Rijndri Load of rubbish!!
SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction
Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
TheLittleSongbird A must see for Douglas Fairbanks fans, one of his classics and certainly does make its mark(pun intended). The film looks absolutely beautiful with crisp photography that has aged really well and evocatively rendered costumes and sets. The music in rhythm very Spanish-sounding, the sort that you'd hear dancing to a tango, and also has a tender romance sound without ever feeling syrupy. The Mark of Zorro is written in a witty and infectious way, sometimes like the above quote seductive. The story has action-adventure written all over it, and it is rollicking excitement from start to finish. There is never a dull moment and it is always easy to understand what's going on. If you want action and stunts, as you'd expect from an action-adventure or anything with Fairbanks, you'll not be disappointed whatsoever here, there's a good amount of it and it is choreographed beautifully. Fairbanks is a joy, he is still charismatic, heroic and is clearly enjoying every minute he is on screen. The stunts play to his strengths and he performs them with dazzling precision and athleticism, not just technically but you are put at ease watching him because he doesn't forget to act at the same time. All the cast are fine, Margarite De La Motte being fiery and affecting and sharing great chemistry with Fairbanks. Overall, a classic, from the 20s and of any decade and actually one of the greats of the action-adventure film genre, and one of Fairbanks'(while he is the star because everything else is done so well the film doesn't rely on star power alone, which is a further reason for Mark of Zorro's greatness) best. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Boba_Fett1138 This is the very first Zorro adventure movie and in that regard this movie is already an interesting one and also a must-see for the Zorro fans as well as for the fans of the swashbuckler genre and Douglas Fairbanks.The movie is really fast paced, so the movie really flies by and its over before you know it. This means that the movie also really never bores and basically offers plenty of fun entertainment from start till finish.I however didn't really found the story to be very interesting. It was not that the story was bad or anything but I thought it was all pretty standard material, also in the way it was approached and told in the movie. Oh well, perhaps I've just seen 1 or 2 too many of these sort of movies already. It's the usual standard sort of Zorro story you would expect, if you've already seen some of the other Zorro movies/TV-series or read any of the books/comics. It's about Zorro fighting the Spanish oppressors in California of the 19th century and of course Zorro also finds the time to fall in love with a girl.It's funny to notice that basically every made Zorro production has the same light kind of atmosphere and humor in it. So this movie included does a good job at capturing the mood of what Zorro is all about.For 1920 standards this movie is also quite action filled. It was all some quite spectacular action for its time and the movie features lots of sword-fights, horseback riding, jumping and Douglas Fairbanks once more showing off his athletic skills.It was kind of weird thought watching Douglas Fairbanks halve of the time walking around without a mustache. He looked so much different without it. But he of course was great in his role and shows once more why he is regarded as the father of the swashbuckling genre. I also liked Robert McKim in his villainous roles in this movie.The movie has some nice production values and it features some good looking locations and sets. They obviously had some money to spend for this movie and they spend it well on props and other details.Fun entertaining movie, that also is less outdated then you would expect it is, considering its year of production.8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
mlraymond As beloved as the 1940 Tyrone Power version is, this prototype of all Zorro movies is a must see, even for viewers who don't usually watch silent films.The movie makes up for its lack of aural excitement by staging the sword fights as rousing, comic duels, rather than deadly encounters. Who can forget the image of the black clad Zorro sitting cross legged on a tavern table, eating from a bowl of nuts with one hand, while fending off Sergeant Gonzales with his right? Zorro's dashing escapes and clever tricks are definitely played for comedy in most scenes. Douglas Fairbanks, Senior also plays Zorro's quieter moments with a rascally humor as well. In one memorable scene, he climbs over the garden wall of a beautiful senorita and kisses her, much to her surprise. When she slaps him, he laughs heartily. This seems to me the essence of Fairbanks in one image. The movie doesn't play everything for laughs, however. The villains are dastardly and wicked in an old fashioned melodrama way, and many romantic and adventure scenes are played completely straight. But it is the image of the masked, cigar smoking, laughing Zorro taunting his enemies, though outnumbered twenty to one ,that remains with me. Fairbanks also has a fine comic turn as the insipid, ineffectual fop Don Diego, pretending to ire Sergeant Gonzales' boasts that he'll show that bandit, if he can ever find him. Noah Beery Senior is a marvelous Gonzales, rowdy, boisterous, hard drinking, crude and macho. He makes a great comic villain for Zorro to oppose, while Robert McKim has a more serious bad guy role, as the lecherous soldier who attempts to steal the heroine's virtue, and is soundly defeated in a duel by the enraged Diego. A delightful musical score accompanies the movie, with tango rhythms and tender romantic themes. This is a true classic, that deserves to be seen by all lovers of adventure movies and dashing, romantic heroes coming to the rescue of beautiful ladies.
Bucs1960 Hooray for Doug!!! He is the epitome of the dashing swashbuckler and set the standard for all that followed.......and some of them were damn good but Fairbanks had it all. He flashed those teeth and swung from tree to building, across tables and onto the backs of horses......and without a stunt double. What a guy.The film tells the story that we all know due to remakes and a successful TV series (with a great theme song). The foppish Don Diego, is a terrible disappointment to his father and to his intended wife. He appears to be always "fatigued" and uses a silk handkerchief to indicate his ennui. It's a perfect cover for his alter ego, Zorro, the Robin Hood of old California.The acting in this silent is overall quite good even though Noah Beery Sr. is a little over the top in a couple of scenes......well, most of his scenes are rather hammy. (It must have run in the family for I found his brother Wallace pretty hammy himself). But Fairbanks is the reason for seeing this film. He is a ball of fire and looks like he had a great time playing this part......and you'll have a great time watching him. He's "that bold renegade, carves a Z with his blade, a Z that stands for Zorro". What fun!!!!!!!!!
