Alexandre Dumas's classic warhorse rides again, though writer/director Randall Wallace can't make this as exciting and exhilarating as Braveheart, which he scripted. In his first film after Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio has a dual role as both the wicked King Louis XIV and his mistreated twin Phillippe, and his fans will find plenty to enjoy. The three musketeers (Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu) ride to the rescue, while D'Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne) decides to support Louis, despite riots in the street and rats at court. The performances are uniformly good and the French locations are beautifully shot by cinematographer Peter Suschitzky.

Years have passed since the Three Musketeers, Aramis, Athos and Porthos, have fought together with their friend, D'Artagnan. But with the tyrannical King Louis using his power to wreak havoc in the kingdom while his twin brother, Philippe, remains imprisoned, the Musketeers reunite to abduct Louis and replace him with Philippe.