Well, first allow me to say that I was over all very pleased with the movie.
As a fencer, I greatly enjoyed the foil - like duels between the Musketeers and the Guards, contrary to the rough and undisciplined swordfights in the 1973 version. However, a lot of times when one of the musketeers was engaged with more than one person, he'd parry 4 & 6 the entire time (meaning he defended his upper body) Why didn't one of the guards lunge to 7 or 8 (the lower body)? D'Artagnan and Jussac's duel was great! There were many fencing moves used such as the Disengage and the Coupe'. The only movies I've seen with this Calbre of fencing could be the old version of Cyranno de Bergerac, and The Mark of Zorro.
As far as plot and story line goes, I am glad that I've read this book 3 times because otherwise it would have been hard to follow. After the diamond studs affair, women, war, and the troubled past of Athos hit the viewer all at once. Someone watching this movie and knowing nothing of Dumas' classic charaters might find this just a touch overwhelming. I was however pleasantly suprised to find that D'Artagnan's affairs with Kitty and her mistress Milady were laid out in similar fashion to the book, something I thought too complicated for the length of time devoted to this subplot. The attention to detail was very good over all, however, why did they make Athos a Baron, he was a Count!! It just doesn't make sense to portray the story as accurately as they did and then change Athos' title. There were some parts of the book such as Buckingham's assassination that were modified to be less complicated, and the sword was drawn far more than in the book, but I was still happy with the movie. Once again, Lord de Winter, brother of Milady's 2nd husband, Athos being the first, is omitted from the story, howerver, adding another main character to this story may have bogged it down too much even for my taste. But it at least explains how and why Charlotte Brackston has assumed the name of Lady de Winter.
The players: D'Artagnan, a little annoying, but a brilliant and elegant sword.
Athos, moody, depressed, and a cavalier all the way. He was possibly better than Oliver Reed in the 1973 version.
Porthos did not get much time, but was still enjoyable. His appearance and build was perfect for the role, too bad they didn't give him more of a lead than they did.
Aramis, they showed his fickle view on life well. Provided that his mistress would write, he was a man of the world. When he despaired that she no longer loved him, he was ready to enter the church.
Richeleau, Vincent Price is the best Cardinal I've seen, even better than Heston.
Milady, too much like the book! (that's a GOOD thing) Lana Turner was excellent. Far better than the too-old-to-play-the-part Faye Dunnaway.
Constance, I liked her, she was certainly pretty enough. -- but in the book, she was the landlord's husband!
Rochefort, um.... was he in this one more than 1 scene?
Buckingham, the 1973 version is far better.
Anne, Angela Lansbury would have make a very good queen, had her character been given more screen time.
Louis XIII, the 1921 and 1973 versions had much better kings. The 1921 version's Louis was very strong, while the 1973's was a nitt witt and fop.
Over all, I really liked this version of the story, and consider it to be the best version I've ever scene. Some people have commented on its depressing side, but I liked that. If you ever end up reading all 5 books on the Musketeers, you will find that the other books have that depressing aspect as Athos watches his son be ruined by love. Happy reading!
As a fencer, I greatly enjoyed the foil - like duels between the Musketeers and the Guards, contrary to the rough and undisciplined swordfights in the 1973 version. However, a lot of times when one of the musketeers was engaged with more than one person, he'd parry 4 & 6 the entire time (meaning he defended his upper body) Why didn't one of the guards lunge to 7 or 8 (the lower body)? D'Artagnan and Jussac's duel was great! There were many fencing moves used such as the Disengage and the Coupe'. The only movies I've seen with this Calbre of fencing could be the old version of Cyranno de Bergerac, and The Mark of Zorro.
As far as plot and story line goes, I am glad that I've read this book 3 times because otherwise it would have been hard to follow. After the diamond studs affair, women, war, and the troubled past of Athos hit the viewer all at once. Someone watching this movie and knowing nothing of Dumas' classic charaters might find this just a touch overwhelming. I was however pleasantly suprised to find that D'Artagnan's affairs with Kitty and her mistress Milady were laid out in similar fashion to the book, something I thought too complicated for the length of time devoted to this subplot. The attention to detail was very good over all, however, why did they make Athos a Baron, he was a Count!! It just doesn't make sense to portray the story as accurately as they did and then change Athos' title. There were some parts of the book such as Buckingham's assassination that were modified to be less complicated, and the sword was drawn far more than in the book, but I was still happy with the movie. Once again, Lord de Winter, brother of Milady's 2nd husband, Athos being the first, is omitted from the story, howerver, adding another main character to this story may have bogged it down too much even for my taste. But it at least explains how and why Charlotte Brackston has assumed the name of Lady de Winter.
The players: D'Artagnan, a little annoying, but a brilliant and elegant sword.
Athos, moody, depressed, and a cavalier all the way. He was possibly better than Oliver Reed in the 1973 version.
Porthos did not get much time, but was still enjoyable. His appearance and build was perfect for the role, too bad they didn't give him more of a lead than they did.
Aramis, they showed his fickle view on life well. Provided that his mistress would write, he was a man of the world. When he despaired that she no longer loved him, he was ready to enter the church.
Richeleau, Vincent Price is the best Cardinal I've seen, even better than Heston.
Milady, too much like the book! (that's a GOOD thing) Lana Turner was excellent. Far better than the too-old-to-play-the-part Faye Dunnaway.
Constance, I liked her, she was certainly pretty enough. -- but in the book, she was the landlord's husband!
Rochefort, um.... was he in this one more than 1 scene?
Buckingham, the 1973 version is far better.
Anne, Angela Lansbury would have make a very good queen, had her character been given more screen time.
Louis XIII, the 1921 and 1973 versions had much better kings. The 1921 version's Louis was very strong, while the 1973's was a nitt witt and fop.
Over all, I really liked this version of the story, and consider it to be the best version I've ever scene. Some people have commented on its depressing side, but I liked that. If you ever end up reading all 5 books on the Musketeers, you will find that the other books have that depressing aspect as Athos watches his son be ruined by love. Happy reading!