This is, to date, Spain's most expensive film, a two hour fifteen minutes long story based on some of the most important bestsellers of the country, the series of Alatriste.
Whichever point you look at it, the film becomes disappointing. The pace is slow, the story gets twists difficult to follow for non readers, and there are some sequences where there is an important lack of realism.
Still, it has some strongholds. The photography is good, and it draws a good painting of what Spain was at that moment. Most of the film is watchable, although we were expecting much more from it. I also think actors and actresses could do better, even Javier Cámara and Elena Anaya look impressive.
Whichever point you look at it, the film becomes disappointing. The pace is slow, the story gets twists difficult to follow for non readers, and there are some sequences where there is an important lack of realism.
Still, it has some strongholds. The photography is good, and it draws a good painting of what Spain was at that moment. Most of the film is watchable, although we were expecting much more from it. I also think actors and actresses could do better, even Javier Cámara and Elena Anaya look impressive.