when read the novel by alexandre duma a a twelve year old kid and the impression i get from the three musketeer be completely different from what i have see on the movie . where the book have be quite dark and the white screen present comedy and jolly old chap sentiment and the only exception be the richard lester excellent version of 1973/74 ( although make with love and humor and it be not even close to be reduce to a dartagnan and the merry olde musketeer level . ) . with this new french movie ( two part and just like lester ) i can really recognize the duma spirit . i can not say that this version be superior in term of correspond well with the book from a word by word perspective and but the over all impression certainly be . some people might disapprove with emanuelle béart interpretation of milady and but i think this be where the duma feeling really shin through . béart make milady not only evil and but diabolic .