Search - The Musketeer on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Violence, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 02/26/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 45 mins Studio: Universal Studios Total Copies: 38 Genres: Action, Adventure, Historical Film, Swashbuckler, Costume Adventure, Period Film See Also: The Musketeer

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

Catherine Deneuve - Queen of France
Mena Suvari - Francesca
Stephen Rea - Cardinal Richelieu
Tim Roth - Febre
Justin Chambers - D'Artagnan

Writer Alexandre Dumas' exciting novel is completely re-imagined for the screen in director Peter Hyams' The Musketeer. Universal has done a very nice job at making this 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer look fantastically clean and crisp. The colors all display a deep richness and detailed texture while black levels appear sharp and solid. This is a very nice picture with hardly any imperfections. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in English and French, as well as DTS in English. Both of these soundtracks are very full and explosive with the use of Surround Sounds being very expansive. With the dialogue, effects, and music all clear of any distortion or hiss, these audio mixes should give any home theater system a beneficial workout. Also included on this disc are subtitles in English.
Extra features on The Musketeer are slim to none, including two very short featurettes (around two minutes each) on "the Casting of Justin Chambers" and "the Stunts" featured in the film, as well as a few talent bios on the cast and crew, some weak production notes, and a theatrical trailer for the film. Someday there may be a better edition of this film; until then, these slim supplements are what fans are stuck with. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide