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Business rating: 1/5 star
Star cast: Milla Jovovich, Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Luke Evans, Ray Stevenson, Christoph Waltz, Orlando Bloom, Freddie Fox.
What’s Good: The visual effects and the computer generated scenes; the action sequences; Milla Jovovich’s performance.
What’s Bad: The uninspiring screenplay; the lack of any connection between the audiences and the characters in the film; the comedy in the screenplay that does not always work; a 3D version that does not work.
Verdict: The Three Musketeers is an average fare that will fail to do much at the Indian box-office.
Loo break: A couple in the second half.
Watch or Not?: Watch The Three Musketeers if you are a fan of the story and want to know how it has been told this time around.
Constantin Film and Impact Pictures’ The Three Musketeers is a re-telling of the classic tale of the exploits of three musketeers and a brave young man, who fight the villains in order to protect the French king.
While France is being ruled, in proxy, by Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz), the king’s advisor who has his eye on the throne, the young King Louis (Freddie Fox) is engaged in a fashion-war with his arch rival, the Duke of Buckingham (Orlando Bloom). The Cardinal has disbanded the king’s musketeers and is pushing him to talk peace with England. However, he is also working with the beautiful and tempestuous double-agent, Milady (Milla Jovovich), who is working with both, the Cardinal and the Duke.
The down-and-out musketeers – Athos (Matthew Macfadyen), Aramis (Luke Evans) and Porthos (Ray Stevenson) – get a new lease of life when a young village boy, D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman), arrives in Paris with dreams of becoming a musketeer himself. The musketeers are aware of the truth about Milady, who had earlier stolen a secret blueprint of a flying device by duping them. But they can’t care less as they spend their time drinking and ruing their downfall. However, when they are publicly challenged, the four beat to pulp the Cardinal’s guards – led by Jussac (Carsten Norgaard) and his boss, Rochefort (Mads Mikkelsen).The Cardinal is furious and asks King Louis to punish the musketeers but the Queen (Juno Temple) intervenes and saves them. The four are feted instead. Later, Milady, following Cardinal’s orders, steals the Queen’s necklace and plants it on the visiting Duke of Buckingham, in order to suggest that the French Queen and the Duke are having an affair, something that will eventually lead to a war between the two nations. How the Cardinal’s insidious plan is foiled by the three musketeers and D’Artagnan forms the rest of the story.
The Three Musketeers Review – Script Analysis
The story of The Three Musketeers, based on the novel, Les Trois Mousquetaires by Alexandre Dumas, is one that has been adapted on screen quite a few times before. However, in trying to make this film interesting, the screenplay writers have taken the easy way out. Instead of creating the same story in a better manner, or adding more layers to the drama, they have made the story into a fantasy by including elements like a flying ship, breathtaking stunts, etc. All of that would have been alright if the screenplay (penned by Alex Litvak and Andrew Davies) were interesting throughout and the drama were convincing enough. But while adding to the scale of the story, the writers have given the basic plot a short shrift, which is quite disappointing because the audience can hardly relate to any of the main protagonists, i.e. the musketeers or D’Artagnan. They are instead mesmerised by the wonderful characterisation and exploits of the crafty Milady, who steals the show. Apart from this, neither the heroism nor the villainy of any of the characters is impressive and memorable. Moreover, as the writers have tried to include the element of comedy in most scenes, it is difficult to take the well-choreographed sword-fight sequences seriously. The two romantic tracks (D’Artagnan and Constance, and Athos and Milady) are short-lived and of no consequence. A couple of twists in the plot are unimpressive. By the time the climax comes, the audience is too bored to care much. The dialogues, supposed to be witty most of the times, are average. The musketeers’ slogan, “All for one, one for all”, is mouthed a couple of times but it is done so carelessly that there is no impact of the same.
The Three Musketeers Review – Star Performances
Milla Jovovich is the pick of the lot for her energetic performance and formidable presence in what is otherwise a male-dominated cast. Logan Lerman does well, especially in the action scenes. However, he gets limited scope. Matthew Macfadyen stands out for his believable portrayal of a musketeer. Luke Evans and Ray Stevenson do well in their short roles. Christoph Waltz does a fine job, as always. Orlando Bloom cannot convince the audience as the villain. Freddie Fox does what is required of him. Juno Temple, Gabriella Wilde (as Constance), James Corden (as Planchet), Mads Mikkelsen and Carsten Norgaard Jussac fill the bill.
The Three Musketeers Review – Direction & Music
Director Paul W.S. Anderson manages to mount the movie on a grand scale, using real locations, huge sets and computer graphics to his advantage. He does a good job in this department. However, he fails in making the narrative engaging and unpredictable enough for the audience to look forward to the next scene. Overall, the film is eminently forgettable. Cinematography, by Glen MacPherson, is very good. The visual effects and production values are of a high standard. The 3D version does not hold much value as there aren’t many action scenes which the 3D effect can exploit. Background music (Paul Haslinger) is alright. Editing (Alexander Berner) could have been better.
The Three Musketeers Review – Verdict
On the whole, The Three Musketeers is not entertaining enough to be liked by the Indian audiences, in spite of the scale of the film.
