at our public SF library and was happy to see them. This movie is entitled "Zorro, The Legend Begins" and offers Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (Stephanie Zimbalist of Remington Steel fame is his daughter) as Zorro's father. The one difference in this telling of Zorro is his younger deaf mute companion.The film starts off with Don Diego (Zorro) as a young man sent from his father's prosperous ranch in a small Mexican village to a bigger city to broaden his education and to train with a famous swordsman. Diego returns many years later, his little deaf mute playmate has grown up as has the lovely Victoria (Patrice Camhi) who now runs the local tavern. The town is controlled by a vicious "Alcade" (Michael Tylo) who taxes the poor ranchers and tax people and is brutal to them. Zorro is being chased by the soldiers when he falls over a cliff and his horse goes back to the ranch to fetch Felipe (Juan Botta, the young deaf mute. As he lay there he takes us back through his memories of his life as Zorro. We learn how and why Don Diego creates his Zorro identity and watch as he saves the townspeople from the cruel Alcade.This is not a cheesy production. The costumes are well done as are the sets, including a glorious clipper ship that is real and takes Don Diego on his journey to learn how to be an expert swordsman. I'm hoping there are many more of these productions that I just haven't found yet. The second flim in this series (that I will review also) is entitled: Zorro: A Conspiracy of Blood. Apparently these movies were created for television. They are all in color and about 100 minutes long (1 hour 40 minutes).

Spider-36 I began watching this installment of Zorro when I was about 10. I hadn't discovered superheroes or even comic books yet (shocking, I know) and to me, Don Diego was the coolest character on TV. He was Batman, he was Daredevil, he was the virtuous good guy without superpowers who valiantly fought against insurmountable odds, hoping to rid his home of evil. He did this week after week, and it was glorious. He used his intelligence, his wits, and had luck on his side. Also, there was emotion behind the characters. I loved the last few episodes (where he fought his long lost twin brother) and I also loved the episode in which Adam West guest-starred, and as Bruce Wayne's great-great grandfather, no less ! If you ever have a chance to watch this show, take it. You won't be disappointed.

Doctorj2k I got interested in Zorro around age 9. Since then I think Zorro is one of the best heroes ever. That is because he has character, true courage, moral values, and displays the truth. That is what I like about the "New Zorro" episodes. There is a lesson for each episode. A good moral lesson. Heroes today lack these characteristics. Even the new Zorro. It's all about Romance and schemes not true justice and values. The "New Zorro" portrayed the corruption of politics and government when tyranny takes over. The income tax is referred to as a "bizarre concept," and rightly so. I hope these episodes go back on tv. These episodes were a voice speaking out in our modern day of what good moral values are and what are government is supposed to be and ought to do.