5.7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.9 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
The hot-headed young D'Artagnan joins forces with three rogue Musketeers in this reboot of Alexandre Dumas' story. They must stop the evil Richlieu and face off with Buckingham and the treacherous Milady.
Starring: Logan Lerman, Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Milla Jovovich, Luke EvansAction | 100% |
Adventure | 96% |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Bonus View (PiP)
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
We were the Musketeers. Now, we're just...us.
It's a technical accomplishment, an unquestionably grand picture of visual splendor and precision, the product of a multimillion dollar budget made
by a
crew obviously well-versed in the art of crafting a nearly impeccable recreation of 1600s Europe. Paul W.S. Anderson's (Resident Evil) The Three Musketeers delivers to the five-star level
in
terms of its technical merits, the movie a fine example of polished, big-budget, 21st century filmmaking. But that's pretty much the best of it. As
grand as it may look, The Three Musketeers is also the epitome of the modern day style of superficial and skin-deep filmmaking. Once one
gets past the scale and
scope
of the production, there's nothing left except hollow dialogue, flat characters, mindless action scenes, and an A-B-C plot. It's absolutely predictable
and absolutely
pointless. Aren't there enough movies already in circulation that only really discredit the source rather than bring it to life? Aren't there any
hundreds of films that aim only for overly stylized action rather than plot? The Three
Musketeers seems but an excuse to modernize a tale that needs no modernization. The movie features a Musketeer, in an early scene, rising
from the water as if the inspiration was a ninja Benjamin Willard. Anderson favorite (and real-life wife) Mila Jovovich
slides and
slithers and swings and swats and sword fights around the frame in slow motion, avoiding booby traps as if she were Ethan Hunt or Virginia Baker during a bullet-time sequence from The Matrix, all while wearing a period dress that would hardly allow her
to breathe, let alone perform action movie stunt work. Then there's the high-flying aerial combat between 17th
century aircraft that basically look like blimps with warships slapped onto the bottom. The mantra for this film seemed to be "how cool can this
movie be" rather
than "how smart can this movie be?" The results speak for themselves.
Musketeers for a new generation.
The Three Musketeers' 1080p 2D-only Blu-ray release is nothing short of stunning, one of the finest transfers on the market. The good news is that Summit's Blu-ray 3D transfer holds up nearly as well. Pretty much all of the 2D transfer's attributes carry on over here. Though this image is a hair darker and not quite as absolutely bright and brilliant as the 2D version, it's nevertheless a dazzler, featuring wonderful colors, very strong clarity, and impeccable detailing as seen on all of the period costumes and structures. Blacks are a little too dark here, however, but not to the destruction of any shots or scenes. Noise, banding, and the like remain absent. The 3D-sepcific attributes are strong, too. The appearance of crosstalk is extremely light and a rarity. The 3D transfer presents viewers with a natural sense of space in depth, whether in general medium or close shots or when the camera gazes down long corridors, such as that leading to Da Vinci's vault. There are some fine gadget effects, too, swords that appear to poke out of the screen and debris flying at the audience during the key battle scene near the end. Yet for as technically polished as it may be, the 3D elements rarely dazzle, rarely make the extra effort of watching in 3D worthwhile. It's all very effective, spacious, and shapely, but the film doesn't often take advantage of the opportunities innate to the 3D medium. considering the slight drop off in vibrancy and the lack of a real awe-inspiring dazzler of a 3D image, best to enjoy The Three Musketeers in 2D.
The Three Musketeers sounds great. Summit Entertainment's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack dazzles with its crisp definition and sonic precision. The track plays in a wide, almost cavernous, soundstage. Music is endlessly rich, naturally spaced, and plays with a heavy but balanced surround element. The track plays just as big even in quieter moments. Dialogue and slight sound effects -- the creaking of a large door, for instance -- as heard in spacious royal halls echo about with startling natural authenticity. General dialogue remains balanced and focused up the middle, even as it, too, plays with a rather big, cinematic flair. Minor but mood-critical ambient effects play in harmony, setting the stage for various scenes by building the listening area up with necessary elements to bring each scene to vivid life. Big sound effects are superb; strong winds and thunder dominate, and the big high-flying aerial action sequence comes alive with heavy cannon fire and even heavier explosions, the soundtrack practically sending splinters of wood and other damaged goods flying throughout the soundstage. For as chaotic as it often may be, everything is in its proper place, whether static center-focused sounds or in-transit and location-specific effects. This is a real treat, the perfect compliment to a fine 3D transfer. Both together almost mask the movie's shortcomings, and The Three Musketeers is worth a watch on Blu-ray just for the technical presentation.
The Three Musketeers contains all of the features found on the 2D-only release, all located on the included 2D-only disc. There are no 3D or
exclusive supplements to be found in this two-disc set.
The Three Musketeers might look great and sound wonderful, but it's otherwise a dreadful movie. Rather than a legitimate take on the old tale, this is a dumbed-down flick that fails to entertain, preferring fantasy and make-believe and eschewing even a semblance of a plot that audiences could take seriously. There's suspension of disbelief, and then there is just ridiculous. Just because something can be made a spectacle doesn't mean it should. Maybe sixth grade boys will like this movie, but there's far better out there for even slightly more discerning audiences looking for a way to spend their mindless entertainment buck. And for those attracted to the two things this movie does well -- set design and costuming -- there are other alternatives that are just as flashy and serve up a better story to boot. Summit Entertainment's Blu-ray 3D release of The Three Musketeers features a clear and precise 3D transfer, a high quality lossless soundtrack, and the same supplements which appear with the 2D-only release. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't improve one bit when viewed in 3D. In fact, the 3D is somewhat boring, though its technical presentation is nearly above reproach. Worth a rental.
2010
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DVD Packaging
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1995
Collector's Edition
2004
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2016
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Les Trois Mousquetaires: D'Artagnan
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