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"THE MUSKETEER" (2001) (Justin Chambers, Tim Roth) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Minor Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Heavy None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate None Mild Mild Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action/Adventure: A young musketeer attempts to avenge his parents' death and defend the French throne while taking on a corrupt cardinal and his ruthless henchman. PLOT: It's 17th century France and D'Artagnan (JUSTIN CHAMBERS) is a young man who's been trained by his older guardian, Planchet (JEAN-PIERRE CASTALDI), to become a Musketeer, one of the King's elite guards. Yet, D'Artagnan has an ulterior motive as he's searching for the unscrupulous man, Febre (TIM ROTH), who killed his parents before him some fourteen years ago. Accompanied by Planchet, D'Artagnan heads for Paris where he hopes to find his father's former associate, Treville (MICHAEL BYRNE), an aged Musketeer. He discovers, however, that the Elite Guard is now in disarray. Cardinal Richelieu (STEPHEN REA) has been usurping power from the King (DANIEL MESGUICH) and Queen (CATHERINE DENEUVE) by using Febre as his enforcer, and Treville is now imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit. To make matters worse, younger Musketeers, such as Aramis (NICK MORAN), Porthos (STEVE SPEIRS) and Athos (JAN GREGOR KREMP) are disheartened by the turn of events, and have no plans of supporting D'Artagnan in his cause. Things aren't completely dim, however, as the young Musketeer meets Francesca (MENA SUVARI), a chambermaid who just so happens to know the Queen due to her mother formerly serving as her seamstress and confidante. Despite the odds, D'Artagnan sets out to rescue Treville, and manages to enlist the aid of Porthos and Aramis who are impressed by the young man's vigor and skill. From that point on, D'Artagnan does what he can to persuade his fellow guardsmen to protect the King and Queen from the Cardinal's nefarious plans, all while striving to avenge his parents' death. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of someone in the cast or swashbuckler/sword fighting style movies, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For intense action violence and some sexual material. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JUSTIN CHAMBERS plays a young man who's been determined to become a Musketeer and avenge his parents' murders after being orphaned some 14 years ago. Accordingly, he shows great bravery and skill in defending the King and Queen and fighting off the various opponents he faces. JEAN-PIERRE CASTALDI plays his grizzled guardian who's taught D'Artagnan how to be a Musketeer and continues to assist him in his endeavor. NICK MORAN, STEVE SPEIRS and JAN GREGOR KREMP plays disenchanted Musketeers who decide to help D'Artagnan and return to protecting the throne. They also drink some. TIM ROTH plays the evil henchman to the Cardinal who isn't above doing anything, including killing people, to achieve his goals. CATHERINE DENEUVE plays the wise and resourceful Queen who sets out in secret to keep her country at peace. MENA SUVARI plays a chambermaid who befriends D'Artagnan and assists the Queen in her plan. STEPHEN REA plays the nefarious Cardinal who uses Febre to enforce his usurpation of power from the throne. DANIEL MESGUICH plays the increasingly powerless King. MICHAEL BYRNE plays an older Musketeer who's had enough of the changes that have taken place within the country. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-13 rated action/adventure film. Violence is listed as extreme due to many people being wounded or killed in combat that includes a great deal of sword fighting, as well as various guns, cannons, knives, spears and explosives used to threaten, wound or kill others. Few of the injuries or deaths, however, are bloody and none are gory, but some of the material could be a bit unsettling or suspenseful for some viewers and some kids could be enticed to imitate some of the swashbuckling and other fighting. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes (including those who commit or condone murder) and they and others drink. Some non-explicit, sexually related dialogue is present, as is some off-screen nudity (that we don't see, but other characters do), while some brief making out occurs. Beyond that, there's very brief/minor profanity and a boy sees his parents killed before him. Should you still be concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone in your home, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific information about what's present and occurs in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Young D'Artagnan's mother states that Musketeers drink and carouse all night, causing the boy to joke that he may drink every now and then (meaning in the future). D'Artagnan mentions another person having the courage of wine for breakfast, while Porthos has some wine. Aramis and Porthos walk down the street, drinking as they go (with one stating that they're drunks and not something else). Porthos states that they should have a drink for a rescue operation they pulled off. Men in a tavern drink and one asks if D'Artagnan can hold his liquor. Some people have wine at a banquet, including Porthos. Some Musketeers drink. We see that Francesca's uncle has been drinking. BLOOD/GORE Minor bloodstains are seen on a butcher's apron. We see a brief, bloody slice on a man's face. We see some scars on Febre's face as well as an odd looking eye (from where D'Artagnan struck him years earlier). