Themes: Righting the Wronged, Haunted By the Past, Daring Rescues
Main Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Mena Suvari, Stephen Rea, Tim Roth, Justin Chambers
Release Year: 2001
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Director Peter Hyams brings the modern choreography talents of famed Hong Kong fight sequence designer Xin Xin Xiong to this action adventure that departs widely from its classic novel source material, focusing exclusively on the D'Artagnan character and either excising other characters completely or relegating them to minor supporting roles. Justin Chambers stars as D'Artagnan, a country-bred lad whose skill with a sword has led to aspirations of becoming a Musketeer, one of the French king's elite guard. Upon arriving in Paris, however, he finds that the Musketeers have been disbanded by order of Cardinal Richelieu (Stephen Rea), who is usurping the king's authority with the help of a lethally gifted henchman, Febre (Tim Roth). Soon, D'Artagnan is embroiled in an effort to prevent a war between his native country and England, meeting up with a beautiful love interest (Mena Suvari) along the way. As he has often done before, director Hyams doubles as his own cinematographer. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
The film was not a financial success. Though it initially topped the North Americanbox office upon its release in September 2001[citation needed], its takings soon fell away and went on to gross only $27 million in Canada and the United States, and $7 million in other markets for a combined worldwide gross of $34 million.[2] Since Universal Pictures and Miramax Films only paid $7.5 million to buy the North America and U.K. distribution rights of this film[3], this film was very profitable for those two studios.
Critics' Reaction
The film received extremely poor reviews, garnering only 10% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. [4] Many critics cited terrible acting, unrealistic action scenes, and confusing editing.
