The Mask of Zorro: Synopsis

The Mask of Zorro is a sweeping romantic adventure of love and honor, of tragedy and triumph set against Mexico's fight for independence from the iron fist of Spain. It is also a rousing, often hilarious swashbuckling fable about how a roguish outlaw whose only knowledge of a sword is that "the pointy end goes into the other man" is transformed into an elegant hero.

It has been 20 years since Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) successfully fought Spanish oppression in Alta California as the legendary romantic hero, Zorro. Imprisoned for two decades, he now must find a successor to stop Don Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson)-the powerful, former Spanish governor of Alta California who cost de la Vega his freedom, his wife, Esperanza (Julietta Rosen), and his daughter, Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones)-who is making plans to purchase California from Mexico's president, General Santa Anna. Alejandro Murieta (Antonio Banderas), a bandit with a troubled past, is transformed by Don Diego into a new Zorro who he hopes will help him foil Montero's schemes once and for all.

Tracing the heroic story of these highly-charged relationships, The Mask of Zorro follows the new Zorro as he assumes de la Vega's mantle and enters into a romantic relationship with a woman close to his predecessor's heart.