What a pleasant surprise this was. A few weeks
ago, I had read about this film and wanted to see it badly - I am a big fan
of the Musketeers - but was unable to find it on the Internet. But lo and
behold it showed up in Bangkok this week in a few theaters. That is more
amazing than it might sound because 99% of the films shown here are American
or Thai. I can't think of the last French film. On occasion, there is something
from Korea or Hong Kong but always dubbed in Thai and there is a splattering
of Japanese anime or teenage romances. But the Musketeers who I would guess
are unknown to nearly every Thai is a small miracle. Maybe that is my superpower
- wishing films to come here.
And it was great. Perhaps the best Musketeer film ever with only Mickey,
Donald and Goofy: The Three Musketeers coming close. It is intense from the
first scene to the last with only a few quick timeouts for flirting between
d'Artagnan and Constance, the Queen's maid and messenger. The action is ferocious
and chaotic, a swirl of movement, a clashing of swords, musket fire and death.
And it feels fairly authentic. The sets are perfect, the crowd scenes are
done well and nearly everything outside of the Palace is grubby and filthy
including the Musketeers. They all look desperately in need of a bath and
their clothes a good wash. And they speak French! It makes a difference hearing
the Musketeers in their native language. What takes some getting used to
is the lighting. I would guess that it is nearly all natural with candles
and dabs of light through the windows making all the indoor scenes dim and
murky. And whether planned or not, the outdoor scenes are not much better
with the weather always overcast and a mist in the air. I can't recall if
the sun ever came out.
This is the first of two-parts ending with the kidnapping of Constance and
the King's declaration of war against the Protestants. As no doubt you know
the Musketeers of Dumas go on to many further adventures after the one which
we are familiar with and which nearly all the films are based on. I wish
there were many more parts to cover their lives - a French Star Wars. Part
II is expected to come out in December this year - it will be another miracle
if it comes as there were only four other people in the audience.
This begins at the beginning that we have seen many times. D'Artagnan from
Gascon is riding to Paris to join the King's Musketeers with the recommendation
of his father. He immediately runs into trouble as he witnesses men attacking
a carriage with a beautiful woman inside. Being a gentleman and from Gascon
he jumps into the fracas to help her and has beaten most of them away when
he opens the carriage door to tell her she is safe and she shoots him in
the heart. And he is buried. But his bible was over his heart and he digs
his way out. Not knowing that this is the beginning of a conspiracy to overthrow
the King, disgrace the Queen and start a war between the Catholics and Protestants
in France.
The film then treads familiar ground with d'Artagnan (François Civil)
having to duel the Three Musketeers - Athos (Vincent Cassell), Porthos (Pio
Marmai) and Aramis (Roman Duris) when the Cardinal Guards show up to arrest
them. But the fight that follows is vicious and bloody - way beyond other
films of the same incident. With a few additions and subtractions, it covers
much the same ground - here though Athos is framed for murder with the old
dead body in your bed trick and sentenced to be executed - with the evil
Milady (Eva Green) conspiring with Cardinal Richelieu, the Queen and the
pearls, Constance as the Queen's confidant in danger. Not yet revealed is
who Milady is and her past connection to Athos. Coming in Part II I expect.
This is an old-fashioned, rip-roaring adventure with some great camera movement
in the fights, stunning décor, lavish costumes but no obvious CGI
of note. It was made for about $40 million which was the highest costing
film in France for the year.
