DVD

The Three Musketeers

$10.49

User Reviews about The Three Musketeers

I know I'll get panned for going against the pack, but if you are a fan of the 1974 version of The Three Musketeers, you will not like this one. The costumes look like they just came from the costume department, the hair styles look like they just came from hair-and-makeup, the accents and dialogue are right off the streets of LA, the story has been butchered from the original by Alexandre Dumas, the scenes are full of idiotic business (as opposed to the clever action of the 1974 version), the acting is mediocre (none of these actors hold a candle to the '74 cast), etc. The worst insult of all is that Dumas' novel is an historical novel, based on actual people and events; but NOTHING in this film has ANYTHING to do with history. The thing is, no one cares anymore. No one cares if a great novel is butchered, or if a great film is forgotten in order to make room for a truly mediocre one. No one cares about details, facts or nuance. The anachronisms in this film would fill a book. I don't know, I just believe that if you're going to do something, you ought to do it well; not force a great narrative into a Hollywood story formula, and expect the actors to act like their doing great work. It breaks my heart that movie-making has gotten to this, and that American audiences don't care. There was a time when they did, but no more. So if all you want is something to watch while you munch your popcorn, then go ahead and enjoy this. But if you want to see Alexandre Dumas' novel come to life, watch the 1974 version, plus the 1975 followup, The Four Musketeers, which was filmed at the same time.

By the way: people always criticized the 1948 Gene Kelly version for its slick Hollywood handling of the story. Well, this 1993 version is just as slick and just as bad for the same reasons. After you watch the 1974 version, watch the 1948 version and see if you can tell why these two films are both inferior to the 1974 version. Compare Richard Chamberlain's elegant Aramis, Oliver Reed's Athos, Charlton Heston's Richelieu, Faye Dunaway's Milady de Winter, Jean-Pierre Cassel's Louis XIII, Michael York's D'Artagnan, Christopher Lee's Rochefort, Simon Ward's Duke of Buckingham (who didn't even appear in the 1993 version) - even Raquel Welch's Constance. Compare the costumes and sets, which were really authentic and made you feel like you were actually in that period. Compare the action and the business, which were really very clever. Compare the humor, which the 1993 version copied from the 1974 one. Compare everything. There's just no comparison.

Waitsel Smith -- LACKS THE GRIT AND INTELLIGENCE OF 1974 VERSION

This well written script is complemented by solid direction and brought to life by casting star quality actors, aptly portraying life in France during the 1600's with humor, action and even a moment of dramatic love and loss. A step above most of the Musketeer movies, in my opinion comparable to "A Knight's Tale" with Heath Ledger in quality. -- Better than usual Swashbuckler...

The ease of ordering this DVD and receiving it was simple. A few clicks and you can sit back and relax because it is on its way. It can't get any easier. -- DVD Purchase