Rating: Summary: The SPIRIT of Dumas' musketeers is alive and well Review: As I read the book I realized that the casting on this movie was superb even if the story line leaves that of the book's after the initial duel and the entire plot line would make only one chapter in the original book. This is still a great movie even if it doesn't follow the book beyond the names. I have watched this countless times and will watch it many more. I still laugh at the jokes and get tense with the suspense. D'Artagnan has come to Paris to join the musketeers but when he gets to Paris, he finds that the musketeers have just been disbanded by the Cardinal under approval from the Regent King (although the King disapproves of the timing and manner). He quickly runs afoul of Athos, Porthos and Aramis and has duels scheduled with each an hour apart at the old convent. Just as the swords are crossed, the Cardinal's men appear to arrest them and d'Artagnan makes a stand with the three musketeers thereby not only making him an outlaw but making a favorable impression with his new comrades who recognize his father's name as a valiant musketeer that died in service to the king. From there on, the movie bears absolutely no resemblance to the book (and d'Artagnan's father was not dead or a musketeer). When d'Artagnan is arrested and interrogated about the whereabouts of the three musketeers, he overhears plans of the Cardinal's to send a secret treaty to the Duke of Buckingham ("who rules England the way the Cardinal rules France") in an attempt to overthrow the King's rule and claim the crown for himself. Rescued from the chopping block by the three musketeers, they immediately give chase to the Cardinal's messenger as his henchmen all over the country pursue them to claim the reward for their capture. It is a thrilling, action packed chase with a wonderful climax and lots of great zingers from Porthos. I honestly do not think any other actors alive could have pulled off these characters as well as Keifer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Oliver Platt. The spirit of Dumas' musketeers is alive and well with these four. Charlie Sheen is excellent as the dark eyed and dreamily romantic Aramis with a fervor for religion. Keifer Sutherland's reserved air is perfect for the noble and quiet Athos. Oliver Platt is exactly what and how I picture Porthos. Both men and women will love this movie for the perfect mix of adventure and romance. Long live the musketeers!!
Rating: Summary: Festive Musketeers Review: Alexandre Dumas may or may have not liked the Disney version of his story, but your whole family should. This often remade classic is more comedic in this version. I personally liked it. But then I have liked most versions in their style. The 1973 version with Oliver Reed as Athos and this version with Keifer Sutherland as Athos stand out above the rest in my humble opinion. The 1973 version for the drama and this one for the comedy. Tim Curry is marvelous as Cardinal Richelieu. He is so borderline outrageously lecherous you think he is going to burst out laughing like a madman or go into song from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". He never plays the piety like Charlton Heston did in the 1973 version. He goes more for the deviousness of an outright power mad religious leader. The entire cast is great. With Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell, Oliver Platt, and Rebecca DeMornay how could it be anything but well acted. I would bet the entire cast had a great time filming this version. The dramatic parts with DeMornay as Lady DeWinter are quite touching and the comedic parts with Porthos the Pirate, played by Platt, are quite funny. I was impressed with Stephen Herek's direction. Disney did a great job of transferring this movie to DVD. The DVD picture and sound quality is first class. The DVD includes a featurette, theatrical trailers, and Bios. Well worth adding to your collection of movies like "The Princess Bride", "Ever After", and "Robin Hood".
Rating: Summary: Too dreadful to even be enjoyed as "fluff" Review: A simply terrible, limp, half-hearted, "joke-y" remake of The Three Musketeers that simply did not need to be remade. There is an excellent version by Richard Lester (with Raquel Welch, Oliver Reed etc.) which is not dated at all and has wonderful performances and equisite sets and costumes...it is also extremely funny. So the only motivation here must have been the BUCKS...a remake with Brat Packer stars like Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen. The script is wretched and the jokes stale, TV-type and not very funny. Completely out of period and needless to say unfaithful in the extreme to the spirit of the book. It isn't often you need to specifically mention BAD COSTUMES as ruining a film....either they are splendid (as in Lester's Three/Four Musketeers) or not worth mentioning at all. Here one simply has to mention how awful they are! They don't look the least bit authentic, and the female characters are clearly dressed in clothes from another century, and not the 17th either. Polyester positively gleams and many characters are in clothing that is obviously the wrong size. The only thing I could guess is that the producers were unwilling to make a full complement of period costumes for a movie with such a big cast, and raided some cheap-o wardrobe rental place for items. Even the female leads look cheaply dressed and tacky. Anything good at all to say? Michael Wincott (Rochefort) and Rebecca DeMornary were clearly not warned that this was a frivolous silly project, so they actually ACT and turn in sincere performances that would have worked well in a REAL movie. This despite appalling costumes and hairdoes -- Wincott in glitter and DeMornay with a beehive hairdo that has to be see to be believed. Everybody else clearly got that this was a big joke and made off with their paychecks. Tim Curry chews the scenery like a rapid dog and everybody else seems half asleep. If you have the faintest self-respect and enjoyment of the The Three Musketeers, rent the 70s Lester version. Leave this one on the shelf.
