Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the violent content is a factor for younger viewers -- good and bad guys die by the sword mostly, with one suicide by jumping. And while most of the sexual innuendo will go over kids' heads, the ogling, kissing, and overflowing corsets are all right there for them to see.
Families can talk about honor and duty. Of the four famed Musketeers, who was the most honorable? Was he your favorite? Why or why not? Even heroes make mistakes. What mistakes did D'Artagnan make?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Terreece Clarke
The heroes, sword fighting, and political intrigue are all here in this Disney retelling of THE THREE MUSKETEERS, but they definitely took some licenses with the original story. Specifically, they made the character the swashbucklers try to save, Milady de Winter (Rebecca De Mornay), far more sympathetic. Instead of a vicious spy who marries for money, she becomes a falsely accused woman who lost the love of her life and then became vile, but redeemable.
D'Artagnan (Chris O'Donnell) is a young wannabe musketeer who arrives just as the famous group is disbanded. His quick temper soon draws the ire of the famous three musketeers: Porthos, Athos, and Aramis (in order, Oliver Platt, Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen). Just before they all duel, d'Artagnan ends up helping the musketeers fend off an evil cardinal's guard. Alliances follow along with witty banter, wanton wenches, and heroic sacrifices.
This adaptation is more like an MTV version than a true retelling of the classic story, gathering some popular '90s actors for light swashbuckling amusement. Accents come and go, the language is more modern American English than 17th-century French, and the acting and comedy are more slapstick than reverent theater.
DVD extras even include the video of the movie's chart-topper "All for Love" by Sting, Rod Stewart, and Bryan Adams. Another reminder not to compare this fun fare with the classic.
More Actioners for Tweens:
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Night at the Museum
Spy Kids
Reviewed: 01/16/2006
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Sexual ContentThe heroes have women falling all over them and most of the women are about to fall out of their costumes -- lots of heaving bosoms. An evil cardinal threatens and tries to seduce women. Lots of kissing, talk of love, and wooing. A woman takes a bath and appears nude from the waist up, we see her bare back. A man tries to grope a woman who pulls a knife on him, placing it at his private area. |
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ViolenceLots of sword- and fist-fighting. People are shown being killed, but there is minimal blood. There are some scenes of torture and a man who begged for mercy is killed; we see the shadow of his stabbing. Cannon fire and a suicide is also shown when a woman, who is to be executed, jumps from a cliff into the water below. We don't see her hit the water. |
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LanguageName calling and mild swear words like "damn." |
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Social BehaviorGood guys and bad guys are clearly defined in the movie, however the good guys love some debauchery themselves, including womanizing. Bad behavior is punished with all the bad guys receiving Middle Ages justice by the sword. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoDrinking of wine and mead, typical for the time and type of story. |
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