The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan: Martin Bourboulon’s adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ swashbuckling classic effectively tells a story that is very good to start with. A romp with strong and brave heroes, resourceful and plucky heroines, and dastardly villains, which mixes political conspiracy with romance and action, the film stays mostly faithful to the book but changes enough to remain fresh (as well as provides a good hook for the second part). The all-star cast is well-picked and they perform to content: François Civil projects that rookie energy and charm, as befits d’Artagnan; Vincent Cassel, as Athos, has the gravitas the character requires; Pio Marmaï and Romain Duris are well cast, but don’t have as much to do; Louis Garrel and Vicky Krieps are good choices for the monarchs of France; and last but not least, Eva Green is the perfect Milady, seductive and cruel. Production values are top-notch: the production design, by Stéphane Taillasson, and the costume design, by Thierry Delettre, are lush, detailed, and full of personality in their recreation of the XVIIth Century. Cinematographer Nicolas Bolduc and editor Célia Lafitedupont give a gritty look to the well-choreographed action sequences, which are fluid, brutal, and disconcerting as such moments of violence should be.