I wonder why no one ever...

[anarky]

...made a "modernized" Zorro tale (likely as a movie). I'm not saying it would be good, necessarily (though, like anything of the sort, it could be).

I've just always thought this seemed like a no-brainer for someone with the rights to do. Somewhere in California, likely around Fresno or Bakersfield, there's a town ruled by the Mexican Mafia. And a high-school or college kid learns that he is the descendant of Don de la Vega, who was a real historical figure in this world, maybe after moving from a boarding school in LA or somewhere to live with his old-as-dirt grandmother. And he becomes a modern-day version of Zorro. Same basic costume and swashbuckling attitude, current weapons and equipment, going up against some real nasty SOBs.

Like I said, I don't know it would be good, and probably would suck. But why in the 80 or so years the character has been around has no one ever tried to adapt him into the 20th or 21st century?

[Senor JabbaJohnL]

You said it yourself: it would probably suck.

[vynsane]

um... el mariachi/desperado/once upon a time in mexico?

[Double_G]

I guess because there are just some characters that only work in particular time periods. Zorro is one of them. Same goes for other characters like The Lone Ranger and Sherlock Holmes. I mean, would a modern Zorro still use a sword? Would he use a machine gun to shoot a "Z" into a wall?

[anarky]

The Mexico Trilogy isn't actually Zorro, though. I don't mean using the basic idea--even Batman is a Zorro knockoff to an extent--but the actual character, or someone using the persona.

And, yeah, I was thinking using a sword, just to conjure up images of what (in this world) would be an historical hero. But probably with Kevlar armor or something under his suit, and maybe a motorcyle simply because no one can really have a horse anymore except in really rural areas.

And, JJL, when has the knowledge something would suck ever stopped Hollywood? Have you seen that piece of shit they put out as a sequel to the incredibly good Mask of Zorro movie?

[vynsane]

The Mexico Trilogy isn't actually Zorro, though. I don't mean using the basic idea--even Batman is a Zorro knockoff to an extent--but the actual character, or someone using the persona.

And, yeah, I was thinking using a sword, just to conjure up images of what (in this world) would be an historical hero. But probably with Kevlar armor or something under his suit, and maybe a motorcyle simply because no one can really have a horse anymore except in really rural areas.

basically i think we're saying the same thing here, but different ways. and you added a sword. i'm seeing it in the same way dubG is: there's almost no way to actually modernize the character without modifying it so much that it becomes the 'basic idea' in the same vein as 'el mariachi' save for the major difference being the use of the actual name zorro. if they had referred to 'el' as 'zorro' and added a sword, that's what you've got right there.

[anarky]

Y'know, I actually think this, were it to ever be done (and, again, I doubt it should), would be far more interesting if "Zorro" were some deranged loony who uses the name of a fictional character. Kinda like the guys in Batman suits with shotguns in The Dark Knight.

I need to rewatch the Mariachi films. It's been a couple of years. Good stuff there.

By the way, I'd highly recommend Zorro, the novel by Isabel Allende. A highly-acclaimed (and deservedly so) Chilean author of magical realism tackling a "genre" character in an historical novel. Brilliant novel.

[Slicker]

Are you talking kind of redoing it ala the new Romeo and Juliet with Leo? I actually liked that movie...