Cinema Review (From Penarth Times)

Cinema Review

The Musketeer (PG)

THE THREE Musketeers, the swashbuckling classic novel by Alexandre Dumas published 158 years ago, has had hundreds of screen adaptations worldwide since the birth of the cinema.

But the new version by director and cinematographer Peter Hyams adds a new twist to the conventional treatments. Combat sequences by choreographers like Xin Xin Xiong have made visually imaginative films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon popular with European audiences.

The Musketeer (PG) achieves an unexpectedly effective blend of eastern and western influence in the frequent swordplay of its action that concentrates on D'Artagnan, and the film opens with the young lad seeing his parents murdered by Febre, but years later D'Artagnan swears vengeance.

Justin Chambers, who appeared with Jennifer Lopez in The Wedding Planner, impresses as the skilled swordsman hero.

Mena Suvari, the lovely young star of American Beauty and American Pie, plays Francesca, with Tim Roth as the villainous Febre.

The atmosphere of 17th century France is created by well chosen locations of authentic fortresses, castle walls and the banqueting rooms of palaces.

This vivid action-adventure is a typical family entertainment for the summer season.