Three Times the Charm: “Three Musketeers in 3D”

By Addie Strong
October 21, 2011

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Ray Stevenson, Matthew Macfadyen, Logan Lerman and Luke Evans Star in "The Three Musketeers 3D," out today(

In the new film, in theaters today, the Musketeers team up against a triple threat of villains in the latest film version of Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale. Fortunately, this time around, their ranks have grown to four, with with young wannabe warrior D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman) joining their crew.

Here's what's facing the legendary French friends—Athos (Matthew Macfadyen), Aramis (Luke Evans) and Porthos (Ray Stevenson)—whose united-we-stand motto is "all for one, one for all," in this action-packed 3D movie: First, the Musketeers unite to take on the evil Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz), who, despite his religious position and seeming devotion to naïve King Louis, is intent on taking over the throne and ruling France himself.

Unfortunately for the Musketeers, Richelieu's dangerous associate, Rochefort (Mads Mikkelsen), is never far from the Cardinal’s side. Adding to their troubles, the heroes must face the slick and suave Duke of Buckingham (Orlando Bloom), whose sights are set on destroying the nation of France with a never-before-seen weapon.

The Three Musketeers 3D (2011) - Official Trailer (via YouTube)

As if that weren’t enough, the Musketeers also risk security within their own ranks thanks to a tenuous relationship with double agent Milady de Winter (Milla Jovovich). Unfortunately for Athos, he finds his heart set on this gorgeous assassin, only to further endanger his fellow Musketeers, who doubt whether they can truly trust this femme fatale.

Director Paul W.S. Anderson says his movie stays true to the original story but adds a 21st century flair. “Love, honor, courage, friendship, these are classic themes that never go out of style,” he told the Associated Press. “But I think every generation deserves its own version of ‘The Three Musketeers.’” The director adds that the 3D film and its special effects are able “to bring to life 17th century Paris and London in a spectacular way that’s never been able to be done before.”

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Logan Lerman, Luke Evans, Ray Stevenson, Matthew Macfadyen, Freddie Fox, Gabriella Wild, Juno Temple and Christoph Waltz in "The Three Musketeers 3D"

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Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich

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It’s Anderson’s own wife, Milla Jovovich, who lends her acting skills and generous assets to the role of the movies conniving villainess. (Anderson and Jovovich met on the set of “Resident Evil,” which he directed and in which she starred.) “There was a review of the movie [“Three Musketeers”] that said Milla’s cleavage is worth the price of admission,” he told MTV News. “Cleavage in 3D—it was what the medium was invented for.” Jovovich herself admits that she had to eat lots of pasta and get cinched into a corset to create her own special effects, but focusing on her cleavage would be doing the actress a great disservice. Jovovich is more than capable of keeping up with the guys in tough action sequences, and still manages to play the woman with whom a Musketeer might fall in love, even if it meant risking his own downfall.

The film also marks Orlando Bloom’s debut as a major movie villain. Most people know Bloom as the hero in blockbusters like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Lord of the Rings.” In fact, Bloom says he was happy to leave the heroics to McFadyen, Evans and Stevenson this time around. “They’re like the superheroes of their time, and they get all the cool stuff,” Bloom told the Chicago Sun Times of the Musketeers, “and I get to totter around on a pair of heels, but it was exactly what I wanted to do.”

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Logan Lerman, Gabriella Wilde and Carsten Norgaard

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Bloom joined the rest of the ensemble cast for filming in Bavaria, Germany, where director Anderson added some 21st century buzz to the 17th century classic. In addition to the 3D element and special effects, that weapon that Bloom’s Duke of Buckingham character was working on? Well, the best way to describe it is as a giant, blimp-like pirate ship. Other than that, you’ll just have to see for yourself, along with the rest of the Musketeer fanatics. (And there are many: Total sales for “Three Musketeers” merchandise on eBay skyrocketed 39% and total bids are up 37% in the past month versus the previous 30 days.) Check out some of the “all for one, one for all”-inspired goods we found in an eBay search: