MOVIE REVIEWS ... THE THREE MUSKETEERS

 

Those expecting a serious and reverential adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ seminal novel will probably be disappointed with The Three Musketeers.  This is the umpteenth version in as many years. Director Paul W.S. Anderson is hardly known for his subtlety.  Having helmed the Resident Evil zombie flicks, his over the top style sees the Musketeers saving Paris with swords and guns blazing.  A silly load of old nonsense is entertaining despite this even if fans may gasp at the liberties taken with Dumas’ work.

Young D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) dreams of becoming a Musketeer for the French King.  Meeting three seasoned Musketeers who take him under their wing, they become involved in a plot by the wicked Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz) to start a war with Britain.  Fighting with fine skill against the Cardinal and the dastardly duo Milady de Winter (Milla Jovovich) and the Duke of Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) they have their work cut out in saving France from unending peril.

There have been so many incarnations of The Three Musketeers it seems each succeeding version has tried to out-do the last.   Anderson’s take surely must be the most outrageous as it throws the characters into one swash-buckling dilemma into another.  Wildly deviating from Dumas’ story it doesn’t seem to care for realism and goes full hilt into fantasy territory.  Filled with plenty of derring-do the action is well staged and effectively uses every penny of its mega-budget.

No one will win any acting awards but it is nice seeing stars like Bloom play against type and enjoying themselves.  The greatest aspect is the cinematography which lovingly reveals the amazing French locations in all its glory.  These add a touch of class despite the increasingly frantic carry-on proving scenery can add much to a slice of outrageous hokum.

The Three Musketeers is diverting fluff if one doesn’t take it too seriously.  It sets out to be a grand folly and succeeds.  It probably won’t add much to Anderson’s credibility although one thinks he wouldn’t care as long as the dollars roll in.

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  5

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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