The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan

Alexandre Dumas’s classic has been filmed many times, but this latest homegrown production is one to stand the test of time. Split across two films (Part II will be released in the spring) Martin Bourbolon’s movie doesn’t go in for slapstick but trusts to the spine of one of the great adventure stories.

Gauche young country boy D’Artagnan (François Civil) arrives in Paris in 1625 — a time of violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants — determined to follow his father’s footsteps and join the king’s musketeers. After just three hours in the capital he’s lined up three duels, with musketeers Athos (Vincent Cassel), Porthos (Pio Marmai), and Aramis (Romain Duris), but recognizing a kindred spirit they take him under their wing. Meanwhile Cardinal Richelieu and some in the nobility are plotting to push Louis XIII into war.

Bourbolon’s main asset here is the astonishingly dynamic camerawork which puts us right in the midst of the action. The ornate production design (there’s no need of CGI here to create an epic and immersive impression of seventeenth century France) and a top cast (hat tip to Eva Green as Milady) combine to enthrall and entertain.

Pure escapism is not to be sniffed at and D’Artagnan is a hit, a palpable hit.

John Bleasdale, The Times

Dumas’s classic novel finally gets an epic adaptation worthy of its scope, rendered in delicious French by its dangerously sexy cast.

Lillian Crawford, Empire

This is a lavishly produced, very enjoyable innocent pleasure. 4/5

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian