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The Mask of Zorro

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Competently made action-adventure epic.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–13

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    In typical action movie style, the film emphasizes the values of heroism in freeing the oppressed from the yoke of tyranny. However, the villains are amoral (see severed head and hands).
  • Violence:

    Most of the movie is filled with cartoonish swashbuckling, ranging from the very tame to the fairly intense (a number of people get stabbed in the chest by swords). A character presents a severed head and hands in a glass jar to another character off-screen in one disturbing scene. Rafael's men prematurely bury the elder Zorro, resulting in a brief but intense scene in which he knifes his way out of his grave.
  • Sex:

    A playful scene in which the younger Zorro's swashbuckling results in Elena's top falling off. He then kisses her, as she covers her bare breasts with his hat.
  • Language:

    There are a few uses of the word "damn," but that's as salty as the film gets.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A character is inebriated, but his transformation from drunk to hero is a moral positive.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Mask of Zorro

Parents need to know that this film is an action epic, featuring mostly sword fighting and some significantly intense moments of violence and (cartoonish) gore. The film is not suitable for any child who is easily upset by intense action or simulated gore. Teenagers are its target audience, but not much in the film would bother younger children that are used to Hollywood action clichés.

Read our full review by Walter Metz and Marjorie Kase

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the role adults have in training their children as future citizens. As with most action movies, the ambiguous morality of revenge is the film's central concern. Is it right for both Zorros to devote their lives to violence to avenge the wrongful deaths of their loved ones? When does justice become vigilantism? What is the proper role of individuals in righting clear social wrongs that are depicted in the film?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    A Fun and Rousing Adventure!

    THE MASK OF ZORRO is a fun movie, but not for all. Violence is the biggest issue in the film. Swordfights, duels, deaths, and big flashy explosions populate this adventure. One scene very briefly shows a man's decapitated head and hand floating in water. The violence is mostly without gore. Language consists of one use of "d**n". Sex consists of one very brief shot of several men's bare behinds, and one playful scene where Elena's top is cut off (but no nudity shown at all). It's a fun, rousing adventure that makes a good family movie, but I wouldn't show it to sensitive kids. Recommended.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Would be a great movie if they took out one scence

    I watched this movie with my family and I suprsingly liked it. It was great, except for the part when the blond guy takes out Alejandro's brothers head. That was very disturbing and unexpected.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Hawaii
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    better than the second one

    luved it :-D the part where the head and hand are shown in jars is sooo fake. everything else is just action vioence. this movie is a lot more serious and action filled than the second one.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 3.0

    Caution! Very Gory

    The head being severed is off screen but latter in the film you are shown a close up of the head and hand of the hero's brother in jars! Both the nemesis and the hero drink from this jar! This was very disturbing for our daughter. We stopped the film. Some scenes are cartoonish but not these parts.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    I was jumping up and down.

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