Classics: A Salute to Summer By Lauren Ennis

The days are longer, the sun is hotter, and the vacations have started; summer has arrived at long last. The favored season amongst students and teachers alike, summer is for many synonymous with freedom, adventure, and fond memories of childhood fun. To celebrate summer I’ll be turning the spotlight on three films that personify summer at its finest.

School's out for summer

Stand By Me: One of the best coming of age dramas in modern cinema, Stand By Me is a nostalgic journey into the summers of the past. The film follows four middle school friends in 1950’s Oregon as they embark upon a quest to find the body of a missing local boy. During their two day trek the boys partake in such classic summer pass-times as campfire stories, hiking, and swimming as they enjoy the freedom of the great outdoors in a way that today’s children too rarely do. Even in the midst of all the fun, however, the boys are confronted with disappointments and traumas as they struggle to come to terms with the adult world and find their place within in. When they return home, each of the boys is profoundly changed as they begin to question who they are and who they want to become. At once a coming of age story and an homage to a simpler age, Stand By Me remains a classic for all seasons.

Fun in the sun

Now and Then: This 1995 film proves that summer’s not just for the boys as its heroines experience their own summer of love, loss, and growing up. The film follows four drastically different women as they reunite in keeping with a promise made during their momentous summer in 1970. The film then flashes back and follows the women as they reflect upon the events that propelled them from childhood to adolescence and all that lay beyond. Like Stand By Me, the film chronicles its characters’ growing pains as they cope with loss, broken homes, and find the bonds of their friendship tested. Despite these similarities, however, the film contains many of its own twists and turns as it follows its heroines though personal changes within the greater context of the drastic social change that had begun to sweep across America. Even in the midst of their many conflicts, the girls still enjoy summer to the fullest as they play red rover and softball, engage in water balloon fights, build their own treehouse and even hold the occasional graveyard séance. A tribute to the friendships that shape us and the memories that sustain us, Now and Then is a must-see for every girl struggling to become a woman and every woman who remembers all too well the journey that made her who she is.

Summertime and the livin's easy

The Sandlot: Few films celebrate summer with the abandon and fervor of The Sandlot. The film follows new kid in town Scotty Smalls as he struggles to adjust to a new town in 1962 California. In an effort to make new friends, Scotty does his best to earn a place on the town’s local baseball team. Unfortunately for Scotty, his enthusiasm fails to compensate for his complete lack of athletic skill and he is initially rejected. Eventually, with the help of the team’s charismatic and talented captain, Benny, Scotty joins the team and begins what will prove to be a series of summer adventures to remember. As the summer goes on the boys tangle with a sultry lifeguard, rival teams, and a menacing neighborhood dog known as ‘the beast’. Through it all the boys learn about the importance of friendship and the redemptive and unifying power of sports. For a summer favorite that remains a home-run with audiences look no further than The Sandlot.

Classics: A Review of The Mask of Zorro By Lauren Ennis

Long before Batman patrolled the streets of Gotham City another masked vigilante was fighting for justice in the California desert; Zorro. Inspired by real life outlaw Joaquin Murietta, who was popularly known as ‘Mexico’s Robin Hood’, Zorro has become one of popular culture’s most enduring heroes. First debuted in a 1919 novela, the character has been featured in numerous films, television series, and novels. Despite his popularity, however, Zorro lay dormant for years after his classic adventures fell out of favor with the rise of gritty reboots laden with special effects. In 1998, however, the franchise was revitalized as The Mask of Zorro introduced the adventures of the masked avenger to a new generation.

Who needs superpowers with these skills?

The story begins in 1821 California in an homage to the original films and series with aristocrat Diego de la Veg donning his famous mask just in time to rescue a group of wrongly accused peasants from execution. The story takes a dark turn, however, when Diego returns home only to be arrested by his sworn enemy, corrupt governor Don Rafael Montero. During the ensuing struggle, Diego’s wife, Esperanza, is killed and his infant daughter, Elena, is kidnapped to be raised as Don Rafael’s child. Twenty years later, an imprisoned Diego learns that Don Rafael has returned to California with Elena after exile in Spain and accordingly plots his escape. Upon escaping prison he meets hapless thief Alejandro who is seeking his own vengeance. Together, the unlikely pair resurrect the legend of Zorro and embark upon a journey that will decide the future of California.

Through its nuanced characterizations and believable script, The Mask of Zorro presents a hero for the real world. While the majority of adventure and action films today utilize the excitement and visual flair of supernatural forces and super-powers, The Mask of Zorro relates an equally entertaining tale that remains firmly grounded in the parameters of its historical setting. For example, Don Rafael’s scheme for he and the other dons to regain their former power highlights the all too real evils of greed and political corruption and carries far more weight than a standard ‘take over the world’ super villain plot. Similarly, Diego and Alejandro’s exploits are more satisfying than those shown in many modern action and adventure films, as the duo earn their success by relying upon their wits and skills rather than triumphing through some elaborate gadget or otherworldly ability. The film particularly stands out for the complexity of its two leads. While Diego begins the film as a larger than life hero, the loss of both his family and freedom leave him humbled and jaded. Similarly, although Alejandro becomes a dashing Zorro, he begins the film as a crude thief who bears a closer resemblance to a masked bandit than the legendary hero. Despite their flaws, both men remain likeable characters, even as viewers watch them morally struggle with the difficult choice between justice and vengeance. What the films lacks in CGI effects it more than makes up for in its vibrant historical setting and daring stunts as its two protagonists ride, fence, and dance their way through the treacherous world of California’s elites. For an adventure that will satisfy the mind and heart as well as dazzle the eyes look no further than the infamous ‘Z’ for Zorro.

A very spirited dancer

The film’s uniformly excellent cast brings the adventures of Zorro to rousing life in a way that will appeal to devoted fans and newcomers alike. Anthony Hopkins infuses Diego with a world weariness and guarded compassion that highlight both the idealist he once was and the cynic he has become. Antonio Banderas is an ideal foil to Hopkins’ wounded hero in his role as the impulsive Alejandro. In Banderas’ hands Alejandro’s journey from outlaw to hero is a natural evolution rather than a jarring character shift as Alejandro continues to maintain his roguishness even as he answers the call of justice. The chemistry between the two leads provides the film with its emotional core and many of its most memorable moments, as Hopkins aptly plays straight-man and mentor to Banderas’ rebellious student. Through her sharp wit and even sharper swordplay, Catherine Zeta-Jones’ Elena is more than a standard love interest. Zeta-Jones infuses her role with an intelligence and nuance that ensure she holds her own in the male-dominated cast, particularly in her scenes with Banderas which spark with sensual chemistry. Stuart Wilson lends complexity and sinister charm to his role as the ruthless Don Rafael, who is motivated as much by personal loss and obsession as by greed. Matt Letscher aptly portrays the sociopathic Texas Ranger Captain Harrison Love and captures both Love’s genteel exterior and internal brutality with equal skill.

Through its combination of rousing action, engaging performances and classic storytelling, The Mask of Zorro is a worthy entry in the Zorro franchise. At once an homage to the franchise’s original tales and a fresh twist on the adventure genre, the film has something for all generations and serves as an apt reminder of what is sorely lacking in today’s youth and technology-centric cinema. Nearly one hundred years after his debut Zorro remains one of popular culture’s most thrilling and fascinating heroes; with just one viewing of The Mask of Zorro will unmask all the reasons why.

There are many who will proudly wear the mask of Zorro