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Febre has both for threatening or killing anyone he pleases whenever he pleases. He also calls D'Artagnan's father a cripple and then kicks a young D'Artagnan in the face before killing his parents in front of him. Cardinal Richelieu has both for attempting to usurp power from the King and Queen and using Febre as his lethal henchman (not caring that Febre says he's murdered, plundered and raped - although we never see any of the latter). A miscellaneous man has a bad attitude toward D'Artagnan. Febre kills a Spanish emissary for the Cardinal and then leaves some Musketeer items to frame them for the murder. Francesca's uncle has both for the way he treats her (including acting lustfully toward her). Some men laugh at D'Artagnan and Planchet, along with their clothes, carriage and horses. Athos initially has a bad attitude toward D'Artagnan, but eventually comes around to liking and supporting him. A man crawls through a ceiling, hoping to get a look at Francesca as she bathes. The King tells the Queen that her role is not to think (as he wants to discuss matters with others without her). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" may also be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers. Francesca's uncle slaps her for warning D'Artagnan about some guards waiting for him. He then slaps her again and tries to come on to her sexually. The Queens slaps Febre for his actions. He then has a child brought in and holds a knife to the girl's throat, threatening to kill her if the Queen doesn't write a letter for him. GUNS/WEAPONS Swords/Knives/Spears/Muskets/Pistols/Cannons/Explosives: Used to threaten, wound or kill people or damage property. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Cripple" and "Balls" (testicles). All of the swashbuckling adventures and fighting might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Porthos fires a musket into the air to get everyone's attention. D'Artagnan strips off his clothes and goes skinny-dipping in front of Francesca (we don't see any nudity). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of suspenseful and adventurous music plays throughout the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 damn and 1 use of "Oh my God" as exclamations. SEX/NUDITY Josephine, a waitress in a tavern, states (about D'Artagnan) that they can never start too early (a sexual reference), and another man states that she "knows" many of the men in the room and in Paris. A man crawls through an attic, hoping to get a look at Francesca as she bathes. We see his point of view of her in the tub, but the floorboards are strategically placed over her body in the shot. D'Artagnan, who heard the man and went up there to stop him, then falls through the ceiling and lands in front of the startled but amused young woman (who covers her upper nudity by wrapping her arms across her chest). He then tells her that it's not what she's thinking and she replies that he has no idea what she's thinking. She then playfully states that he acts like he's never seen a naked woman before, and he replies not one "Quite so, naked." She then gets up (as he quickly spins around with his back to her) and wraps a large towel or sheet around her (thus we don't see any nudity). A woman at a banquet, who shows cleavage, playfully asks D'Artagnan about his sword (meaning something else) and drops various lines of innuendo about it, including whether it's long or short and if he keeps it polished and whether he does that himself or lets others do it. Francesca's uncle slaps her for warning D'Artagnan about some guards waiting for him. He then slaps her again and tries to come on to her sexually, and becomes excited when she pulls up her dress. She, however, is going for her knife that she uses to threaten him with castration if he ever touches her again. Francesca awakens D'Artagnan, informing him he must help her and the Queen. She wants him to get up, but he looks down, indicating he's nude. She says there's no time for that and he then stands nude before her (causing her to look down at his crotch) saying there' s no time for that. She then asks if he's bragging (we don't see any nudity). After D'Artagnan tells the other Musketeers that he can't join them since "there's something I must do" (protect the Queen), one of them spots Francesca with him and replies, "Take her and do it" (sexual connotation). An older woman playfully smacks D'Artagnan on his clothed butt. D'Artagnan and Francesca kiss and continue to do so as he then lies down on top of her (outdoors with both being clothed). He then strips off his clothes and goes skinny-dipping (we don't see any nudity). SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES D'Artagnan sees Febre kill his parents before him (when he's a child). