Alexandre Dumas

Well I hope everyone had a happy Christmas, mine was full of drama but happy too, Santa was certainly good as was my lovely and far too generous boyfriend who got me a pile of books, dvds and blu-rays, I don't even know where to begin with reading and watching it all! Hope you like my tree btw, couldn't resist the decorations.


Watched The Man in the Iron Mask and The Three Musketeers (1993) today, the first was brilliant, I was blown away by the scenery and the acting whilst the latter was meh, did not help that I watched it second. Compared to the 1973 The Three Musketeers there is just no comparison, pity since it did have a good cast- Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Oliver Platt, Chris O'Donnell, Tim Curry and Michael Wincott. For me it just tried to cram far too much in and the plot came across as rushed and Constance was barely in it, so was the Lord DeWinter's brother, although it was nice to have him appear at least, Buckingham wasn't there at all and Anne's relationship with him not once mentioned, instead the Cardinal seeks to marry her. It is a loose adaptation at best but then so is The Man in the Iron Mask to be fair with a subplot of a romance between Anne and D'Artagnan that never happened and yet I loved it in the movie, maybe because Gabriel Bryne was just so convincing in the role.

I'm definitely becoming a huge Alexandre Dumas fan, at least in terms of movie productions, I am ashamed to admit I have yet to read any of novels, I just have so many books to get through at the moment! Still he's on the list. I also can't wait to see the recent The Three Musketeers, despite reviews I still have hope.

I have to say my favourite films so far though are The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) and The Counte of Monte Cristo (2002), it is a disgrace how hard that is to find on dvd! The twists in that movie were numerable and fantastic, though I've heard it differs from the novel (like so many, many movies) it is easily one of the best movies I have ever seen, Jim Caviezel does not get the credit he deserves as an actor.

I'm a big fan of swashbuckling movies as well as sword and sandal, they're probably my favourite two genres if I'm honest despite my obvious love for vampire movies. So naturally any movies with the four musketeers really appeals, I also love period pieces and historical movies and shows, so extra bonus there, although most swashbuckling/sword and sandal movies are usually historical, albeit loosely.

I just wish there were more, more original ones especially rather than remakes and reboots.