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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 5139
Released: August 12, 1998 |
| Our Price: $4.98 |
| Used Price: $1.98 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The self-serving King Louis XIV is all-powerful and fears no one except the man he condemned to wear an iron mask and imprisoned for life. Retired Musketeers vow to free the mysterious prisoner who may be France's only hope for survival.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 6-MAR-2001
Media Type: DVD
Description of The Man in the Iron Mask:
Footnotes in movie books are likely to reduce this swashbuckling adventure down to a simple description: it was the first movie to star Leonardo DiCaprio after the phenomenal success of Titanic. As such it automatically attracted a box-office stampede of Leo's young female fans, but critical reaction was deservedly mixed. Having earned his directorial debut after writing the Oscar-winning script for Mel Gibson's Braveheart, Randall Wallace wrote and directed this ambitious version of the often-filmed classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. DiCaprio plays dual roles as the despotic King Louis XIV, who rules France with an iron fist, and the king's twin brother, Philippe, who languishes in prison under an iron mask, his identity concealed to prevent an overthrow of Louis' throne. But Louis' abuse of power ultimately enrages Athos (John Malkovich), one of the original Four Musketeers, who recruits his former partners (Gabriel Byrne, Gérard Depardieu, and Jeremy Irons) in a plot to liberate Philippe and install him as the king's identical replacement. Once this plot is set in motion and the Musketeers are each given moments in the spotlight, the film kicks into gear and offers plenty of entertainment in the grand style of vintage swashbucklers. But it's also sidetracked by excessive length and disposable subplots, and for all his post-Titanic star power, the boyish DiCaprio just isn't yet "man" enough to be fully convincing in his title role. Still, this is an entertaining movie, no less enjoyable for falling short of the greatness to which it aspired. --Jeff Shannon
The Man in the Iron Mask Reviews:
Must see !!! 
2009-10-06 - Period movie, jeremy irons, adventure, john malkovich, leonardo dicaprio, dvd, gerard depardieu, france, gabriel byrne, this is a classic movie, the acting is off the chart. I didn't like the ending. It's a guy movie, so get your pop corn, sit back and enjoy.
For some reason, I love this movie!
2009-08-26 - I can't explain it (I'm not a tween-aged girl) but I truly, deeply love this film, especially the last half hour. It's not a great film, it's not even a pretty good film, as a film critic would evaluate it, but there's just something about it. Most of the cast is really good; even Leonardo isn't all that bad. As to it being "true to the book"--it's not, so deal with it.
Leo just couldn't complete with the other 4 
2009-08-12 - People are going on about Leo's back acting. It wasn't that great to be sure, especially with the lack of appropriate accent. But stacking him next to 4 amazing veteran actors is what made him seem horribly bad. Leo wasn't too bad in Titanic, but he just can't compete with Jeremy Irons, Gabriel Byrne, John Malkovich or Gerard Depardieu... not even close.
The movie is flawed and two dimensional, but it's still enjoyable as long as you're watching it for one of the older and better four and not DiCaprio.
Also check the French movie "Revenge of the Musketeer." Really good.
how one secret can stop a war....
2009-07-31 - France is sufering at the hands of it's cruel king, Louis XIV. The young king has bankrupt France with terrible wars. The people of France are straving and the King does nothing about it. Also the King has earned himself quite the reputation of being a womanizer. The three Musketeers have retired from thier posts, all enjoying thier private lives. After a friendly encounter between King Louis, D'Artagnan chief of the Musketeers, Athos, his son Raoul and his soon to be daughter-in-law, Christine. King Louis has eyes for Christine and arranges for Raoul to be killed in battle. When Louis success in doing that, the three Musketeers decide that something must be done about Louis. But, when they try and get D'Artagnan to help. He mysterously refuses to help, cause he is honor bound not to betray his king. So Aramis comes up with a plan that may work without the need for betrayal or any bloodshed. Aramis tells the other musketeers, that there maybe a person who can stop Louis, A prisoner who wears an iron mask and who has been keep in the Bastille of France for many years. It seems Louis is very afraid of this prisoner, and that's why his face is hidden by the mask. Just who is this man in the iron mask and how he can change the fate of France? This wasn't a bad film. John Malkovich was very execllent as Athos. This is one of his strongest films today.
Step right up, folks, and get your choice of accent here! 
2009-07-23 - A little bit of French, a little bit of English, a little bit of British and we mustn't forget the Queen Mother's accent. I have no clue what the hell her accent was. I squirmed through every minute of this movie. I gave it one star only for Jeremy Irons. He can take the most abysmal part and bring it to life but it seemed as though even he was struggling w/this one. Had he not played the part of Aramis, I would've ejected this movie from my DVD player and for the umpteenth time watched him play Robin Dudley in "Elizabeth" w/Helen Mirren. Now there's a movie! I wanted to be fair and see this movie through hoping that it would get better. It didn't. Thing is, DiCaprio has developed into a good actor since then but he didn't have his chops yet for this part. He was miscast and over his head. This movie is a real disappointment both for those who desire a script that is faithful to the author's work and for those who would just like to get lost in a good swashbuckler movie. This is't it.
