The Three Musketeers

I think I can empathise with Paul W S Anderson. After those almost iconic, video-game inspired zombie horror actioner ‘Resident Evil’ series of films, it’s impossible to resist the influence. I am sure all those action sequences come very naturally to him. Especially when he casts his wife and the Resident Evil super-heroine Mila Jovovich as one of the leads. So, the film begins with a high-end vault reminiscent of the one’s seen in RE, with those unseen weapons to slice you to pieces and only the super-heroine can save the day — but, wait, all of these in 17th century France? Have some regard for history, guys!

Especially when your fictional universe is one of the most popular and well know stories of Alexander Dumas — With Jovovich’s Milady doing her mid-air action heroine routine on the roof of the French palace. Absurd! And did we mention those flying ships.

Absurd is the word. How can you expect anyone to take you seriously when you bring such absurdities into a story which everyone knows by now. I mean, if you haven’t heard of Athos, Porthos and Aramis, then I am sure you are not from this planet. Even those kids from ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ knew them. All for one, one for all, ring a bell?

And what does Paul W S Anderson do? He gives the story a high-tech twist, within the bounds of the costume drama! Ludicrous!

As the film ends you wonder who in their right minds agreed to finance the project. Do we really need a new ‘The Three Musketeers’ film? According to IMDb, there are at least 29 films on the same story, starting from the days of Clerk Gable, when he was young. They made a newer one in 1993 with Charlie Sheen and Kiefer Sutherland.