Generally, the rule is: the sequel is not as good as the original. This holds true in “The Legend of Zorro.” You will remember in the original, “The Mask of Zorro”, we were embraced with romance, revenge and goofball humor. Now everything has been replaced with a farfetched plot, dumb characters and never ending fight sequences that by the 100th flip, punch, kick and thrust of the sword that I yawned.

The farfetched plot: Don Alejandro de La Vega a.k.a. Zorro (Antonio Banderas) saves the voting ballot for California to enter the Union as a free state from tampering by Jacob McGivens(Nick Chinlund) and his goons. He returns home where his wife Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and son Joaquin (Adrian Alonso) expect him to fulfill his promise to retire. Alejandro refuses. Elena divorces him and confides in Armand (Rufus Sewell), a French vineyard owner. Apparently, Armand is a part of a secret knighthood that has developed a powerful explosive to use against the US.

Alejandro salvages his relationship with his son while trying to win back his wife and uncovering Armand’s agenda. Wow he’s a busy guy!

The dumb characters: Elena, once attracted to Alejandro’s charm, has become demanding. What does she want from him? She never says. We’re left clueless. Joaquin admires Zorro for his bravery but despises his father. He mimics Zorro and even helps uncover the plot. What’s confusing is that a small boy, with that much intelligence, isn’t able to determine that Zorro is his father. He has seen both men up close and heard their voices but still doesn’t realize the truth. The villains, Jacob and Armand, look and act like villains, do nothing out of the ordinary and therefore are not interesting. 

The never ending fight sequences: they take place on/in trains, mountains, cliffs, farms, mansions, horseback, town square, etc. By the looks of it, they’ve exploited every location in the old west. I will admit the fight sequences are impressive. Stunt Coordinator Gary Powell has out done himself. The fight sequences are just too long and too much. It’s like ordering another double when you’re past legal limit.

Cut down half the fight sequences and develop the relationship between Alejandro and Joaquin, then you have a better movie. The film cuts away every time Alejandro and Joaquin sits down and have a father and son conversation. I felt cheated. By the end, they do have a meaningful conversation but I didn’t care anymore and just wanted to leave.