Movie #400 - The Legend of Zorro

The Legend of Zorro

2005 - Rated PG - 2 hr 9 min
Director: Martin Campbell
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rufus Sewell, Adrian Alonso, Michael Emerson, Shuler Hensley, Alberto Reyes

I kinda wish I could watch The Mask of Zorro before watching this one, it's sequel. But the rules say alphabetical, so who am I to argue?

Anyway, having seen both movies several times, there was no problem watching them backwards -- or several weeks apart.  Here, Zorro and family are 10 years in and there's trouble brewing in his marriage.  Zeta-Jones divorces him, he barely knows his little boy, and the new step-dad prospect is also the bad guy.  Dun dun DUN!

So, Antonio Banderas reprises his very fun interpretation of the masked avenger and makes this one just as enjoyable as the first time around.  Sure, it's no black-and-white TV show, but the integrity, the sword-fighting, and the charm of this iconic character are well preserved and very much alive.  Lots of fun to watch :)

PS - I just hit 400 movies!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Movie #361 - The 13th Warrior

The 13th Warrior
1999 - Rated R - 1 hr 42 min
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Vladimir Kulich, John DeSantis, Clive Russell, Omar Sharif, Erick Avari, Tony Curran

I'm not a huge Beowulf fan, I have to admit. So the idea of yet another retelling of this age-old epic was bumming me out.  Even if it does star Antonio Banderas. Even if it was written by Jurassic Park genius Michael Crichton.  Add the director of the Die Hard franchise and you'd think I'd be sold.

What does win me over on this movie is the concept of the re-imagined tale, the story behind the myth viewpoint. A kind of Wicked makeover for The Wizard of Oz.  Told from the perspective of an unlikely compatriot to Beowulf (who gets a new, weird name in this version), the Grendel myth has real roots... it's a cult-like group that is raising hell.  Kill 'em and you're the hero.  Simple enough. 

There's nothing revolutionary here, but it's still appealing in a new way.  This is one version of the epic that turns things just the right way and reexamines them in a way that's more interesting.  Okay, Crichton? You got me.

Movie #314 - Interview with the Vampire

Interview with the Vampire
1994 - Rated R - 2 hr 3 min
Director: Neil Jordan
Starring: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, Thandie Newton

How doI love this movie? Let me count the ways...
     1. little Kirsten Dunst.... amazing
     2. vampires with feelings
     3. Hello, Brad Pitt.
     4. best ending possible
     5. a multi-period piece with some nice set and costume work - I can appreciate that

Honestly, this is my favorite vamp movie.  The new ones are all lame. This is the best.  And, to make it even better, it was made before vampires were trendy. So there, Stephenie Meyer.

But really.  This is a whole cast of emo, homo-erotic vampires played by really pretty celebrities who are all vamped out to look not so pretty anymore. Except Kirsten Dunst who is the world's most gorgeous little vampire.  And again, let's revisit how AH-MAZ-ING she is in this movie. Possibly her best role to date.  How unfortunate for her to peak so young, but how fortunate for us to be able to watch this performance over and over again, if we so choose.

It's not the best movie ever, I can admit that, but I think it's a great ensemble, a really creative premise (remember, this came out before "Buffy," ok?) and a unique way to tell the story. Plus, how deliciously evil is Tom Cruise? And I'm not even a big Cruise fan, but I love this performance.

Movie #158 - Desperado

Desperado
1995 - Rated R - 1 hr 44 min
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo

Want to watch Antonio Banderas play some killer guitar? Check!

Want to watch him kill men with guitars? Check!

Want to watch him and Salma Hayek make sweet love then play guitar? Check!

So this movie is what it is: a story of revenge, a story of a bad-ass musician who doubles as an expert gun-slinger.  And also a story of drug busting, kinda.  There's lots of sweat and dirt, many bullets, and a fantastic body count...also some fantastic bodies. Just sayin'.

It's fun, easy to follow, and has lots of action.  It's a guy movie, which is not surprising since Robert Rodriguez directed it.  And oh hey, Quentin Tarrantino's in it too!

Movie #35 - Assassins

Assassins

Warner Bros Pictures

1995 - Rated R - 2 hr 15 min

Director: Richard Donner

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, Julianne Moore

Mike loves this movie, but I gotta be honest, I think it would be more fun to watch it back in 1995 (when the "hacker" technology was still current) or as a guy. Something about Stallone vs. Banderas gets lost when you're not enthralled by gratuitous car chases and shoot outs.

One assassin versus another - good premise. How does Julianne Moore get involved? Why? Probably just to keep this movie from being 100% testosterone-infused, muscly madness. It's not a bad movie, just not my cup of tea. I'll admit it... I was a bit bored.