The Three Musketeers: Milady

The French filmmakers' approach to the second part of their story noticeably lagged behind the first installment but still felt like the best adaptation of Dumas's often nonsensical inventions. It seems one of the creators actually did some research on French history in addition to following the book, because Cardinal Richelieu didn't come across as a bloodthirsty power-hungry beast. I'm not saying that creative license wasn't involved, but that was okay since it wasn't a historical documentary. But... King Louis XIII's African godchild was really too much for me. The current politically correct propaganda increasingly reminds me of a totalitarian regime where you are told what to think because the party and the government hammer it into your head. / Lesson learned: You'd never believe how much action and dialogue someone with a broken back can pull off. 4*- (2024-05-15)

I enjoyed the first episode more unfortunately. It's very nicely shot (the cinematography is breathtaking), the actors play perfectly, and there is less action, but when it comes to it is again very good. However, since I didn't remember the first part much, I got lost in the plot, it seemed to me too convoluted and because of that, I couldn't fully immerse myself in the film. Maybe I'll give it a second chance when it comes out online, but I just don't feel like giving it 4 stars, even it meets the parameters of a 4-star film. 6/10. (2024-01-02)

I found Milady a little weaker than D'Artagnan in the end, yet I left the cinema satisfied. I originally thought that Three Musketeers would be split into two films, but the ending of the second part left the door open for another sequel. In addition to the plotting and intrigue, they did not forget the dynamic action scenes, of which I would single out the attack on La Rochelle and the confrontation between D'Artagnan and Milady. I also liked the plastic portrayal of the character of Milady herself, played by the demonic femme fatale Eva Green. I had counted on the death of one of the main characters, yet I was quite surprised by the ending. A weaker four stars! (2023-12-26)

The Three Musketeers: Manipulady. Sweet talk and a corset filled to the brim move through the history of France, but from somewhere around the middle, I found myself more interested in Bolduc’s aerial stunts and the skill of putting the audience in the center of the action with minimal cuts. And maybe even Cassel’s bouquet, or if you prefer, his charisma-characteristic aroma, which masks the aftertaste of François Civil's whiny d’Artagnan. (2024-05-21)

It could almost be called "Two Musketeers and Eva", because everything revolves around D'Artagnan and his efforts to save his beloved and then Athos (a magnificent Vincent Cassel) and his "skeleton in the closet"; the other two are neither interesting nor essential to the plot at all, apart from their awkward jokes at the end. The enchantment of the flawless production design, as in the 1st episode, stayed with me here though, the guys are properly dirty again, it has a fine unpolished patina of the 17th century, beautiful cinematography, beautiful castles, but I, having been bitten by Richard Lester's version and a pretty decent overview of the content of Dumas' novel, was surprised by the sidelining of Richelieu and unpleasantly shocked by how the political correctness pushed on me left an unpleasant aftertaste. I am referring to the character of the black prince Hannibal, who always appears at the right moment and helps the Musketeers out of their predicament with his selfless intervention. Dumas, who never once mentioned this character in his novels, must have been spinning like a propeller in a blender, but mostly it was given to the current quota, and now that I mention it, a person who has never addressed the woke agenda in films, that's really saying something. Sometimes you really don't need to push so hard, filmmakers. PS: The ending in the burning building is spectacular, but too "Hollywood" for me. (2024-09-11)