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical backdrop for this story and the filmmakers' artistic license with novelist Alexandre Dumas' original literary work. D'Artagnan's quest to avenge his parents' deaths. VIOLENCE Unless otherwise noted, the following violence, while occasionally quite intense, is free or mostly free of blood or gore. Febre kicks a young D'Artagnan in the face, causing the boy's father to draw his sword to come at him. Febre, however, strikes and kills the man. He then hits and kills D'Artagnan's mother, causing the boy to grab his sword and jab Febre in the face. Febre then hits the boy again, knocking him to the ground. D'Artagnan jumps and grabs a man about to hit a beggar child. He throws him to the floor and then gets into a prolonged swordfight with that man and several others who come at him with swords (some property damage and other hitting occurs). This stops when the owner of the establishment holds a pistol to Planchet's head and threatens to kill him. Febre and his men stop a carriage carrying a Spanish emissary. He then stabs the official and his men open fire on others, killing all of them. D'Artagnan punches two men unconscious for making fun of him, Planchet and their belongings. D'Artagnan rolls a barrel down the street that knocks down both Aramis and Porthos. The two then pull their swords and knives on D'Artagnan who does the same back to them (when they think he's working for the Cardinal). D'Artagnan lights a fuse on a barrel (apparently filled with gunpowder or something similarly explosive) and the latter blows up, blowing a door open and knocking a guard to the floor. He, Aramis, and Porthos then fight with many guards (with a great deal of sword fighting and some attempts at hitting others with spears). D'Artagnan falls through a ceiling to the floor below. D'Artagnan grabs Francesca's uncle by the shirt and pulls him forward as he wants some information from him. D'Artagnan and his fellow Musketeers grab and subdue various kitchen workers (we only see the grabbing part) so that they can take their place. Various peasants and some trained soldiers storm a banquet, and then fight with the Musketeers (lots of sword fighting, people being hit and knocked down, etc.). One attacker tries to hit a Musketeer with a flaming sword (who then has alcohol thrown on him, catching him on fire). A Musketeer spills a kettle of hot liquid onto another attacker. D'Artagnan eludes some of the Cardinal's guards by moving from one outside shutter to another along a building, and then pulls a rope taut that sends the various guards falling to the ground below. Francesca's uncle slaps her for warning D'Artagnan about some guards waiting for him. He then slaps her again and tries to come on to her sexually, but she pulls her knife and threatens to castrate him, causing him to back off. A man pulls his sword on D'Artagnan who then knocks this man back against a counter, with the Queen then hitting that man over the head with something, knocking him out. Many men ride up and attack a carriage driven by Planchet and containing D'Artagnan, Francesca and the Queen. D'Artagnan fires a large musket several times, taking out several of the attackers (wounding or killing them with one being dragged behind his horse). Various men then jump on the carriage, with D'Artagnan kicking or knocking them off after some of them try to hit him with their swords. D'Artagnan then has a sword fight with another man atop the carriage, with the attacker eventually being clotheslined by a large, passing tree branch. D'Artagnan then jumps on an approaching rider, knocking him from his horse and races back to the carriage where another man on horseback is repeatedly jabbing a spear into the carriage. D'Artagnan then grabs that man, while the Queen shoots and injures or kills another attacker. D'Artagnan ends up below the lead horses (dragging on the ground), but gets back up and hits another man, throwing him from the carriage. He then kicks another man off and then shoots several canisters of gunpowder (or similar explosives), causing a huge explosion on a bridge that prevents others from continuing the chase and attack. A man holds a pistol to Francesca. A man then shoots and seemingly hits D'Artagnan in the shoulder, causing Francesca to pull out her knife and slice one man. Others then grab and subdue her. Two men try to attack D'Artagnan, but he repeatedly hits both of them with a large log. The Queens slaps Febre for his actions. He then has a child brought in and holds a knife to the girl's throat, threatening to kill her if the Queen doesn't write a letter for him. Febre grabs Francesca by the throat for a few moments and then strikes one of his own men with a sword, injuring or killing him. Febre starts burning things in a man's library. When that man pulls his sword, Febre shoots him dead. Febre briefly has a sword fight with a man before knocking him out. D'Artagnan briefly threatens Francesca's uncle for turning her in to Febre. As the many Musketeers race toward a castle on horseback, the forces inside fire cannons and muskets at them, knocking many from their rides (and wounding or killing them). The Musketeers then fire dual cannons into the entryway, blowing open the door, and then get into various sword fights with the opposing forces (some of which fall to the ground below). While climbing the outside of a tower via a rope, D'Artagnan fights with various men who try to attack him with swords as they hang and swing from ropes on the tower. Planchet throws something up onto a small bridge that explodes, sending several men falling or flying through the air. A Musketeer throws a sword that impales two men (no blood and seen from the side). Febre tries to shoot the Queen, but Francesca jumps in the line of fire, seemingly taking the shot in the chest (but she's okay and not harmed at all). D'Artagnan then gets into a prolonged and very physical sword fight that eventually involves them hanging onto or jumping from various ladders in a large room. A person impales another person with their sword, killing them. Reviewed September 5, 2001 / Posted September 7, 2001

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