The Man in the Iron Mask | 
| Director: Randall Wallace
Actors: Leonardo Dicaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $1.76
You Save: $13.22 (88%)
New (58) Used (110) Collectible (2) from $1.76
Rating:  208 reviews
Sales Rank: 3306
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd, Full Screen, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 2
Picture Format: Array
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 132 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5 x 0.6
MPN: D906293D
ISBN: 0792839137
UPC: 027616629326
EAN: 9780792839132
ASIN: 0792839137
Theatrical Release Date: March 13, 1998
Release Date: August 12, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
This story tells of the four musketeers who work together to bring down king louis xiv and replace him with his twin brother who has been help in prison all his life. Despite their blood oath to defend his majesty they soon realize that their mission to save their country from ruin may lead to destruction. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 09/20/2005 Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio John Malkovich Run time: 132 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Randall Wallace
Amazon.com
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, Gerard 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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 203 more reviews...
 An ambitious forgettable film forgotten like the true Man in the Iron Mask May 1, 2009
crossfire (Tokyo, japan)
Call me sentimental but I far more enjoyed Richard Chamberlain's Man in the Iron Mask from the 70s as it had more style and less big budget hokeyness.
This film is another forgettable 90s big budget piece that tried to be more than it was. All the heart stirring and melodramatics might have worked on the teeny bopper crowd but it raised groans from older audience members. There was too much heart-pulling hokeyness to the whole thing - the charge against the muskets for example which ended dramatically lifeless since no one died. The one who did die in the movie didn't die in the book.
I don't want to hate on DiCaprio as he is an easy target but his portrayal of young Louis XIV was terrible. He did a better Phillipe because he had to be more subdued.
I think the film took itself too seriously and as a result it became a rather soppy melodramatic affair with shallow roots.
 One for all and all for one! April 13, 2009
Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"The man in the mask of iron" is a superb retelling with a splendid cast that many directors would have bet their souls for this "dream team". Jeremy Irons, (who curiously matched with Depardieu as Best actor) , John Malkovich and Gabriel Byrne as D'Artagnan really overshadowed to Leonard De Caprio in his double role of King and his suffered brother.
The directorial debut of Wallace could not be more successful. If it's true that the rhythm of the film is a mite slow, the final result is quite rewarding.
Slick-Looking Dumas Tale March 17, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
This is a well-made, polished-looking version of another famous Alexander Dumas 'Three Muskateers" story and looked great on disc when it came out in the earlier days of DVDs.
This is an old tale of the Muskateers in latter days and the efforts to get rid of an evil king, Louis XIV and replace him with his twin brother. Both roles are played by Leonardo Di Caprio. The twin had been unjustly imprisoned and put in an iron mask for years.
The film has an interesting cast of international actors: DiCaprio and John Malkovich from the United States; Jermey Irons from Britain; Gerald DePardieu, Anne Parillaud and Judith Godreche, all from France and Cabriel Byrne from Ireland.
Malkovich, as usual, plays the most interesting character. Parillaud plays Louis' mother and she's too young-looking for that role.
This is a fairly long movie and doesn't have an overabundance of action but doesn't need to, to keep one's attention. Randall Wallace, of "Braveheart" fame, directed this - another plus for the movie.
* The man in the iron mask * February 6, 2009
Cortney L. Taylor (West Virginia)
This dvd is in good condition and once again the price I paid with shipping and handling included is excellent and I will buy more "used" dvds in the future.
A wonderfully beautiful movie December 7, 2008
Beau (Maine)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
If it wasn't for having cable, I do not believe I would have ever seen this movie. For one I am not a big fan of Leonardo Dicap. Yet, the misleading title, Man in the Iron Mask, is what seemed to bar my curiosity of wanting to see it. It sounded like another one of the glamorous post renaissance movies that was popular in the late 90s. If anything more than that I imagined it to be a strange super hero story. And I did not know that John Malkovich and Lolita's main character, Jeremy Irons was in it.
However, I am glad to have finally seen this film. It is a wonderful twist and other side of the awesome legend and adventure of the three musketeers. Even Leonardo DiCaprio did exceptionally okay in it.
The costumes and sets were incredibly matched to the period they had once downed.
As a living history lover of another history, the American War of Northern Aggression, the role of the musketeers in this film greatly reminded me of such true figures as Major General JEB Stuart, Major Heroes Von Burke of Stuart's staff, General Robert E Lee, Major General George Pickett, Lt. General Nathan Bedford Forrest, Lt. General Joseph Wheeler, Colonel John Mosby, Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and other leaders in the Confederate War for Independence.
It was during the War of Northern Aggression when the gallantry, chivalry, and romance, that the French Musketeers made famous, had taken its last stand. Gone forever from then was a knighthood of men that lived and died gloriously.
What of the Northern side of the war? Though many Northern leaders may have been as good of men as any, they lacked that ode to land and home, that flourish of flag and saber, and the brilliantly lit devotion to a cause bigger than they. Whether for political motives or duty or as military service to their government, even the most flashy of Northern officers like for example Armstrong Custer, did not meet the brand of fire of that fire eater States Rights Gist sacrificed with or the Old Blue Light that described the true character of Stonewall Jackson.
Compare the memoirs of Southern officers with those of Northern officers and you might even agree though you might not like.
Study the photographs and paintings of the opposing sides and you'll also notice the manic differences between the plumed hat Southern cavalryman and the simple light blue trousers and blue sack coat of the Federal soldiers.
These were some of the things that this Civil War history buff noticed when watching Man in the Iron Mask.
As a Southron man I did really love to see a movie that beheld the same proud traits of manhood and honor in this movie and the historically accurate story behind Gods and Generals.
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