VHS : D'Artagnan's Daughter [1995]

Rating: - D'Artagnan's daughter in a wonderful swashbuckler
La Fille de D'Artagnan was a success in Europe but never got much of a release in the U.S. When the American DVD came out it had a new name, Revenge of the Musketeers. Too bad more people didn't see it. It's a great swashbuckling movie with lots of sword play, shrewd comedy, a clever story and fine acting.

It's the mid-Seventeenth Century in France. Eloise D'Artagnan (Sophie Marceau) is a young woman being educated in a convent when it is attacked and the mother superior killed. She learns there is a plot afoot, vows revenge and sets off to Paris to find her father (Philippe Noiret) and to reunite him with Athos, Aramis and Porthos. The plot thickens as they find not only evil noblemen and a cruel lady in red but that the 16-year-old king himself is in danger.

The humor and good nature of the film has a lot to do with the aging three musketeers and D'Artagnan. They've become middle aged, some a bit portly. They've all retired or resigned from the musketeers years ago. They find endless horseback riding and climbing walls no longer the easy action of their youth. Yet although they might get a bit tired sword fighting, they still are the best around...which they prove on ship decks, in castle hallways, and on Paris roofs.

Sophie Marceau does a wonderful job as the passionate and funny Eloise. She has no desire to simply wear skirts and get married as her father wishes. She's devoted to the idea of justice and righting the wrongs that have been committed. She loves her father and is proud of his comrades. She also finds she often has to protect the poet who loves her. He may write wonderful verse, but he can't use a sword and can barely ride a horse. Marceau throws herself into the role. Eloise may not be the best sword fighter around (she has plans for lessons from her father), but she energetically skewers those who try to confront her. Marceau leaps onto tables and horses, and also manages to land on her bottom in the mud and the dirt. She's an actress who is not afraid to get dirty or look disheveled.

This is an amusing movie with a lot of sword play. Marceau and Noiret are great. I liked it a lot. The DVD picture and audio are fine and the yellow subtitles are easy to read.

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Rating: - Much more than you expect
La Fille de d'Artagnan is one of those rare movies, which give you much more pleasure than you expect. It's also one or the rare cases when a sequel (if one can call it a sequel to numerous adaptations of Alexandre Dumas' Les Trois Mousquetaires) is hundred times better than the originals. The greatest storyteller himself would have been proud of the plot. The acting is perfect: Philippe Noiret is what the old d'Artagnan should have become after the life full of adventures; Sophie Marceau is the kind of daughter d'Artagnan should have with all the due heredity. Put the tape into your VCR and enjoy it.

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Rating: - Much more than you expect
La Fille de d'Artagnan is one of those rare movies, which give you much more pleasure than you expect. It's also one or the rare cases when a sequel (if one can call it a sequel to numerous adaptations of Alexandre Dumas' Les Trois Mousquetaires) is hundred times better than the originals. The greatest storyteller himself would have been proud of the plot. The acting is perfect: Philippe Noiret is what the old d'Artagnan should have become after the life full of adventures; Sophie Marceau is the kind of daughter d'Artagnan should have with all the due heredity. Put the tape into your VCR and enjoy it.

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Rating: - Brilliant
Despite the slightly negative review from Empire this is an excellent film. It's really funny and at some points quite farcical but overall it's a beautiful film with some excellent acting. If you like french cinema then buy this.