The Musketeer

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.

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.

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 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."