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Rating:  - Great movie
wasn't the one i was looking for when buying the dvd, but its was worth it, shame there only two to this set, i rather enjoy watching it and highly recomend for those who enjoy a musketeer movie.
Rating:  - More Action, Less Plot - But Still Good
It's hard to say anything unkind about 'The 4 Musketeers', which I just saw and liked, though i'd say the first one ended more satisfactorily. 'The 3 Musketeers' could pretty much stand on it's own without the continuation of the saga, yet that saga does continue in part 2, 'The 4 Musketeers', in the same manner of elegance, 'Pythonesque' undertones, and dirty, yet chivalrous, brawling. If I had to criticize though, I'd say there seemed to be more fight sequences and less story in this one, or maybe just the story had not as many interesting elements as the first one. This time Raquel Welch (Constance) has been captured, while Faye Dunaway is dead set on having the her, D'Artagnon, and the king of England assassinated with the bishop's silent approval. Heston continues to do a great job as the bishop - I don't think I've seen him in a more likeable role than this (no kidding). He's multi-layered and subtle in his villainy - something I haven't come across in his acting in the few movies I've seen him in (where he usually just plays a macho guy). Raquelle Welch is less prominent than in the first, while Faye Dunaway spends much more time on screen - she does an incredible job as a steely hearted snake-woman in the service of 'the state' and her own private vendattas.
As for the dvd, it's a real shame there are no English subtitles. I should mention my dvd is a Japanese zone 2 version, which has subtitles in other languages, but not English. I find subtitles really bring the script out (and the story) especially in a movie like this where antiquated British English being muttered or spoken quickly gets muddled, and I find myself having to concentrate harder than I would if the words were there in front of me, i.e. subtitles - this movie, of any, should have them - even for native speakers!
'The 4 Musketeers' was a good movie and I had to see it after enjoying the first one so much. Still, part of the charm of the first one, and with more comic effect, was that D'Artagnan had to prove himself one of the musketeers - as being more than just a country oaf, that he was in fact a true swordsman with all the dignity and sense of 'honor' that was required (which was so perfectly taken to ridiculous proportions in the 'The 3 Musketeers'). As this has already been established when 'The 4 Musketeers' begins, what we are left with is a helluva lot of fight scenes which, while not bad (one in particular reminded me of Monty Python's 'the Holy Grail') also don't carry as much interest as the content of 'The 3 Musketeers'. All the characters are still their same likeable selves which will be fun for any fan of the first to see, but expect less than what you got in the first and you'll probably have more fun with this one. Of the two, 'The 4 Musketeers' is slightly darker, with Faye Dunaway's venomous intentions guiding much of the action and forming the plot.
Rating: - An Anchor Bay triumph!
Any fan of the Richard Lester version of the Musketeers needs this collection. I used to own the USA videotape version of these, and I remember the print of the VHS version being so dark in certain scenes as to be unwatchable.
Not the Anchor Bay set! Not only are the movies complete, you can't beat widescreen and restored!
Rating:  - The Complete Musketeers (The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers)
I have enjoyed some parts of these two DVD's, but it had some "let down" parts. I found that the standard of the way it was directed and many of the details as well as the fencing and the tricks of the actors were not quite up to the standard of the famous version that had Gene Kelly in it,that kept you entertained for the entire movie.
Rating: - "Impossible, Unthinkable, Unlikely ~ You're Going To Be A Musketeer"
Much like the first three `Star Wars' films or the more recent `Lord of the Rings' and `Harry Potter' films, the '74 movies `The Three Musketeers' and `The Four Musketeers' are one continuous tale told in two parts. Boasting an all-star cast and solid production values the Dumas classic is approached with a heavy dose of wit, clever dialogue and comedic situations that mix well with the on-going court intrigue of the French Court and the expected daring-do of the legendary musketeers.
If that isn't enough to capture you're complete and undivided attention cast your eyes on the demure and buxom Constance (Raquel Welch) and I think you'll be good for the remainder of the evening.
My Rating: -4 1/2 Stars-.
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