Customer Reviews

La Femme Musketeer

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Back in 1973, Richard Lester made a film of Alexander Dumas' popular story 'The Three Musketeers,' a delightful film, with Michael York as young D'Artagnan. After 31 years, Hallmark Entertainemt took up the same material to make this TV Mini-series, again starring Michael York as "older" D'Artagnan, with Susie Amy as D'Artagnan's daughter Valentine. This time, it is Valentine who goes to Paris, encounters three musketeers, and vows 'All for one, one for all,' to protect the king from the plotting Cardinal.

[NEXT GENERATION MUSKETEERS] In short, this is the story of 'The Three Musketeers' of the next generation. If you remember the story of Dumas's book (or Charlie Sheen's filmed version if you like), put in the sons of Alamis, Atos, and Porthos in their original muskteers' place, and you know what you will see in this film. Instead of deadly femme fatale and spy MiLady, you see Lady Bolton played by Nastassja Kinski. In place of Cardinal Richelieu, you get Cardinal Mazarin played by Gérard Depardieu.

Considering the origin of the TV film, the actions are decently done (often very acrobatic for this kind of film), and the locarions are beautiful. The acting is reasonable, if not exceptional, and it is amusing to see a female muskeeter in the central role, though the unique casting could have been more effective with deeper interpretation of being a female musketeer. Anyway, Susie Amy succeeds in making the heroine a likable one, with strong will occasional humor.

The film has, however, deep flaws. One of them is, the film has too many characters. You see eight musketeers in one film -- the original four and their children. John Rhys-Davies appears as Porthos (no, not his son), but I'm afraid he is not required to do much. The direction is often slack, and though Steve Boyum (responsible for many TV films) is good at presenting actions, he needs more skills in showing dramatic scenes. That means the Cardinal should be made more charismatic, and Lady Bolton should be made more bewitching, if not sexually.

[TRIVIA] By the way, Richard Lester made 'Return of the Musketeer' starring Michael York as D'Artagnan in 1989. In this film, "Cardinal Mazarin" was played by Philippe Noiret (French actor like Depardieu).

As to the female version of musketeer, we have already seen 'La Fille de d'Artagnan' (aka 'Revenge of the Musketeers') in 1994 starring Sophie Marceau as D'Artagnan's daughter. Incidentally, D'Artagnan was then played by none other than Philippe Noiret.

What fun it is to see Michael York reprise his role as D?Artagnan one last time, and what perfect casting to have John Rhys-Davies play one of the other aging Musketeers.
At almost three hours this Hallmark movie must rank as one of their best productions, great dialogue, location, cast and plot the adventure ranks favorably alongside the Richard Lester favorites from the 1970s.
Truly stunning in beauty and talent the likeable Susy Amy turns in a remarkable performance as D?Artgnan?s daughter Valentine who is determined to introduce the Musketeer?s to women?s lib by following in her esteemed fathers footsteps and becoming the first female Musketeer.
However, Natassja Kinski is just as devious as her predecessor Faye Dunaway, and shows her gratitude for Valentine?s saving her life by framing her for murder of the King?s mistress several scenes later.
With a document that calls into question Louis? birthright Valentine and the sons of the other Musketeers race across France in search of the traveling beautiful Spanish princess who is on her way to Paris in secret to wed the French king in a move that it is hoped will end the war with Spain. Not to stop her, but to protect her.
The movie is so much fun I am left echoing the thoughts of the other reviewer ? I wish their was a sequel.

I have to say that I feel that this movie can easily join the ranks of the other "Musketeer" movies. Hallmark did a wonderful job on this film, as did everyone on screen.
Susie Amy (Valentine) did an amazing job, especially since there was a lot of weight on her shoulders to carry this film, but she pulled it off. Just as amazing was Nastassja Kinski (Lady Bolton). I don't think I've ever seen her like this, and I only wish there was more of her in the movie. It was wonderful seeing Michael York reprise his role as D'Artagnan. Caspar Zafer (Gaston), Andrew Musselman (Antoine) and Niko Nicotera (Etienne) as the Musketeer's sons made me laugh with nearly every thing they did.
All in all, this really is a great movie. Dare I say, one of Hallmark's best. This is one you can watch over and over again (considering I've watched it twice already) and never get tired of it. Trust me, this movie is one to be seen.

