GamerTab That was an excellent one.

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

paid in full Note: this movie was viewed in its original version, french language.This movie was awsome. The story never has a dull moment. The villains are great and the good guys play their roles well. It is different from american movies in a good way. It has romance, vengeance and loyalty as themes...and also a lot of action. You will be pleased.

writers_reign ... that this will go down well with Errol Flynn aficionados or indeed with anyone who enjoys a good romp. In one respect it's good old fashioned melodrama in the Sandy Dumas Vic Hugo tradition with evil plotters, disguises, circus performers and, of course, costume. Daniel Auteuil is not the first name that springs to mind when thinking 'swashbuckler' but he acquits himself excellently as did Depardieu in Cyrano de Bergerac and Vincent Perez (who was also in Cyrano) is not far behind. Fabrice Luchini is also in good form as the scheming nephew determined to inherit no matter over whose dead body. Finally we must add Marie Gillain in an early appearance as daughter turned lover (don't ask, just go see). All in all a very fine divertissment.

heather-238 but look at the end of the count of Monte cristo. Doutbless the intimacy was not that intense.There is an ick factor, but considering he has saved her life countless times, in the grand scheme of things who else would she marry? She'd be dead eight times over if it wasn't for him.My problem was that Alteuil always appeared 50, he really looked wrong aged for the younger scenes. if a younger man than the duke could have been found, i guess those later scenes would not have worked because then that person would have been too old to play the concept of the older character...they say these feelings just dawned on them, a funny play on Aurore's name, sleeping beauty reference, etc.i consider Aurore's parental re-orientation to having a mother the key change, Aurore is then free to adopt a new figure in the parental role, freeing Lagardere to be a new, "other" role. Does his name mean "the guarding" or something? this movie was good clean fun, and the writing had me wishing so many other movies were as fun. When the Duc goes to knight Lagardere, he finds the knight to be has no Christian name. "Indeed, you lack everything". too funny.

dafyddabhugh The previous comment (about the ending) is valid, from a contemporary standpoint. However, there is such a history, both in literature and in real life in 1700 (and indeed later), of exactly this sort of situation (dancing around a spoiler here) that it didn't bother me... as of course it would have in a more realistic, less fairy-tale-ish movie.I just plain loved it, without the caveat, which is considerably more plausible than, e.g., one brilliant swordsman defeating eight or nine simultaneous attackers <g>.This movie falls somewhere between the Princess Bride and Rob Roy on the realism scale -- two other movies I loved. It has a definite fairy-tale feel to it... but for those like me who love fairy tales, that actually makes it more appealing.Dafydd ab Hugh