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The lavish second film in the adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s much-loved novel by Martin Bourboulon promises all that the first one delivered — and more. In reimagining Milady, one of the most sly and seductive vamps of literature, it gives us a woman whom we come closer than ever to understand, even if 17th century France with its royal plots, subplots and murderous scheming remains opaque.
There is almost too much going on, especially at first, as Bourboulon seeks to bring viewers up to speed, to where he left us off after the first part a year ago. We have the largely colourless king and queen, living in the shadow of a failed assassination plot against him, that has left in its wake more questions than answers. As people drop dead at convenient intervals, it is clear that the trail goes higher and there are secrets to be hidden.
Before we discover how high, we get Milady (a smouldering Green), who keeps turning up at crucial intervals to give the story a kick. It can be hard to keep track of how exactly each character is tied to the larger aim of keeping the Catholic French royalty safe against the Protestant rebels, but every time Milady appears on the screen, you are not really thinking of God.
But is she the Devil, or has she been forced to become so in a world run by men? “Men have put their hands on me, soiled me, betrayed me… But they will not kill me,” she declares at one point, seeking a dagger to take her own life than give her enemies the pleasure of hanging her.
It’s a pity then that so much of the film carries on without her, despite that name in the title. The first half — shot in dull, muddy battlegrounds, and against grand, grey castles — only comes alive intermittently when that familiar camaraderie between the Musketeers is allowed to play out.
And barring Arthos (Cassell) and his too-gloomy self, the others are effective. If Porthos (Marmai) is as amorous and silver-tongued as ever, Aramis (Duris) remains ever eager to rush headlong into a duel.
D’Artagnan (Civil) has the hard task of pining for a love, an emotion that is also more eloquent of modern times than the book’s setting. But Civil is effective in his desperate sadness — if not the object of his love Constance (Khoudry) in her much too placid innocence — even as he does the Musketeer thing and moves from one battle to another, in the name of the King.
The film ends on a cliffhanger, suggesting there is more ahead. All for one, one for all, and us in tow.
The Three Musketeers Part II Milady movie director: Martin Bourboulon
The Three Musketeers Part II Milady movie cast: Eva Green, Vincent Cassel, Francois Civil, Romain Duris, Pio Marmai, Lyna Khoudri
The Three Musketeers Part II Milady movie rating: 3 stars
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