The Three Musketeers (2011)

Another rendition of the Musketeers story, with explosive action and special effects.

Set during relatively peaceful times in France, the three Musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis are left feeling redundant, with no cause to join or enemy to fight. However, when they run into a young D’Artagnan, the group soon find a new mission, to uncover a conspiracy which involves Milady De Winter, a rebellious woman whom the Musketeers have encountered before, and a cocky Duke of Buckingham.

With a plot to lead France to war with Britain, the four Musketeers must work undercover to undo Milady’s treacherous plan, and avoid bloodshed, whilst avoiding the foes in France who also plot against the Musketeers.

The film is an entertaining action film, with plenty of stunts and fight scenes. The choreography of the fighting is excellent, making for some gripping moments of stylised combat. Performances are less than impressive though, with plenty of cheesy lines and awkward heroism.

Some of the action sequences borrow a lot from modern movies, in particular the slowed-down-then-sped-up technique so obviously taken from 300. However, these are still the most entertaining parts of the movie, with impressive numbers of henchmen flocking the scene to be ass-whipped by these sword flailing champions.

The film offers nothing new to the endless story of the Musketeers, but rather follows happily in the tradition of costume-period tomfoolery.