The Three Musketeers (PG, 1993)

common sense media says

Frothy '90s Disney remake offers light amusement.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

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.

Positive messages: Good 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.
Violence & scariness: Lots 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.
Sexy stuff: The 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.
Language: Name calling and mild swear words like "damn."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking of wine and mead, typical for the time and type of story.

More on The Three Musketeers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

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?

What's the story?

What's the story?

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.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

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.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Stephen Herek
Cast: Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell, Kiefer Sutherland
Genre: Action/Adventure
Run time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release: November 12, 1993
DVD release: August 24, 1999
MPAA Rating: PG

This review was written by Terreece Clarke
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

Dr3w
adult
 
Who Would Let Their 8 Year Old Watch This?
My brother and I began watching this film while we were staying with a friend of our mothers. We saw that it was a Disney movie and was rated PG, so we thought it would probably be fine. Plus, with Kiefer Sutherland, Chris O'Donnel and Tim Curry in the cast, we thought it would probably be pretty decent. I don't know how to express my disappointment in this film. The action was mediocre at best, the plot was not developed well at all, the dialogue wasn't amusing or even light-hearted, and simply nothing in this film was as good as it should have been. I would get more excited about watching Gunga Din again than I would about watching this movie. My second disappointment in this film, however, was the near constant barrage of sensual scenes. There are many shots of busty women wearing cleavage bearing outfits that left me and my brother feeling very uncomfortable the whole film. There is partial nudity as a woman gets out of a bathtub and her bare back is visible. This scene is also problematic because, while the viewer may only see her back, the cardinal has snuck into the woman's room and sees her from the front. Early on there are bawdy innuendos involving infidelity (Aramis is shown leaping from a married woman's house after her husband burst in on them. Ostensibly all they were doing was reading the Bible, but the woman was wearing VERY revealing period underwear that leaves very little to the imagination). The main characters are shown carousing with prostitutes. D'Artagnan ends up making out with Milady while dressed only in his whity-tighties in a very sensual scene. There is a scene in a bar with drinking and prostitutes making veiled lewd comments. There was no explicit nudity or sexuality in this film, but the near constant sensuality makes me wonder who thinks this film would be ok for 8 and up especially since there are some fairly intense and violent scenes as well.

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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