In 1993 we got "The Three Musketeers," a story full of levity about three members of the royal French guard who vowed to save the king of France. In 1998 we got "The Man in the Iron Mask" which is about three musketeers who are seeking to depose the corrupt young king of France.

The story was riveting. Leonardo Di Caprio played King Louis the 14th who very much reminded me of a Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones. That alone made me want to see him taken down, and taken down hard. France was at war, the people were starving, and all the young king could think to do was sleep with another man's fiance.

Aramis (Jeremy Irons),Athos (John Malkovich),and Pathos (Gerard Depardieu),three ex-musketeers, desired a revolution--bloodless if possible. They could get the king they wanted on the throne if they could switch King Louis with his wrongfully imprisoned twin brother Phillipe.

The plot was a fascinating one because there was a loathsome king and those who would oppose him. It was complicated by the king's chief guard D'artagnan (Gabriel Byrne) having an allegiance to both his king and his fellow former musketeers, Aramis, Athos, and Pathos. The acting by all was delightful and the production itself was top quality. There were very few downsides to this film.

An entertaining film with interesting story. (It is unjustly underrated.) The narrative is fast-paced, the way I like. There is no loose moment because it tells many stories, event, and background : king's secret twin brother, three musketeer's aging and role changing, D'artagnan's romance with Queen Anne. They all combine smoothly to a great ending.

The best part is that this film has the best Three Musketeers and D'Artagnan ensemble. In all of the movies with Three Musketeers and D'Artagnan so far, four characters are greatly harmonized together, but I never acknowledge each individual so much. They are reckless, daring, and cocky heroes which is classic but redundant. Also, four in other films don't intrigue me because they overcome hardship so easily and are absent from personal agony.

However, four characters in the film have aged, weakened, and passed their heydays. Heroes who overcome personal problems and become mature are way more attractive than young, handsome ones. Additionally, four actors plus Leonardo DiCaprio carry out their roles with such greatness. I also love the fact each musketeer is way more distinctive and unique than the ones in any other movies.

The french people are starving and the country is at war. King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio) is an uncaring ruler with a secret. He sends Raoul (Peter Sarsgaard) away to the front to steal his fiancée Christine. Raoul's father Athos (John Malkovich) is angered. D'Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne) tries to plead to the king for the starving people and Raoul. When Raoul is reported kill, the King takes Christine to bed. The King orders Aramis (Jeremy Irons) to kill the leader of the Jesuits who oppose his war. Only Aramis is secretly the actual leader of the Jesuits and tries reunite the musketeers to take on the king. Athos and Porthos (Gérard Depardieu) agree, but D'Artagnan refuses. It turns out that the king has imprisoned his twin Philippe in an Iron Mask.

The story is complicated. There are too many lead characters. They need to pick one character to lead the story. The great actors just get into each other's way. The action isn't there. This is an overly complicated costume drama where there are too many accents and not enough excitement.