monarchy.

• Recognition of the place of the loyal institutions (including the Orange Order) in the cultural life of the nation.

• A constitutional guarantee of a pluralist education system that reflects the two main traditions on the island.

• The possibility of power devolved to Stormont within an all-Ireland state, guaranteed seats in an upper house in a united Ireland and weighted majorities on some ‘fundamental issues’.

What they don’t acknowledge is that Irish unity kills off unionism as both a political and electoral force, because their country (Northern Ireland) and the constitutional identity and basis of their citizenship (the Union) would disappear. And when it disappears the whole process – which would be lengthy, unpleasant and muddied – of building an entirely new state begins. Sinn Fein hate partition, butMovie Review: The Mask of Zorro (1998)

I love the swashbuckler film genre and have ever since I saw The Princess Bride and several of the Zorro films as a kid. Consequently, I’m somewhat surprised that I never got around to seeing Mask of Zorro until just now.

Mask of Zorro was part of that brief shining moment in Hollywood in the 1990s where the studios had realized that movies with Spanish leads could make a bunch of money, particularly after the success of Desperado, leading to Robert Rodriquez getting considerably more work, and Antonio Banderas becoming a superstar. Though, sadly, this didn’t carry over in quite the same way to Hispanic actors.

Anyhoo, the film is something of a literal and metaphorical passing of the torch, with Anthony Hopkins playing