Every year I set myself a target, usually of about 100, of films to watch. These are new films. Not new, new films. But films that are new to me. Any time I’ve seen a new one, I post a bit of a brain dump of my thoughts on the film here. Enjoy!
The Three Musketeers (06/03/12)
The hot-headed young D’Artagnan along with three former legendary but now down on their luck Musketeers must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.
I remember reading The Three Musketeers by Alexandra Dumas when I was a teenager. I also remembering being mildly obsessed with the 1993 version of the film. Oh and remember Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds? Yep, loved that too. It’s safe to say that The Three Musketeers have been littered throughout my TV and film related history.
I did however miss this one when it was released in the cinema. I blame the complete lack of 2D screenings. I’ve been taking a firmer stand against 3D films.
Watching the beginning of the film, I knew this film was going to take the source material a little… lightly. Suited me fine. I’m open to different interpretations. Including those that involves dogs. Though there were definite similarities with the 1993 version and this version when D’Artagnan first bumps into the Three Musketeers. I liked it.
Swashbuckling is what you’ll call this film. With a bit of steam punk. I enjoyed it. The villains were twirling their moustaches while the good guys were off being heroic and saving damsels in distress. It was a lot of fun. Great action set pieces. That do go way over the top. But why not? Where I wished they’d drawn the line was with the slo-mo. There was no need. It didn’t add anything to the action scenes. No drama, no suspense. Nothing. They could have saved at least 10 minutes by not having the slo-mo in there!
I did spend a lot of the time comparing Christopher Waltz’s Cardinal to Tim Curry’s. (Tim was far more unmistakably evil.) Thought Logan was great as the young D’Artagnan. I was expecting a little more life out of Matthew Mcfadyen’s Athos. He felt a bit subdued.
I knocked a point off this film’s score because of the score. It was just completely underwhelming. I was expecting a huge big orchestral score with a solid theme. What I got instead was hints of Hans Zimmers’ Sherlock Holmes and Pirates of the Caribbean scores. It had no identity of its own. Which I thought was a huge shame.
Overall, a great action/adventure film. Not to be taking seriously. Well, the airships make sure of that. But just to watch and enjoy and have a few laughs. Good work.
Rating: 3/5
Read on to see all the films watched this year…
18 Films so far this year
- The Tourist 1/5 (02/01/12)
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo 5/5 (03/01/12)
- World’s Greatest Dad 2/5 (14/01/12)
- Haywire 3/5 (19/01/12)
- Dead Snow 3/5 (20/01/12)
- The Artist 5/5 (21/01/12)
- Priest 2/5 (05/02/12)
- The Muppets 5/5 (15/02/12)
- Faster 4/5 (19/02/12)
- Chronicle 4/5 (22/02/12)
- Safe House 4/5 (24/02/12)
- Reservoir Dogs 4/5 (25/02/12)
- This Means War 4/5 (02/03/12)
- The Royal Tenenbaums 3/5 (03/03/12)
- Reign of Fire 3/5 (04/03/12)
- Dear John 2/5 (04/03/12)
- Road to Perdition 5/5 (05/03/12)
- The Three Musketeers 3/5 (06/03/12)
Great to read you enjoyed it as well. I actually didn’t notice the slow motion and what the score sounded like. Somehow I don’t pick up on those things much when I’m watching movies (I probably should)….
I think I only pick up on things like that when some other part of the film just isn’t doing it for me.
I had been very excited to see this film when I originally saw the trailer, and then it got a lot of heat and I lost interest. I would be curious to see it at some point (I do have a minor obsession with Orlando Bloom). Who did the score? Was it Hans Zimmer? I’m always disappointed when the score fails to be good.
Nope, Paul Haslinger, but he’s borrowed heavily from Zimmer in my opinion. So disappointed in the score. It could have been amazing! No, should have been.
I thought it was a fun little movie. Orlando Bloom does tend to chomp at the scenery whenever he’s around though!
pretty solid thoughts on the film. Can’t argue with you. didn’t enjoy it that much. As a matter of fact, I remember almost dozing off. Orlando Bloom’s hair needed it’s own zip code! haha.
A problem for me was watching it with Tim Curry in mind. His Cardinal is always memorable.
On to 100 movies!!
Orlando Bloom’s hair was kinda epic! I didn’t give it the credit it deserved!
Tim Curry made for an amazing Cardinal. He was that moustache twirling sort of evil that you could get behind.