Oscar-winning composer James Horner returns to the land of swashbuckling romance with The Legend of Zorro. Horner incorporates numerous motifs, mainly the love theme and the rousing title sequence from the first film, but infuses them with more regional instrumentation (castanets, gut-string guitars, trumpets). This makes for an agreeable score that's almost professional to a fault, as Horner could do this in his sleep. Sequels are tricky for both the director and the composer alike, especially if there is a seven-year gap between projects, as the drive to keep the momentum both familiar and fresh can dilute the creative process. The Legend of Zorro will please its target audience, as its lauded composer has mastered the art of reliability. It's an old story with a comfortable history and Horner's score reflects that.