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The Man In The Iron Mask [1998] | ![The Man In The Iron Mask [1998]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41CTPAPKXHL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Randall Wallace
Actors: Leonardo Dicaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne
Studio: MGM Entertainment
Category: Video
List Price: £5.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £5.98 (100%)
New (11) Used (36) Collectible (3) from £0.01
Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 12450
Format: Closed-captioned, Dolby, Pal, Surround Sound
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 135 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
EAN: 5014785704720
ASIN: B00004CX4B
Theatrical Release Date: March 13, 1998
Release Date: February 1, 2000
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: very good condition Sent within 1 working day by UK seller, available by email for queries.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Footnotes in film 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, The Man in the Iron Mask 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 film, no less enjoyable for falling short of the greatness to which it aspired. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Very Good Indeed. July 26, 2008
Ocelot
I'm not a huge Leonardo Di Caprio fan but I found this extremely watchable. I saw it on television in the first instance and liked it enough to seek it out on DVD. One doesn't like to give away too much in reviews, but Di Caprio manages to play both brothers out in equal strength- the contemptibility of Louis is a stark contrast to the innocence of Philippe. Gerard Depardieu brings the comedy as Porthos, with Jeremy Irons as the sedate and quietly passionate Aramis, John Malkovich as the tangibly distraught Athos and Gabriel Byrne as the 'yes man' with a secret.
I didn't feel that any of the actors turned in the performance of a lifetime, but that's more a result of better turns elsewhere than bad turns in this film. Everything about it has the right level of sentiment, and a lovely sense of justice is to be found at the end. There are no real 'clangers' to watch out for, and, as far as I'm concerned, no scenes that are worth skipping past. Some films take themselves very seriously, but this film seems to have a perfect sense of what it is, and that is refreshing in itself and adds to its appeal.
The trouble is that I always looked at it and thought it looked a tad 'B rate'. It was only when I actually saw it on TV that I realised how worthy it was. If you can't decide, buy it. If you liked things like The Count of Monte Cristo, or if you go in for period adaptations generally, then chances are you'll find this enjoyable and inoffensive at the worst. At best, like me, you'll keep going back to it again and again.......
Thoroughly enjoyable but not faithful to the book April 15, 2008
S. L. Vowles (London)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fortunately I saw this film before reading the book, and my rating is based upon my assessment of the film alone. Coming to it without having read Dumas's book, but knowing who the three Musketeers and d'Artagnan are, you're in for a glorious swashbuckling romp, the like of which we don't see enough these days. The film's plot is fast-paced, enjoyable and spiced up with a good deal of intrigue. Gerard Depardieu, Jeremy Irons and Gabriel Byrne are all extremely good as Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan, but I felt that John Malkovich was a little wooden as Athos. Unfortunately I didn't feel that Raoul or Christine had enough depth to really make me care very much about their subplot (and Christine is not particularly good). I thought that Leonardo DiCaprio carried his part off very well, although of course he is slightly overshadowed by the key four actors. Visually the film is stunning.
But here's the catch - and I haven't taken this into account in rating the film because, as I say, I saw the film before reading the book and therefore enjoy it as an object in its own right. The plot is not remotely similar to that of the book. Very major changes have been made to Dumas's plot, major characters have been excised or had their names changed, and fans of Dumas will not recognise the ending of the film. The achievement of the scriptwriters is to give us a story that, while it bears no resemblance to what Dumas actually wrote, nevertheless does (as another reviewer said) have a very sympathetic spirit.
The question is whether or not you can continue to enjoy the film even though it differs so radically from its source material - and for me, the answer is an unqualified, resounding Yes.
Swashbuckling mini classic. April 11, 2007
Jay (Mauritius)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Impressive five star cast of Irons, Depardieu, Byrne, Malkovich and Di Caprio (x2) team up in a variation of the Dumas classic. This film had a brilliant opening due to Di Caprios star power post Titanic but eventually settled to become a moderate success. Di Caprio was a bit typecase at that time as the teenage lover as portrayed in Titanic and Romeo and Juliet so it was no surprise that he tried to change gears with this film, and has been doing so ever since. Good performances by everybody makes this film a swashbuckling mini classic.
 A Real Suprise June 9, 2006
Andrew Kerr (Scotland)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
First, I would like to point out that personally I don't think that Leonardo DiCaprio is a very good actor. I haven't liked his preformance in many of his films. Due of this fact, I watched The Man In The Iron Mask, expecting not to enjoy the film, simply because he basic plays the main character. Needless to say, I was speechless at the end of the film. The Man In The Iron Mask is stunning and Leonardo's preformance - I hate to say - is also stunning. Additionally I have not enjoyed many musketeer films in the past, so obviously I did not expect to enjoy this. The Man In The Iron Mask is beautiful and memorizing, I have not seen the original version (as this is a remake) nor have I read the book. Therefore I did not know what to expect from this film and the twists really were twist for me. So definitly a film to be watched.
pretty much as dumas would have done it March 27, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
it's no masterpiece, and it doesn't stick faithfully to what Dumas wrote, but it does stay true to his style. The story is well paced and does not take itself too seriously.Dumas wrote entertaining stories that were not all that deep and the film is just the same. It is entertaining if shallow and brings together a number of talented actors who put in typically good performances yet it somehow still feels a little false and almost a parody of itself.
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