SPOILERS The story of D'Artagnan and the musketeers is one most people know of. With countless adaptations made over the years, legendary actors like Oliver Reed, Christopher Lee, Charlton Heston and Michael York have all featured in these classical tales. Based on an inaccurate history by Alexandre Dumas, everyone has a version and a character that they like the most.
As a result of the story's success therefore, we are still receiving modern adaptations in the 21st century. In 2001, with martial arts stunts and a mediocre cast, this French/American collaboration, entitled either "The Musketeer" or "D'Artagnan" depending on your country, is mostly dreadful, but with the saving grace that is Tim Roth.
After witnessing the murder of his parents, young D'Artagnan (Justin Chambers) is raised by his old friend Planchet (Jean-Pierre Castaldi). Becoming the finest swordsman in France, D'Artagnan tries to follow in his fathers footsteps by becoming a King's Musketeer. Times are not good for these heroes though, with their leader Treville (Michael Byrne) imprisoned and the evil Febre (Tim Roth) out for blood.
From the opening musical sequence "The Musketeer" smacks of awkwardness. With a script and a set up which would be more at home in the 1940s, it attempts to redeem itself with lavish fight scenes. It never really settles into a decent routine, mainly due to a script which feels like it was written by a child. With some lines so bad, it is too embarrassing to repeat, the script crashes and burns without a hint of reprieve.
The fights as well, whilst incredibly clever to set up and film, never really feel like they belong. Reminiscent of traditionally Chinese films, these fights just don't feel realistic and they are often excessive. The final major battle involving an enormous fight and a small hero vs bad-guy encounter, is drawn out to it's excesses and is ridiculous to watch.
Truth be told, this film would probably be up there amongst the worst films ever if it wasn't for the one wonderful aspect which is Tim Roth's appearance.
Roth, looking like a homeless dog in desperate need of a grooming, is wonderful throughout. Not helped by the dire script, he casts a perpetually evil glance over the entire film. He struts around with a badly made eye-patch on, and he manages to pull the part off. He has one or two scenes of pure evil which he makes work, not because the script is remotely decent, but because he speaks his lines with a sense of maliciousness and smoothness. Roth gets a badly scripted character, he DOES overact, but he somehow manages to make it work. He is the one highlight in an otherwise dire film.
For not the first time, and definitely not the last, a film with little going for it, is released. Loosely based on a work by one of France's greatest writers, "The Musketeer" is a woeful encounter which is only saved by an excellent performance by Tim Roth. The film is worth watching ultimately for Roth, and Roth alone.
As a result of the story's success therefore, we are still receiving modern adaptations in the 21st century. In 2001, with martial arts stunts and a mediocre cast, this French/American collaboration, entitled either "The Musketeer" or "D'Artagnan" depending on your country, is mostly dreadful, but with the saving grace that is Tim Roth.
After witnessing the murder of his parents, young D'Artagnan (Justin Chambers) is raised by his old friend Planchet (Jean-Pierre Castaldi). Becoming the finest swordsman in France, D'Artagnan tries to follow in his fathers footsteps by becoming a King's Musketeer. Times are not good for these heroes though, with their leader Treville (Michael Byrne) imprisoned and the evil Febre (Tim Roth) out for blood.
From the opening musical sequence "The Musketeer" smacks of awkwardness. With a script and a set up which would be more at home in the 1940s, it attempts to redeem itself with lavish fight scenes. It never really settles into a decent routine, mainly due to a script which feels like it was written by a child. With some lines so bad, it is too embarrassing to repeat, the script crashes and burns without a hint of reprieve.
The fights as well, whilst incredibly clever to set up and film, never really feel like they belong. Reminiscent of traditionally Chinese films, these fights just don't feel realistic and they are often excessive. The final major battle involving an enormous fight and a small hero vs bad-guy encounter, is drawn out to it's excesses and is ridiculous to watch.
Truth be told, this film would probably be up there amongst the worst films ever if it wasn't for the one wonderful aspect which is Tim Roth's appearance.
Roth, looking like a homeless dog in desperate need of a grooming, is wonderful throughout. Not helped by the dire script, he casts a perpetually evil glance over the entire film. He struts around with a badly made eye-patch on, and he manages to pull the part off. He has one or two scenes of pure evil which he makes work, not because the script is remotely decent, but because he speaks his lines with a sense of maliciousness and smoothness. Roth gets a badly scripted character, he DOES overact, but he somehow manages to make it work. He is the one highlight in an otherwise dire film.
For not the first time, and definitely not the last, a film with little going for it, is released. Loosely based on a work by one of France's greatest writers, "The Musketeer" is a woeful encounter which is only saved by an excellent performance by Tim Roth. The film is worth watching ultimately for Roth, and Roth alone.