The French know how to do a swashbuckler
It seems like everything works in this movie. The plot zips along nicely, never lagging; the writing's very tight, with some great one-liners and exchanges; the period setting is developed to near perfection, with fantastic locations and costumes... I could go on.
The big question on my mind now is, where is the great French adaptation of Dumas's immortal Troix Mousquetaires?
No adaptation that I've seen or heard of has actually stayed with the original mood and story of the book.
Granted, there's a lot in that book, but what I think would be nice would be a miniseries, English or French, that stuck to the book like pre-chewed gum to sneakers.
It's been done before. Look at the fabulous and still unequaled Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. Not to mention the Vanity Fair starring Natasha Little.