In this Hallmark TV production Louis XIV is still under the thumb of Cardinal Mazarin (Gerard Depardieu). It's 1660, and the Cardinal will brook no opposition. Mazarin sees personal advantage in continuing the war with Spain, but the callow Louis is beginning to think otherwise. Then there's the king's arranged marriage to the Spanish Princess Maria Theresa, the pesky possibility that Louis just might not be rightful king of France and the festering resentments of Mazarin's deadly creature, Francois Villeroi. A certain letter is all Mazarin needs to keep Louis under his control. Cardinal Mazarin doesn't hesitate to turn those who oppose him into angels.

All this has nothing to do -- yet -- with Valentine D'Artagnan (Susie Amy), who was taught to fight with a sword by her father and who is determined to be accepted as a Musketeer. D'Artagnan (Michael York) sends her off to Paris with his encouragement. "You've got two good reasons to be brave," he tells her. "First, you're a Gascon. Second, you're my daughter. Always fight at the least provocation and never submit to insults or edicts. Above all, remember who you are...a D'Artagnan!"

It's not long before Valentine is up to her pommel trying to save the king and to foil Mazarin's schemes. She is accused of murder by Mazarin's beautiful agent, Lady Bolton (Nastassja Kinski) and must rescue the Princess. Valentine often skewers members of the Cardinal's Guards. Even with the aid of the three sons of Porthos, Athos and Aramis, who have just been accepted as Musketeers themselves, all looks like France might be lost. But then the old men show up. With Valentine and their sons by their sides, they show how it's done. Although we're an hour into the 170 minute production before they appear and the movie isn't about them, there's something poignant, amusing and inspiring when we see the aging D'Artagnan, Athos (Christopher Cazenove), Aramis (Alan Corduner) and Porthos (John Rhys-Davies), heavier now, gray, a little slower and often used for comedy relief, answer the call to honor and arms. We don't see as much of the four as we'd like, but they help make the movie.

On the TV movie's plus side: Those actors who can actually act -- mainly the older ones -- do a fine job. The production values are high. The story, however drawn out it becomes, still contains enough of Dumas' great swashbuckling tales of derring-do, evil, honor and action to be entertaining. Bringing in the sons of those three musketeers, then their fathers plus D'Artagnan himself, gives a nice glow to the story.

On the minus side, too many of the under-30 actors have that wrinkleless, earnest and unexciting talent found in network television comedies. Depardieu, while one of the world's great actors, has never been at his best trying to act in English. This movie is no exception. And there are all those corny back flips, rollovers and sword twirling during fights, usually by Valentine. The great weakness, however, is the lack of style. The production is pleasant but, as Cyrano would say, it has no panache.

To see a first-class version of what the daughter of D'Artagnan, aided by her dad and his old comrades, can accomplish with great style, humor and adventure, watch Bernard Tavernier's La Fille de D'Artagnan, renamed Revenge of the Musketeers for the U.S. DVD release. Sophie Marceau plays an energetic Eloise D'Artagnan and Philippe Noiret is her father. When she recruits him and his three comrades to save Louis XIV, look out. Eloise is almost as good with a sword as they are. And they, although sometimes out of breath, are still the best around.

The DVD transfer is just fine. There are no extras. Is La Femme Musketeer worth four stars? Maybe not, but it means well.

I saw this movie on Hallmark. The only bad part about it is that there isn't a sequel!!! Valentine has to defy all odds to follow in her father's footsteps and her life-time dream of becoming a member of the King's Musketeers. She beats down the stereotyping of women in this movie. It's great!!!!

I entered into watching this film with lowered expectation. Lets face A) it was a made for TV movie..and from Hallmark. B) Can anyone look at Michael York today and not see Basil Exposition (from the Austin Powers movies).