Rating: Summary: All for one Review: By far the best Mustketeer movie I've seen, and I've seen them all. None of the others compare. Loved the action, comedy and adventure. Have watched it over and over again. Great family move. A must see for everyone.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining stab at familiar story by Disney! Review: This is at least the seventh film version I have seen of the "The Three Musketeers" and there have been more in the years since it was made (1993). As such I don't think it pays to compare it to the much better and much worse films made over the years. Disney did a nice job updating this film for its intended audience. Although the acting doesn't compare to Richard Lesters version it wasn't bad either. Rebecca Demorney is especially good gracing the film with her cool beauty. Chris O'Donnell was a little to over the top in a few scenes, but he was the cute teen idol of the day and his natural charm is hard to dislike. I also disagree with the reviewer who thought the King and Queen were to young and inexperienced. They made an adorable couple and Julie Delpy as the lady in waiting was an unexpected bonus. The beautiful shooting locations of Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna and the forts in Germany add considerably to the cinematography. Overall a very nice effort along with a great song by Bryan Adams, Sting, and Rod Stewart. The DVD is fine as far as it goes. The music video for "All for Love" is included. The "featurette" highlights some of the key points of the film, but I was left wondering why the films trailer wasn't also included, or at least a TV spot/commercial for the film? Also, while the widescreen is my preferred format, considering how short the film is, I was surprised the fullscreen edition wasn't included as well. A running commentary or some interviews would have rounded out this release better, but considering the reasonable price (especially for Disney) its still a good deal.
Rating: Summary: Inaccurate but Hilarious Review: Warning: If you are interested in historical accuracy, this is not the film for you. Then again, with the proliferation of "Knights" movies that clearly have nothing at all to do with historical England, France, or anywhere else - any time else - historical accuracy clearly isn't everything. This movie is absolutely hilarious. The script is littered with one-liners and recurring theme-gags; the Three Musketeers take almost nothing seriously and D'Artagnion follows right along with them. The scenery is lush and varied and detailed, and Tim Curry as Cardinal Richelieu - well, what can one say? The sword-work is flashy, television-style swashbuckling, but then, so is the movie itself! "Champagne?" "We're in the middle of a chase, Porthos!" "You're right. Something red." Never mind that the "drinking age" even today in France is lower than D'Artagnion's probable age, and that there was no such thing as a "legal drinking age" in France - or anywhere - at the time. That's not the point. I thoroughly enjoy this movie for what it is - a piece of fiction concerning figures with vaguely familiar historical names.
Rating: Summary: It's so bad it's good Review: what happens when you mix charlie sheen, keefer sutherland, chris o'donell and tim curry together? one strange coctail party. But add swords and abunch of funny hats adorned with large feathers and you've got a film that has no depth to it at all and you can enjoy with the whole family. The Three Musketeers staring charlie sheen may be one of the most rediculously corny/historically inacurate movies ever made. But that's not to say it was bad... okay maybe it was but it was one of those movies that you watch when you don't want to think to hard about plot line and still want to see a bit of action. i would have given this movie only three stars for the guy who says 'don't lose your head' when the d'artagnon is about to be beheaded BUT Tim Curry was in it, and he tries so hard so i had to give it four stars... hahaha... tim curry as a cardinal, still makes me laugh. all in all a good movie to watch with kids 8-11 beause there are some a parts that would be pretty scary... or by yourself when your feeling goofy...
Rating: Summary: Hilarious Review: This movie is only good if you want to see how hilarious the plot line, script, dialogues, and action scenes are. This "Americanized" France is absurd to begin with....I thought movies for children were supposed to educate, and not to encourage complete and utter ignorance of other cultures and especially about a masterpiece of literature. This movie is an insult to Dumas' work......if you really liked this movie you surely NEVER read the novel and probably do not read much at all, except Cosmo and Vogue of course....
Rating: Summary: Great Mix of Comedy and Sword Play Review: This is a really great movie to get the funny bone going full blast. Out of all of the "Three Musketeers" movies this one is far and away the best.
Rating: Summary: This movie was not based on Alexander Dumas's novel Review: but on somebody else's story who used Dumas's characters from The Three Musketeers. The story is completely different from the book, many characters play absolutely different roles. Why? Oh yeah, so it would be "ok" for American children to watch. Just make another Peter Pan movie, don't screw one of the greatest classics!!
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