The Musketeer parents guide

The Musketeer Parent Guide

Overall C-

An action-packed, swashbuckling tale of a young man's quest to become a musketeer and to avenge the death of his parents, The Musketeer contains little gore and even less plot. General themes of violence, some sexuality, and an evil religious leader may have parents proceeding with caution.

Release date September 11, 2001

Violence D+
Sexual Content C-
Profanity A-
Substance Use C-

Why is The Musketeer rated PG-13? The MPAA rated The Musketeer PG-13

Run Time: 104 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Dedicated to protecting the King of France is an elite group of men known as The Musketeers. But these swashbuckling swordsmen (with a propensity to drink and carouse at night) find their ranks disbanded and their leader imprisoned when they are falsely accused of assassinating a Spanish dignitary.

The Musketeer - Official site D’Artagnan (Justin Chambers) has dreamed of becoming a member of the loyal guard for fourteen years—ever since he witnessed the murder of his parents. Raised and trained by Planchet (Jean-Pierre Castaldi) the former tutor of his musketeer father, the young man is unsure if his motives are patriotic or merely a desire for revenge.

The Musketeer - Official site Arriving in Paris to find his heroes in a drunk and disorderly condition, D’Artagnan discovers the real source of political tension is Cardinal Richelieu (Stephan Rea). With ambitions to usurp the monarch’s power by making him appear incompetent in the eyes of the people and other nations, the church leader secretly hires a group of henchmen to stir up trouble. Of course the leader of his mercenaries is none other than the killer D’Artagnan seeks.

The Musketeer - Official site The predictable plot thread of this movie only exists to string together countless displays of swordsmanship. If you’re looking for action, then you likely won’t be disappointed. The incredible stunts feature classic battle settings such as a stagecoach and a catwalk, plus fancy keg footwork, the use of ceiling beams as a toehold, fencing matches between men climbing ropes to reach a tower window, and a wine cellar conveniently full of ladders. Yet in spite of the countless deaths and injuries, very little blood is seen.

And what would a musketeer movie be without women? In this case the story relies solely on Mena Suvari, focusing on her big eyes, low cut dresses, and a peeping tom’s view of her taking a bath (body parts carefully concealed). With some inferred male nudity, implied sexual relations between an unmarried couple, some sexual innuendo, plenty of tavern scenes, and negative religious portrayals, parents may have some reservations about this film being “All for one and one for all.”

Running time: 104 minutes. Theatrical release September 11, 2001. Updated

The Musketeer
Rating & Content Info

Why is The Musketeer rated PG-13? The Musketeer is rated PG-13 by the MPAA

Violence: D+

Child practices sword fighting. Parents and child killed or injured by sword. Man struck in face by sword. When man threatens thieving child, a sword fight erupts resulting in destruction of property, injury or death, and gun held on hostage. Man shows off gun handling skills. Man stabbed and gunshots fired at others. Man practices sword skills. Man threatened with sword in several scenes. Characters talk of murder and plunder. Bumbling man stumbles and hit head. Two men knocked unconscious. Rolling kegs trip men. Explosives made and used on several occasions. Sword fight results in deaths and injuries. Sword held at man’s throat. Man throws knife at painted representation of his enemy. Butcher shown chopping raw meat. Various characters bound and locked up. Mob storms castle and sword fight ensues, including property damage, injury or death, spilling hot liquid, and threats with fire. Man dragged with rope. Men fall from window ledge into laundry. Man slaps woman’s face twice. Man falls through ceiling. Insects and the possible existence of crocodile cause nervousness. Woman uses dagger in self-defense on two occasions, threatens attacker with castration on one. Men practicing fencing on scarecrows are taken prisoner. Man holds woman at gunpoint on two occasions. Man thrown to ground and hit on head. Coach attacked and sword fight/shooting match occurs including men falling off coach, men dragged by horses and trampled, spear narrowly missing characters, injury and death of some characters, and explosion. Man uses tree branch as weapon. Women slaps man’s face. Knife blade held against child’s throat. Man killed with sword. Horse collapses from over-exertion. Man shot. Room set on fire. Thrown knife narrowly misses two characters. Man threatens drunken man. Men on horseback storm castle. Cannon fire causes death and injury. Horse tramples man. Sword fighting scene includes death and injury, men hanging and falling from ropes while attempting to climb tower, man falling down stone stairs, opponents fighting on catwalk and lashing at one another while scaling (often falling) ladders. Woman shot. Man utters death threat.

Sexual Content: C-

Prostitute speaks to men in tavern. Strategically obstructed shot of naked woman in bathtub. Woman’s naked back and shoulders shown. Woman showing lots of cleavage makes sexual double entendre. Several kisses shown between unmarried couple, with one strongly implied sexual encounter. Woman clothed only in sheet shown on two occasions. Man makes sexual advances towards niece, mistakes her efforts to retrieve dagger hidden in garter belt as invitation. Woman sees naked man (we only see her reaction) and makes some sexual comments. Men assume sexual relationship between man and woman. Woman smacks man’s behind. Nude man shown swimming (water obscures details).

Language: A-,/p>

Use of at least: One sexual slang term, mild language and name-calling. Male characters belittle female characters in two scenes.

Alcohol / Drug Use: C-

Musketeers accused of drinking and carousing. Several characters shown inebriated. Men confess to being drunk. Several scenes set in tavern where patrons are drinking. Main characters drink for courage and celebration. Social drinking at banquet.

 

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The Musketeer Parents' Guide

Talk about the movie with your family…

When the young D’Artagnan desires revenge, he asks Planchet to teach him the skills of the musketeers, just as he had his father. Planchet answers: “I did not teach your father to kill, I taught him how to live.” What do you think he meant?

Do you think it is possible for men who are constantly drinking to possess such quick reflexes and coordinated physical movements?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The Musketeer movie is February 26, 2002. Here are some details…

DVD Release Date: February 26, 2002

  • Production company: Universal
  • Package type: Keep case
  • Aspect ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1
  • DVD encoding: Region 1
  • Available audio tracks: English (DTS), English & French (Dolby Digital 5.1) DVD Extras:
    • Production notes
    • Theatrical trailers

  • Related home video titles:

    Video alternatives…

    For other tales of sword wielding, swashbuckling heroes, check out The Three Musketeers, or The Mask Of Zorro. Or, look in your local library for the novel it is based on—The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.