Director
Martin Campbell

Cast
Antonio Banderas,
Catherine Zeta-Jones,
Anthony Hopkins,
Stuart Wilson,
Matt Letscher

Music
James Horner

Zorro has been around for 80 years now and even though times change, the legend of Zorro hasn't as he defends the weak and protects the innocent. 
In this version of Zorro, Don Deigo De Le Vega/Zorro (Anthony Hopkins) is married and has a child.  Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson) Runs Mexico and is hated by all for his corruption and mistreating of the people.  As Rafael is about have 3 innocent men executed for the sake of capturing Zorro, Zorro does actually save the three men, thanks in part to the help from 2 young brothers (Alejandro and Joaquin) and as thanks he gives them his silver necklace.  During a confrontation with Rafael, Zorro accidentally reveals his true identity and soon after,  is imprisoned, but not before his Wife is accidentally killed, and daughter kidnapped by Rafael (to be raised as his own daughter).
De Le Vega manages to escape the prison but must resort to a life in hiding. 

Many years later brothers Alejandro (Antonio Banderas) & Joaquin (Victor Rivers) are partners in crime with Three fingered Jack (I. Q. Jones).  During a setup headed by Rafael's Captain Harrison Love (Matt Letscher), Jack is shot and Alejandro's brother is killed, then decapitated by the sadistic Love as he likes to keep trophies of his kills.   Luckily Alejandro gets away, and when Love's men have left the scene he returns to find the silver necklace.
Wallowing in his drunken sorrow over the loss of his brother, a slightly disguised De Le Vega notices Alejandro wearing the necklace and asks him where he got it.  When Alejandro explains to him it was his brothers, and that his brother has just died, De Le Vega reveals his identity as Zorro to Alejandro and the two join forces with the intention of Alejandro becoming the new Zorro....

So How Does This Transfer Hold Up??
Having seen this movie at the movies a few times too many, as well as even more so on DVD (region 1) I had great expectations from this region 4 version and this 2.35:1 framed anamorphic picture DID NOT disappoint.  It is exceptionally sharp throughout, with exception detail throughout and exceptional colour saturation throughout.  in fact, I'm inclined to say it's ...exceptional.  This has drool factor 10 written all over it, and that's not even considering the presence of Catherine Zeta Jones as the older Elana, Though the use of soft filters on her face is something I really don't like to see...she ain't Barbra Steisand for god's sake.
This movie has also been split over 2 layers of the RSDL disc and the change occurs at chapter 17 to 18 (77:41) and is actually in the exact same point as the region 1 change. (and has the same number of chapter as the region 1 version..Though I wish there was another chapter to mark the start of the closing credits)

With the superb picture comes a terrific 5.1 audio mix. (available in English and German).  However, in direct comparison to the region 1 version I found the audio to lack a little bass and also seemed a little more compressed.   It certainly hadn't degraded the quality of the sound that much, but being pretty familiar with the sound of the region 1 NTSC version, I picked up on this during the opening sequence.  Suprisingly the speed increase wasn't that noticeable as it seems the pitch has been corrected to be very close to the original.  (James Horner's score still sounds too much like the one he did for Titanic though)

Columbia had initially planned this DVD for a June 1999 release to be date and day with the VHS rental, but opted to hold off a few months til the extras became available for the planned Collector's Edition.  I was told that Columbia didn't want to release a standard edition and then a Collector's edition as it wasn't fair to the consumer having to fork out for 2 DVDs as Collector's editions are preferred over standard especially if released so close together (very nice of them if you ask me)

For starters you get,

Animated menus (Main the Scene Selection only & with audio backing). There is a very nice transition from the menus with a fire flame...very smooth indeed

deleted scene - entitled "the Wallet" (2.35:1 framed 4x3 letterboxed)

Theatrical Trailer -  2.35:1 letterboxed only with a kick arse 5.1 soundtrack (which seems to have that extra punch missing from the movie itself)
(I would really like to see Columbia do their extras in the 16:9 format as they do with all their Movies...consistency is a good thing)

Making of Documentary - which runs a whopping 45 minutes and shows segments from the original Zorro, as well as cast & crew interviews on the making of This Zorro..lots more here

Music Video - Tina Arena and Mark Anthony's "Spend My Lifetime Loving you" 1.78:1 framed with DD2.1 (surround)   audio

Cast and Crew Filmographies

Publicity Stills - 14 photos

Running Commentary - with director Martin Campbell who has quite a few antidotes from the the film including the story of how he was stabbed in the chest with Antonios Sword (see chapter 21) ...not as fun as his comm on Goldeneye, but he certainly knows his stuff, and has a lot to say that's worth listening to

Again here is a Columbian DVD, a collector's Edition none the less, that doesn't even need a review to convince anyone to buy it for their collection.  This is a MUST HAVE REGION 4 DVD

Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Pioneer DV717  (using RGB outputs)
Receiver: Marantz SR870 & Sony SDP-EP9ES
Speakers:-
     Fronts: B&W 602
     Centre: B&W CDMC-SE
     Rears: Jamo Magic 14
     Subby: M&K V125 

- reviewed 14th November 1999