6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
After fighting to help California become the 31st state of the Union, Zorro must live up to the promise he made his wife Elena — to give up his secret identity and live a normal life as Alejandro de la Vega. When he hesitates, it threatens to tear them apart. Now, the same forces that conspired to keep California from becoming part of the United States are plotting to unleash a threat that has been 500 years in the making, a threat that could change the course of history forever. And only Zorro can stop it.
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rufus Sewell, Nick Chinlund, Julio Oscar MechosoAction | 100% |
Adventure | 71% |
Western | 16% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 0.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Martin Campbell's The Mask of Zorro (1998) remains a dazzling action-adventure swashbuckler; a throwback to a golden age of film that captures the magic of the past and promises a bounty of future exploits. I'd argue it's a near-perfect late '90s classic that's as enjoyable, if not more so, than beloved 2003 fan-favorite genre pic Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. With clashing swords aplenty, flights of folk hero fancy, daring stunts, a soaring score and a who's who cast of A-listers -- Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Anthony Hopkins lead the charge -- it remains a timeless must-have that sits on many a cinephile's shelves. Its 2005 attempt to solidify the Zorro franchise reboot, though, suffers the same fate as the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels: failing to reach the heights of the first film. There's treasure to be uncovered and riches to be found in The Legend of Zorro, sure. Banderas and Zeta-Jones remain a standout duo. But it never quite captures the passion and pathos of The Mask of Zorro, accidentally tying too early a bow on a series that had the potential to give us numerous sequels.
Hold onto your hats. This is a bit of a confusing one. Sony presents The Legend of Zorro in 4K with a dingy, yellowed, oft-times near
monochromatic video transfer that's disappointing to say the least. The film was shot in Super 35 and mastered as a 2K digital intermediate, meaning
the film's UltraHD presentation is upscaled to 2160p. But the issues run deeper than that. Legend's dim, dirty palette pales (sometimes
literally) in comparison to the gorgeous 4K release of The Mask of Zorro. Skies are grimy; the color of a dirty gas station toilet. Contrast is
muddy, with overpowering shadows and dampening darkness. Fine detail is good, when the lighting allows for it to shine. However, there are too
many instances of softer textures and less-than-razor-sharp edges. Never mind the artificial sharpening and edge halos that creep in. It's minimal but
present in some shots nonetheless. Worse, when the sun sets or when the outdoor action moves into poorly lit interiors (each of which happens
frequently in the second act) the frustration level increases. Delineation weakens, the quality of the image's already inconsistent film grain falters,
and the darkest regions of the source suffer.
I'd chalk most of the disappointment up to the digital intermediate source, problematic color timing, or the fault of the original
cinematography, especially since I don't have a reliable way to determine how close to the filmmakers' intentions the 4K image has landed. But
it's difficult to accept any of these possibilities. Director Martin Campbell and cinematographer Phil Meheux helmed both The
Legend of Zorro and The Mask of Zorro, which does have a slightly similar dust-strewn, classic western appearance, but also
boasts crisp blue skies, more lifelike fleshtones, richer black levels, more remarkable detail and more vibrant colors.
Making matters more confusing is the version of The Legend of Zorro currently streaming on services like Amazon. Take a look at the
difference. Pay particular attention to color, contrast, brightness, vibrancy and primary punch:
At least The Legend of Zorro's rousing Dolby Atmos mix (and compatible Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track) is more comparable to its Mask of Zorro 4K release counterpart. Dialogue is clean, clear and naturally prioritized, channel pans are nimble and smooth, and directionality is spot on. And that's just in the quiet moments. And you're not watching a Zorro adventure for those. When swords are drawn, wood splinters and horses charge into the fray, the subwoofer makes its presence known with booming nitroglycerin explosions and deep rumbling thooms, the rear speakers create an absorbing and immersive soundfield that only bolsters the excitement, and each speaker embraces every last dynamic touch the film's sound design has on tap. The final battle alone -- with a swashbuckling Zorro and his family inside, then on the outside of, a speeding train -- delivers the kind of experience the video transfer never quite manages. And goodness, the theater-quaking eruption of flame and smoke that follows. (Ignore the dated compositing and VFX. It at least sounds believable.) Bottom line? Sony's Dolby Atmos mix is the clear highlight of the disc.
The 4K release of The Legend of Zorro doesn't include any new special features, recycling the early 2000s DVD and Blu-ray versions'
supplemental package.
The Legend of Zorro is a lesser sequel, and its 4K edition is a lesser Sony catalog release. A remaster would (possibly) go a long way, although there's no telling how much of the video presentation's disappointment traces back to the original 2K digitial intermediate source. Ah well. At least Sony's Dolby Atmos mix lives up to The Mask of Zorro's excellent 4K BD. My advice? Stick with the first film and its far superior Sony 4K release.
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