This film started very promising: great actors like the wizened Philippe Noiret and the charming Sophie Marceau, an experienced director like Tavernier, and an interesting storyline: the daughter of D'Artagnan breathes some of the old spirit back into her aged heroes. Both of the usual opposite parties are investigating about a supposed conspiracy - each based on entirely misunderstood "secret messages".
Unfortunately, the screenplay lets everything down a bit. First, it doesn't explain the characters' motivation as much as necessary (that goes especially for "supposed dead" Athos, the irresolute would-be politician King Louis and also the young "poet", who falls in love with Sophie before he's even seen her from less than 10 yards distance - I guess he was just introduced because she needed help in the tavern brawl). Second, the screenplay doesn't find convincing solutions to its own conspiracies and just lets the movie end in a huge battle... dead people don't need to explain things anymore. Well, one isn't quite as dead as he seems, but I have to leave a little surprise for you at the end!
So, what you get is two hours of good entertainment if you like this kind of adventure movie, but don't expect something as brilliant as Richard Lester's classic "The Three Musketeers" from 1973.
Unfortunately, the screenplay lets everything down a bit. First, it doesn't explain the characters' motivation as much as necessary (that goes especially for "supposed dead" Athos, the irresolute would-be politician King Louis and also the young "poet", who falls in love with Sophie before he's even seen her from less than 10 yards distance - I guess he was just introduced because she needed help in the tavern brawl). Second, the screenplay doesn't find convincing solutions to its own conspiracies and just lets the movie end in a huge battle... dead people don't need to explain things anymore. Well, one isn't quite as dead as he seems, but I have to leave a little surprise for you at the end!
So, what you get is two hours of good entertainment if you like this kind of adventure movie, but don't expect something as brilliant as Richard Lester's classic "The Three Musketeers" from 1973.