The Three Musketeers:
One is enough for all
Ruwini JAYAWARDANA
Milla Jovovich as Milady
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Orlando Bloom as Duke of Buckingham |
Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 classic story The Three Musketeers has been
adapted into many a production throughout history going far back as the
silent era. Paul W S Anderson is the latest director in town to try his
hand at the well loved tale. His adaptation is probably the biggest
budget movie in the lineup but it is mainly noted for being the 3D
version of the tale.
Anderson does not follow Dumas’ stories but inserts the characters
into a new plot. The storyline involves a scheme to provoke war against
England and France. Yet we realize that too much deception is going on
between these villains themselves. Milady manages to trick both France’s
Cardinal Richelieu and Britain’s Duke of Buckingham for her own gain and
the other two are too hungry for power to note the deception taking
place under their noses. The three musketeers: Athos, Aramis and Porthos
along with their newest member, young D’Artagnan, join forces to save
the two countries from disaster.
A plus point of the production is in how artfully the team had used
3D effects in creating a virtual world belonging to 17th century France.
The swordfights, stunts and witty remarks are impressive yet strung
together into a story that seems out of place. Some of the latest
technical methods such as the guarding system of the queen’s jewellery
chamber and the means in which Milady is brought abroad the musketeer’s
airship are questionable because there were no modern gadgets of that
nature during the era. These battle scenes on board vessels also remind
you of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ series.
One of the best features of the movie is the role played by Milla
Jovovich. From making a brief appearance as the heroine of the tale, she
turns vixen and is the object of mystery and excitement throughout the
story. She carried Milady’s role with grace, alluring the audience with
her presence from daringly running through a booby-trapped passage to
daintily stepping over invisible anti-theft beams. All the attractive
features and action scenes of ‘The Three Musketeers’ seem to be
attributed to her and the other actors fade into the background in her
presence.
D’Artagnan and the three musketeers |
Though he tries to employ some serious acting into his role, Orlando
Bloom fails to make a noticeable impact mainly due to his silly hair-do
and attire. The handsome actor who is probably the only big name
included in the cast, is not given a role worth his talents. He would
certainly have been more suited for one of the musketeers’ roles for
that is the kind of presence he sets off on screen. Camouflaging him in
the role of the villain seems a waste of an opportunity to bring out the
best in him.
Logan Lerman too does not impress because he seems more of a modern
day youth than a daring young swordsman and apt sidekick for the
musketeers. In the end apart from his sword skills, the youth hardly has
anything worthy to label him as a hero. His romance with the queen’s
lady in waiting, Constance, is unconvincing for there is hardly any
chemistry between them. He does not have a charismatic screen presence
and one cannot help wishing that the fate of the outcome would have been
slightly altered if Bloom and Lerman had switched roles.
The movie provides good entertainments but hardly anything worthwhile
or memorable. The ending signals clearly that a sequel will follow. If
this is the nature which we are to expect in the sequel, then let it be
not “All for one and one for all” as the three musketeers’ motto goes
but “One is enough for all”. |