|
|
Rating:  - Classic Musketeers
This is probably the 2 best versions of the movie versions of the 3 Musketeers. Michael York, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay and Oliver Reed are amazing as the Musketeers. The story centers on young D'artagnon played by York who travels to Paris to become a Musketeer but ends up in one misadventure after another. Charlton Heston plays Cardinal Richelieu, the most powerful man in France that is trying to replace the King as absolute ruler by scheming and plotting against him and the Queen. Christopher Lee stars as Rochforte and Faye Dunaway as Milady Dewinter play the Cardinal's henchmen and assassins to humorous delight. The 3 Musketeers centers on the Queen's secret love affair with the Duke of Ellinton with the Musketeers trying to foil the Cardinal's plans to ruin the Queen's reputation. The 4 Musketeers deals with the revenge of Milady who is trying to kill D'artagnon and his mistress Constance played by the gorgeous Raquel Welch. If you're a fan of adventure with alot of comedy then you'll love these 2 movies from the novel of Alexander Dumas. Enjoy!
Rating:  - Too much fun!
I loved the first of these two movies when I first saw it as a kid. One of my favorites. Strangely, though completely familiar with the story of the second movie, I never actually saw it through until I bought this set. Although I have seen the first many times over the years, I never realized how much I loved this telling of Alexander Dumas' tale. This is definitely the best. From the realistic and slapstick-like fight scenes (brawling really) to Ms. Welch's best role ever these movies are one great adventure. Not the best of movies, they are not meant to be, but great fun. I'm a silly guy so I highly recommend this set.
Rating: - Great movies, but something is missing...
I'll tell you what's missing. "The Return of the Musketeers" is missing! Anyone know about it? The discovery was belated for me. More on that in a few paragraphs.
These two movies are riveting. The drama is intriguing, the action fun, funny, and true to life. The music by Michel Legrand is astounding (I bought the Three Musketeers soundtrack right after I saw the movie in the theater when it was first released). The costumes, cinematography and direction were more than spot-on. They were inspired!
This is the most accurate representation of Alexandre Dumas' novel I have ever seen. No corners were cut, no important detail was lost. Every actor was perfection of casting and both exquisite and entertaining in their performances. If you have not seen these two movies, YOU MUST! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOUR TASTES ARE. THIS CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH.
So why am I giving the collection four stars instead of five? Because the collection is incomplete. "The Return of the Musketeers" should be included in this movie set, and it's a travesty that it was passed. Even worse, it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. It was released in 1989, and tells a sequel story with the same actors as the first two movies above. The aging musketeers are just as entertaining as before.
Despite the omission, this collection is definitely worth the price to see and to have available for future viewings.
(Please, help get the word around to add the third movie to the ba-zillions of available movie titles in the universe!)
Rating: - Outstanding adventure films!
I remember when this version of "The Three Musketeers" was due to be released in the 70's...it was promoted as being more realistic in the atmosphere, attire and weaponry use of the time depicted. It hits square on in all these areas! The more gritty atmosphere (along with the dirt and sweat!)is more realistic than the polished squeaky clean appearance of the actors in the earlier Three Musketeer movies. The use of daggers along with the swords in the fighting sequences and the physical exertion in the swordplay is also more accurately depicted. Oliver Reed, Michael York, Charleton Heston, Christopher Lee, Richard Chamberlain, Faye Dunaway, Raquel Welch...what a cast!!! a truly outstanding adventure/action film, a true classic! So much superior to the remake with Charlie Sheen and Keifer Sutherland. Get this set as the inclusion of The Four Musketeers makes it perfect! Five stars++++++!
Rating: - Influence on Star Wars?
Everything about these two movies is first rate. The production, direction, script, and performances deserve high praise. The music and locations are excellent.
These movies are a template for future adventure stores. They perfectly mix action, suspense, humor, and romance.
I think the producers intended to make two movies all along. They had a single script and must have known the relationship between script length and movie length. The two movies sometimes have parallel scenes. For example, in both movies the musketeers have meals under unusal circumstances. There are sword fights in unusual environments. The first movie has a sword fight at night in the woods. The combatants can barely see each other. The second movie has a sword fight on ice. The duelists often fall down. These scenes would have been redundant in a single, epic length picture.
The musketeers seem to have influenced the initial Star Wars movies:
1. D'Artagnon is a young man from the provinces who becomes the center of major events. Luke Skywalker is a young man from an outlier planet who becomes the center of major events.
2. The musketeers fight duels with swords. Star Wars uses light sabres.
3. In The Four Musketeers, D'Artagnon's hand is badly cut in a duel. In The Empire Strikes back, Luke loses a hand.
4. The musketeers mentor D'Artagnon. Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda mentor Luke.
5. The Four Musketeers identifies a past relationship between two enemies. Ditto for The Empire Strikes Back.
6. The Three Musketeers ends with the king and queen presiding over a ceremony where D'Artagnons receives awards. Star Wars ends with the princess presiding over a ceremony where Luke and his colleagues receive awards.
7. The Four Musketeers is more serious than The Three Musketeers. The Empire Strikes Back is more serious than Star Wars.
What did George Lucas think of the musketeers?
|
|