1998, 2 hrs 16 min., Rated PG-13 for some intense action and violence. Dir: Martin Campbell. Cast: Antonio Banderas (Alejandro/Zorro), Anthony Hopkins (Don Diego/Zorro), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Elena Montero), Stuart Wilson (Don Rafael Montero).

The Mask of Zorro brings back the action/drama swashbuckling adventure, something rarely seen done well. Sure, there have been films like the most recent The Three Musketeers and Costner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, but this one is intelligent and honorable, edge of your seat fun.

It's not your summer blockbuster because it doesn't insult the audience by pushing style over substance, because this Mask has both. The only special effects are not computer generated, but great stunts that come with a really cool sword fight. I enjoyed these sequences only second to The Princess Bride between Wesley/Dred Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya. Take into consideration that I have yet to see the original Adventures of Robin-Hood starring Errol Flynn, so I reserve the right to change my mind.

PLOT: The original Zorro (Hopkins) is a nobleman who defends the common folk in Mexico (actually what is now California) in the first half of the 1800s. Don Rafael Montero is our bad guy, he runs the land with an iron fist. But Zorro is discovered to be Don Diego de la Vega in real life, and Montero's men kill Diego's wife, imprison Diego and Montero takes Diego's daughter as his own (see, I told you he was bad).

Fast forward 20 years, where Diego is out of prison, and he and street bum Alejandro (Banderas) join forces to defeat Montero, who just returned to the area from Spain to be bad again. And guess who he brought? Yep, he and Diego's daughter, Elena Montero (Zeta-Jones).

So, Alejandro is now under Diego's wing, and in one of the most enjoyable scenes in the 90s, is taught the fine of art of being Zorro. "You know how to use that" the mentor asks, pointing at the sword. "Yes. The point goes into the other man," the new Zorro responds. And Alejandro finally learns what it takes to be a true hero...charm.

The acting is above average, with Hopkins always in top form. Has he ever not been? He could do a live-action version of It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown and I'd say he's a genius. Now, Banderas, sure he did well. But I can't praise him too much, because I think he's too stuck on himself. But he was a likeable character and definitely had charm. Stuart Wilson makes for a decent bad guy. He's given bad stuff to do, and he executes, so I don't fault him. He also had the plus of having an evil sidekick (an American ranger) who is just almost as good with the sword as the lead characters (hey, he can't be better or Zorro wouldn't be a hero).

Finally, all I can say about Catherine Zeta-Jones is...YOWZA! She's a fox in the truest sense of the demeaning word.

The viewer cannot help but be swept away with this newest Zorro film. Of course, I haven't seen any previous ones, so I'll accept that this is the best. I had a smile on my face the whole time with the charm, the cool action, sharp wit, not too cheesiness, talented actors and of course drooling over Zeta-Jones.