'The Legend of Zorro' is set several years after the conclusion of the previous adventure. Alejandro (Banderas) and Elena (Zeta-Jones) are married and have a 10-year-old son, Joaquin (Adrian Alonso). Though Alejandro continues to don the mask of Zorro to protect the poor and oppressed residents of the California territory from the greed of the overlords, he is torn between his duty and his desire for a more normal life. Now, he must face that conflict again head-on when plans for California to become the 31st state are undermined by a nefarious plot by several prominent land barons and businessmen. In his valiant attempt to foil their plans, Zorro runs headlong into a crisis that threatens his life and the safety of his family. - skip ad - Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy and Romance Running Time: 2 hrs. 10 min. Release Date: October 28th, 2005 (wide) MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of violence/peril and action, language and a couple of suggestive moments. Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing Cast And Credits Starring: Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rufus Sewell, Nick Chinlund, Julio Oscar Mechoso Directed by: Martin Campbell Produced by: Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Lloyd Phillips

What have they done to the "Zorro" movie series? It's turned into "Spy Kids!" Instead of a lone masked champion of justice and freedom, the sequel to Amblin's 1998 "The Mask of Zorro" is now a family act. In "The Legend of Zorro," Antonio Banderas -- the star, of course, of both movie series -- fights the dark forces in 19th century California along with wife Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and 10-year-old son Joaquin (Adrian Alonso). This is not all bad. The Mexican-born youngster is a genuine find, and no red-blooded male will object to the sight of Zeta-Jones in lacy, elaborate 19th century finery, paring and thrusting with a fine sword. But turning "Zorro" into a family movie with domestic squabbles and sitcom situations takes some of the luster off the romantic adventure of Old California.

Nevertheless, under returning director Martin Campbell, action sequences are many and the stars shine as stars are meant to, so Sony could realize a boxoffice take approaching the original's $235.1 million worldwide gross.

In 1850 California, the territory is poised to become the 31st state in the union. A referendum opens the movie, which gives Alejandro de la Vega disguised as Zorro (Banderas) the opportunity to recover a stolen ballot box from the clutches of marauding baddie Jacob McGivens (a sneeringly villainous Nick Chinlund). This is an extended and intricately choreographed series of stunts that sees Zorro take to the air nearly as often as Spider-Man.

Like most of the film's action sequences, Campbell leans heavily on close shots and quick cuts rather than sustained stunt work. Given that his stunt coordinator, animal wrangler and sword master all appear top notch, one can only presume Campbell didn't trust his actors to perform stunts in lengthy takes, which is understandable given the nature of much of the gravity-defying, circuslike gags.

Anyway, the referendum for statehood passes and happy crowds cheer. It really is amusing though to see so many Latino faces celebrating their "freedom" in a gringo-dominated government that will rule to the detriment of Mexican-Americans for another century and a half.

Almost immediately, a highly contrived quarrel between Alejandro and Elena leads to her filing for divorce, the estrangement of Alejandro from his son and comic jealousy that has Alejandro hit the bottle in reaction to the attention paid to his wife by French aristocrat and wine grower Armand (a not very French Rufus Sewell).

A foul plot unfolds soon enough in a story attributed to two teams of writers, in which neither Alejandro nor Elena's divorce attorneys are who they seem and everyone has a secret agenda. This far-fetched scheme concerning an ancient Christian order called the Knights of Aragon feels more like an episode of "The Wild Wild West." It does, however, trigger a succession of fights, rescues, skullduggery and chases that keep the screen excessively busy while pushing the running time well past two hours.

Unfortunately, the hero is made to fight with one hand behind his back -- for the PG rating and an emphasis on family values insist that we never see Zorro do more than hurt the pride of the villains despite their dastardly nature. One stunt has his horse outrun a runaway train, a pretty neat trick considering that the nag drinks more than Lee Marvin's mount in "Cat Ballou" and smokes as well. Must be steroids in his feed.

The heroic troika is the film's major calling card. Banderas exudes macho bravado and self-confidence, while Zeta-Jones combines drop-dead beauty with energetic athleticism. Alonso as Zorro Jr. has all his dad's moves -- though he doesn't realize his dad is Zorro -- and is cute without being cloying. Frankly, he steals the show.

Returning cinematographer Phil Meheux and designer Cecilia Montiel make the most of the location in and around historic Hacienda Gogorron in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, creating an authentic Old California of lavish haciendas, a Gold Rush town, inspiring mission, flowing fabrics, haughty caballeros and sultry senoritas.