WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Man In The Iron Mask, The
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 32 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals
Includes audio commentary by writer/director Randall Wallace and the theatrical trailer.

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): MGM Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): ML107203
(MPAA Rating): PG13
(Retail Price): $39.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 132
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1998
(LD Release Date): 4/99
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Randall Wallace
(Screenplay/Written By): Randall Wallace
(Story): NA
(Music): Nick Glennie-Smith
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Anthony Pratt
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): William Hoy
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Alan Ladd, Jr.
(Co-Producers): Paul Hitchcock
(Producers): Randall Wallace & Russell Smith

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Academy Standard Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.85:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): DTS Digital Surround
(Theatrical Sound): DTS Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Based upon the novel by Alexandre Dumas, The Man In The Iron Mask tells the tale of two brothers (Leonardo DiCaprio in a dual role): one who becomes the spoiled, self-serving King of France, and the other a carefree fighter who is raised by The Three Musketeers.

LaserDisc Picture:
The 1.85:1 picture is the same superb transfer as the LaserDisc reviewed in Issue 31. Though not superior to the anamorphically enhanced DVD reviewed in Issue 30, images are extremely sharp and detailed, with exemplary color fidelity, and wonderful contrast and shadow delineation.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The DTS® Digital Surround discrete 5.1 soundtrack is quite similar in sonic character to the Dolby® Digital version with a slightly warmer characteristic and better resolved low level ambience in the split surround channels. The soundtrack is wonderfully spatial with an aggressive surround presence that is at times directionalized and orchestral-rich. Bass extension is excellent—most notably, the roar of cannon shots punctuated in the .1 LFE channel. Dialogue is the least successful element, and is ADR-produced and wanting in spatial integration.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): Yes
(Aggressive System Surround): Yes
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): Yes
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): Yes
(Aggressive Split Surround): Yes
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Yes
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
No
Superb Color Fidelity:
Yes
Superb Cinematography:
-
Reference LaserDisc:
Yes
Collector Edition:
No
DVD To LaserDisc Comparison: