In The three musketeers đâdartagnan, by Martin Bourboulo, the historical setting has a novel use. Instead of being a static setting, it becomes a vital and moving context that quickly defines its characters. During its first minutes, the camera shows the Paris of 1627 with a majestic appearance.
Despite its dirt streets, its wooden buildings and carriages that shake among mountains of rubbish, it is the most beautiful city in the world. And it is part of the France reigned by Louis XIIIwhich for more than a decade kept the country at peace.
The script by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière shows the stability of the country, but also a latent threat. The sovereign is not afraid of facing hidden enemies, even though he knows he has them. Cardinal Richelieu (Eric Ruf) is one of them. Hidden under the shadows of the palace, he is willing to betray and deceiveâwith all the means at his disposalâuntil he seizes power.
The characters in this story have gone from being blameless heroes to becoming fallible, close and nuanced men. Despite The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan is, at its core, a grand adventure that starts right away, the plot slick enough to explore the celebrated figures.
The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan
Martin Bourbouloâs film is the umpteenth adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas classic, but with a notable difference. The story, instead of emphasizing the virtues of its characters, does so in their shadows and dark places. Also in humor and a large-scale tribute to the adventure genre. The result is a story that, without great ambitions, becomes elegant entertainment with magnificent visuals. However, his script lacks the strength to turn the production into something more. With several notable action sequences, in its last section it becomes predictable by dint of paying tribute to the great cinematographic adventures that it imitates. Perhaps your biggest problem.
The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan Itâs a renewed classic
Charles DâArtagnan of Gascogne (François Civil) is skilled with a sword, brash, and closer to being a knave than a knight. Something that the story enjoys in narrating in its first section. Beyond his duties with the musketeer brotherhood, which he will soon join, this young man in awe of Paris desires fame and money. If possible, very quickly and in the easiest way.
Of course, The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan it focuses on his eventual maturity and, perhaps, greater nobility. However, the conflict is much more concentrated in the shadows than in the lights of her most visible face. The same as with the rest of her cast.
Constance (Lyna Khoudri), mylady de winter (Eva Green) athos (Vincent Cassell), Porthos (Pio MarmaĂŻ) and Aramis (Romain Duris) are a strange mix of strengths and weaknesses. Something that is narrated in the midst of a mystery, a possible redemption and, without a doubt, the search for a greater ideal.
What sets the film apart from other adaptations
The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan it begins in a peculiar way: with the death of its main character. It is a plot trap, which immediately reveals its intentions. The young swordsman emerges from the ground where he was just buried unharmed, making it clear that the plot is full of traps and missing clues. At the same time, this intrepid anti-hero has enough strength to face the strangest situations.
The directorâs obvious intention is to show that this new version of the classic alexander dumas it is as carefree and fun as it is spectacularly visual. Also, that it is as far away as possible from the more than forty film adaptations of the same story that have been carried out up to now. Despite the fact that its main elements are known by most of the public, it manages to stand out based on its effectiveness on its ability to excite.
The next thing that happens in The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan it is a swift journey among many dangers. DâArtagnan He will duel, offend violent strangers, and prove his worth by avoidingâagainâmurder. All in the same afternoon and haunted by the threat of discovering a conspiracy that surpasses him in knowledge and experience.
The action is everywhere in The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan
When the protagonist finally joins his companions of cloak and sword, The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan reaches its best moments. In his second installment, the French filmmaker manages to make all the characters âeven the secondary ones that barely show their facesâ present a varied shade of emotion.
DâArtagnan he tries to solve a murder and discover the identity of a faceless enemy who follows him everywhere. Meanwhile, his confidante in his palace watches over the tricks of power. In addition, there are many other plot lines running, such as the need to spy on the Catholic Church and, of course, safeguard the lady on duty.
In less skilled hands, such a mix would have turned the film into a fast-paced jumble of incomplete stories. But Martin Bourboulo manages to make it a frantic, entertaining and enthusiastic journey through a story full of energy. Despite having some plot holes that he canât explain and the forced hint that the story will continue in a second part.
Even so, there are more high points than low points in this adventure that does not stop at any time and that is endearing in its ingenuity. For its open ending âwhich announces the second part, shot at the same time as the first and which will be released at Christmasâ, The Three Musketeers: DâArtagnan Show your greatest strength. The ability to be an elegant show, despite its few ambitions and the occasional misdirection.