The Three Musketeers 2011 ***

Fidelity to the Alexandre Dumas story is not on the menu in this colourful period romp from Paul W Anderson, which weaves airborne airship action and Martix-style swordfights in the classic story. The Musketeers themselves are a mixed bunch (Logan Lehman, Matthew McFadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans), but there’s strong assistance from Christoph Waltz as the Cardinal de Richeau, Mads Mikkelson as Rochforte and Milla Jovovich as Milady. Probably Anderson’s best film, The Three Musketeers may not appeal to literary purists, but it’s a fun, good-spirited romp for everyone else. A flop in the US, Anderson’s film found a big audience internationally.