I wish to now (after removing my foot from my mouth) apologize to Mr. York and Hallmark. Loved this Film. I loved seeing Michael York reprise his role as D'Artagnan.

This was perhaps the best Musketeer movie released in the U.S. since Richard Lesters 1979 versions.

The acting was superb, the costumes and sets amazing, very High Production Values and great sword-play.
The acting was fantastic. The woman playing Valentine was beautiful...She had that perfect mix of sensetivity and Fierceness that made her perfect to play a gascon.

The kids of the Musketeers were alot of fun, and chips off the old block. John Rys Davis as Porthos was brilliant casting altho Athos and Aramis were disapponting.

Gerard DePardieu seemed lill at ease in the Cardinals robes, but Natasha Kinski as the lady Bolton was as beautiful as ever.
The real star, to me, was Jean Michel Pirae as Villeroi...seethingly evil yet Darkly compelling...you almost felt for him...almost. A Great Film and I can't wait for the DVD

Le Femme Musketeer is another great version of the three musketeers.
Gorgeous girl, great actors. Adding the fourth musketeer was a great idea. What else could one ask for in a movie.
Alan .....

La Femme Musketeer was a bit of a disappointment, considering the presence of Gerard Depardieu (!), John Rhys-Davies, and Nastassja Kinski, among others.
D'Artagnan's daughter (!!!) decides to ride to Paris to join the King's Musketeers...
There, she meets up with Athos', Aramis', and Porthos' sons in order to foil Cardinal Mazarin's plans and save France.
In short, the acting was average to substandard (though Marcus Jean Pirae as Captain Villeroi does steal the show and provide for that second star), the setting and the music are good, while the plot and the dialogues are average and way "below average," respectively.
The four old musketeers' performances were insulting to say the least; they were a walking circus of old geezers, mocking the original characters/heroes.
D'Artagnan, the father, was pathetic in his interaction with both his wife and daughter to the point that one wonders whether the film was a parody!
John Rhys-Davies is far from being the experienced actor that we are used to, and if I'm not mistaken, Aramis is played by someone straight off the Xena set!
The daughter, Susie Amy, was completely out of place and seemed that she did not belong in this role or on this set.
As to what Gerard Depardieu and Nastassja Kinski were thinking taking part in this film, I honestly have no idea!
The cherry on the cake was how all the Frenchmen had English accents, while the Italian Cardinal had a French one!
Though the potential for a decent movie was definitely there it fails to take off, primarily due to the writers who seem to lack the ability to write, and the actors who do not seem able or willing to act.
Most importantly, the film goes "Xena" (sloppy/amateur work) on us early on, shattering any hope of it being anything more than a mediocre movie that unless you're under 13 and/or are heavily intoxicated, cannot truly enjoy.
Save your money and wait till they show it on TV for free.

I saw this movie on Hallmark too! It's the best! I may not know a whole lot about sword play, but I think it's one of the best! Instead of having the guys always being the heros, there's finally a girl who becomes one! And she doesn't wear the dresses! She is taught by her father, and she takes on the captin of the Cardinal!

For the most part none of the musketeer movies even come close to doing justice to the original series of books by Alexandre Dumas. Which is surprising given the fabulous potential of the oiginal material. Why the material has been bastardized to fill the egos of movie stars such as Depardieu, Irons, Di Caprio and the like beats me. Or why they would chose to demean this wonderful material to stage yet another thin, vacuous, and misleadingly moralizing "politically correct" charade to stand for women's lib. It's insulting to anyone who read these books that the greedy pinheads who infect the moviemaking industry would seek to plagiarize Dumas' work simply becase his copyrights have expired. The Lester piece with Michael York, Raquel Welch and the rest is probably as good as it gets...yet it remains at heart simply a spoof of the original story. I am hoping that one day someone will come and make a decent "Three Musketeers", not to mention bring to screen the unforgetable, poignant and exciting follow-up, "Twenty Years Later" with a middle-aged and career-stuck Artagnan, a well established and wise Athos, Porthos as a widowed baronet and Aramis as a philandering priest...not to mention the amazing revenge from the past...For the time being just read the books.