Wolff rating: GOOD
Plot summary: Swashbuckling hero from the early days of the movies is back.
Biased, pithy comments: There is a lot of old-fashioned film-making going on here, with homages to the old serials and homages to the more modern updates to the serials like ``Star Wars'' and ``Indiana Jones.'' With startlingly good swordfighting and some really good laughs during the action sequences, Banderas, Hopkins, and Wilson (with help from Jones) spin a long and twisted yarn (stealing from all the best, including ``Count of Monte Cristo'' and ``Spartacus''). If one were to complain, it might be the perponderance of plot in the middle (i.e. it got a little slow), which would be OK if it weren't quite so familiar a plot. Still, a great show and there is real potential for them to make a sequel that surpasses this. Letscher is a great villain.
Other Notes: Obvious stunt-man moments here and there.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta Jones, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Letscher.
Directed by: Martin Campbell