THE THREE MUSKETEERS 3D
Unexpectedly entertaining comic-book adventure for older children and adults.
Should You Watch It?
If you want a serious, faithful adaptation of Alexandre Dumas, this may disappoint you. But if you want lively comic-book adventure, colorful characters, energetic sword fighting, and spectacular action, this movie has more to offer than expected.
The 3D visuals are only okay, and some of the action is unbelievable. Still, the acting and spirited cast save the film from being a misfire. It also celebrates heroism and morality, while Aramis honors Christianity several times.
The cost is modest but real: foul language, brief innuendo, violence, and a confusing image involving a skeleton and a crucifix. For older children and adults who can exercise discernment, this is worth considering; younger children may be better served elsewhere.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAthos, Porthos, and Aramis are musketeers whose mission to steal Leonardo Da Vinci’s plans for a military airship ends in betrayal. Soon afterward, young D’Artagnan travels to Paris to join the king’s musketeers, like his father before him.
After meeting the dejected musketeers, D’Artagnan becomes involved in a plot by Cardinal Richelieu and Lady De Winter against the Queen of France. The new friends must race across Europe to stop the scheme.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means an entertaining but uneven adventure. The sword fighting is fun, the characters are mostly enjoyable, and the action scenes are often spectacular, even when they become unbelievable.
The cast gives the movie much of its energy. Matthew Macfadyen is particularly good as the brooding Athos. Milla Jovovich plays Lady De Winter with relish, while Logan Lerman makes a good, if not great, D’Artagnan. Christoph Waltz, Luke Evans, and Ray Stevenson round out the main cast well.
The movie works more as comic-book action than as a careful adaptation of the classic story. The 3D adds little, and literary purists may be disappointed.
The Worldview
The movie retains the original story’s emphasis on heroism and morality. One of the good musketeers, Aramis, honors Christianity several times. At the same time, the power-hungry Cardinal Richelieu is one of the villains, and a menacing skeleton carrying a Catholic crucifix of Jesus appears on the front of one villain’s airship. That image could create theological confusion.
The film’s moral world also includes courage, loyalty, and the rebuking of deceit and betrayal. Its villains rely on manipulation and false accusations, while the musketeers use their courage and friendship to oppose them. The story’s Christian references are positive, even though it does not present a consistently Christian picture of authority.
The film’s central longing is for heroic people to stand against corruption and defend the innocent. Scripture calls believers to pursue what is good: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure” (Philippians 4:8).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral, patriotic worldview, with one of the three heroic, good-guy musketeers honoring his Christian faith two or three times, but a power hungry Cardinal is one of the bad guys and a carving on one of the other villains’ airship is of a menacing skeleton carrying a crucifix of Jesus Christ in one of its bony hands, so there could be some theological confusion; 14 obscenities and two light exclamatory profanities; lots of action violence includes many sword fights with people being stabbed, canon balls rip apart ships and building, people fire old guns and muskets at one another, people fall from great heights, people kick and punch one another during swordfights, etc.; no sex scenes but man makes a comment with light sexual innuendo and villains concoct false story of an illicit love affair with the young Queen of France; no nudity but woman strips down to her old fashioned corset to sneak around the French palace and other dresses worn by women reveal some cleavage; alcohol use and celebration favoring wine drinking; no smoking or drugs, though female villain drops a sleeping or knockout potion into the drinks of the three musketeers; and, deceit, betrayal, lying, manipulation but they are mostly rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The musketeers face betrayal but continue working together. What helps people remain loyal when trust has been damaged?
Proverbs 17:17 · Ephesians 4:2–3The villains use lies and manipulation to harm the queen. Why does Scripture treat truthfulness as a matter of character, not merely strategy?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22Aramis honors his Christian faith in a story filled with danger and political intrigue. How should faith shape courage and action?
Joshua 1:9 · James 2:17The heroes defend the queen against a plot to destroy her. What does Scripture teach about protecting the vulnerable and opposing injustice?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · Micah 6:8The Final Word
This is unexpectedly entertaining eye candy: lively sword fights, spirited performances, and positive moral content, though the action, language, innuendo, and theological confusion require discernment. For older children and adults, WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN AND UP. For younger viewers, consider these.
