Filmography: The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers (1994) is a good film. When it first came out, I went to see it at the cinema (the lovley little one in Maghull that closed down *sob*) a few times, and then won the video in a competition before it was on release. So, you see, I have a history with this film. I hadn't seen it for several years before last night though, so now I'm in a position to give an objective review.
This is a film that's very much in the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves tradition - European in mythos and American in accent. You may know how much I love said version of Robin Hood, so you'll understand that I don't regard this type of movie as transgressing the boundaries of good taste ;) In fact, I'm rather fond of the American-brand moralising you get with this sort of production (similar to that in Herc/Xena really), and particularly approve of the focus on action *and* characterisation.
The actors chosen are to some extent typical of their time but a bit weird - Brat Packers Charlie Sheen as sexy but moral Aramis (once the sole object of my affections, and I can still sort of see what I saw in him) and Kiefer Sutherland as moody Athos, funny guy Oliver Platt as Porthos the Pirate, Chris O'Donnell as the idealistic young D'artagnan, Tom Curry as an Alan Rickman style baddie Cardinal, Michael Wincot (oh, where did he go? he was the perfect baddie in the 90s) as his gravelly voiced evil deputy Rochefort, Rebecca de Mornay as a man-eating Milady with a touch of pathos, Gabrielle Anwar as the beautiful young queen wanting true love with her pointy-nosed husband (unknown actor guy), Julie Delpy as D'artagnan's love interest and Paul McGann in two roles (squeaky-voiced brother of too-much-loved sister and head of some guard).
Everyone plays their role with verve and gusto and all of those things. Sheen is dashing (in the same sort of way he was in Hot Shots) but detached, and having Aramis as a failed priest who's fallen out with the Cardinal gives him a different kind of depth. Sutherland is truly smouldering (I've never seen him before or since look *sexy* in a role) and turns in a nice drunken, serious performance. Best of the lot is Platt as Porthos, since he has all the best lines and bits of action (looking at it now, I'm more likely to fancy him than the others - I'm not sure if this means I've grown up or not...).
One of the best things, and this makes another Robin Hood parallel, is the song at the end - the wonderful All For Love (Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting). I sang along, yay :)
Now then, since there's little more I can say in a critical way, roll on the quotes...
Richlieu (to Rochefort): Don't let your having only one eye impair your vision.
Richlieu: All for one and more for me!
Porthos (to Rochefort): Isn't that a smelly kind of cheese?
In a stolen carriage found to contain the Cardinal's wine and money, being pursued by guards.
Porthos: Shall we open a white?
Athos: Porthos, we're in the middle of a chase!
Porthos: You're right, definitely a red.
I could go on, but these are the best :)
This is a film that's very much in the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves tradition - European in mythos and American in accent. You may know how much I love said version of Robin Hood, so you'll understand that I don't regard this type of movie as transgressing the boundaries of good taste ;) In fact, I'm rather fond of the American-brand moralising you get with this sort of production (similar to that in Herc/Xena really), and particularly approve of the focus on action *and* characterisation.
The actors chosen are to some extent typical of their time but a bit weird - Brat Packers Charlie Sheen as sexy but moral Aramis (once the sole object of my affections, and I can still sort of see what I saw in him) and Kiefer Sutherland as moody Athos, funny guy Oliver Platt as Porthos the Pirate, Chris O'Donnell as the idealistic young D'artagnan, Tom Curry as an Alan Rickman style baddie Cardinal, Michael Wincot (oh, where did he go? he was the perfect baddie in the 90s) as his gravelly voiced evil deputy Rochefort, Rebecca de Mornay as a man-eating Milady with a touch of pathos, Gabrielle Anwar as the beautiful young queen wanting true love with her pointy-nosed husband (unknown actor guy), Julie Delpy as D'artagnan's love interest and Paul McGann in two roles (squeaky-voiced brother of too-much-loved sister and head of some guard).
Everyone plays their role with verve and gusto and all of those things. Sheen is dashing (in the same sort of way he was in Hot Shots) but detached, and having Aramis as a failed priest who's fallen out with the Cardinal gives him a different kind of depth. Sutherland is truly smouldering (I've never seen him before or since look *sexy* in a role) and turns in a nice drunken, serious performance. Best of the lot is Platt as Porthos, since he has all the best lines and bits of action (looking at it now, I'm more likely to fancy him than the others - I'm not sure if this means I've grown up or not...).
One of the best things, and this makes another Robin Hood parallel, is the song at the end - the wonderful All For Love (Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting). I sang along, yay :)
Now then, since there's little more I can say in a critical way, roll on the quotes...
Richlieu (to Rochefort): Don't let your having only one eye impair your vision.
Richlieu: All for one and more for me!
Porthos (to Rochefort): Isn't that a smelly kind of cheese?
In a stolen carriage found to contain the Cardinal's wine and money, being pursued by guards.
Porthos: Shall we open a white?
Athos: Porthos, we're in the middle of a chase!
Porthos: You're right, definitely a red.
I could go on, but these are the best :)