The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan

A disappointing movie. Like some others here, I was looking forward to a film which finally does justice to the source material - one of the greatest swashbuckling tales of all time. This, alas, doesn't. There are some very good things. The feel is very authentic. Some of the set pieces eg. The Buckingham ball, the marriage of the King's brother, are stunning. Some of France's best acting talent is on display although I think Cassel and Duris are miscast. They don't do it for me. Matters aren't helped by some of the worst subtitles I've ever seen. Really bad. In summary, worth a watch but nowhere near as exciting as it should have been. It seems we have another part to come. Perhaps they'll hit their stride in that one.

"D'Artagnan" is a captivating historical adventure that transports readers to 17th century France. This classic novel weaves together action, romance, and political intrigue in a fast-paced and thrilling narrative. The characters, particularly the charismatic musketeer D'Artagnan, are well-developed and relatable, while the camaraderie among the musketeers adds depth and heart to the story. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engaged until the very end. With its vivid descriptions and evocative language, "D'Artagnan" immerses readers in a world of opulence, danger, and honor. It's a must-read for fans of historical fiction and swashbuckling tales, offering an exciting and enjoyable reading experience.

Acting is good, cinematography is very good and the set is beautiful and realistic. Outfits are great and you do get a good feeling about the time the story is happening. The narrative is a bit broken, they try to go deep in some areas but fail so things remain left like suspended mid air. The main plot is vague and many things happen at the same time, you don't get lost, but it lacks purpose in some way, plus very slow pace it gets boring. I'm not a hard core Dumas fan but I do remember musketeers where young like D' Artagnan and this dude's are old. Didn't bother me but being a book adaptation feels wrong.

"Les trois mousquetaires: D'Artagnan" is an excellently made film, the cast gives first-rate performances especially François Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmaï, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Vicky Krieps and Lyna Khoudri. The adaptation of the script is sublime, the soundtrack is tremendous, the costume design is superb, and the cinematography is beautiful, managing to be a delight visual. This adaptation of the classic story manages to entertain during its duration and especially for its production, the script offers classic moments and adds others that are new, giving a story full of action and adventure. A film that deserves only praise.

If you have seen any previous Three Musketeers movie then you know the story. Is this version worth your time? In my opinion yes. A good tight script with some excellent characters and superb performances. The humour is not as "in your face" as some of the Hollywood versions but there are definitely laughs in here and there is a degree of subtlety which I appreciated The fight scenes have benefited from some "Bournesque" stylising but, and I hesitate to write this, everything is somewhat bloodless. I don't know if there is a deliberate attempt to keep the gore to a minimum for certification purposes but some more blood and guts would have complemented the style. Given the overall look and tone of the movie a bit more adult consideration of the violence would be appreciated. The colour palette of the film is very much earth tones and dark throughout. My word is it dark. Watching this on a TV when it is eventually released is going to be a challenge. Reflections rule. All in all, worth seeing in the cinema and I look forward to part 2.