WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Three Musketeers, The
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 09 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, Chris O’Donnell, Oliver Pratt, Tim Curry, Rebecca De Mornay.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 5
Sound Rating: 4.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Walt Disney Home Video
(Catalog Number): 252AS
(MPAA Rating): PG
(Retail Price): $39.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 105
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1993
(LD Release Date): 05/01/94
(THX® Digitally Mastered): Yes

Credits Information
(Director): Stephen Hereck
(Screenplay/Written By): David Loughery
(Story): NA
(Music): Michael Kamen
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Wolf Kroeger
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): John F. Link
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): Jordan Kerner & Jon Avnet
(Co-Producers): Ned Dowd & William W. Wilson III
(Producers): Joe Roth & Roger Birnbaum

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
(Theatrical Sound): Dolby Digital
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital):
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
The Three Musketeers is a Hollywood style comedy-adventure based on the original novel by Alexandre Dumas that is fast-paced and fun. The tale is a popular depiction of three loyal swordsmen: Aramis, (Charlie Sheen), Athos (Kiefer Sutherland), Porthos (Oliver Platt) and an eager recruit, D’Artagnan (Chris O’Donnell), who continuously battle against enemies and evil to protect the young King Louis of France. The odds are, of course, always great in the Musketeers’ attempt to defeat the cruel royal advisor, Cardinal Richelieu (superbly played by Tim Curry), and the temptuous envoy Milady De Winter (Rebecca De Mornay) who are plotting to overthrow the French crown.

LaserDisc Picture:
A THX Laser Disc Program supervised transfer, the disc quality is superb with no serious artifacts or noise to distract from the vivid color balance and contrast. Flesh tones are natural looking as is the use of color overall. Blacks are deep and solid, and the color fidelity is excellent. This is a good looking movie. The picture has been correctly framed at the Panavision® scope ratio 2.35:1 and nicely highlights the wonderful cinematography of Dean Semler.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack features a wonderfully expansive and dynamic orchestral score by Michael Kamen and others which was recorded at the Todd-AO scoring stage and features over the end credits the popular hit single, “All For Love,” performed by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting. There is an overall aggressive surround envelopment provided by the virtually non-intermittent music score and excellent spatial surrounds which define the interior space within the walls of the king’s palace and dungeons. Effects are generally centered with the dialogue which has, unfortunately, become an aspect of modern mixing technique. Bass extension, however, is superb and effectively underscores the action scenes.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
(Aggressive System Surround):
(Intense 25Hz Bass):
(Deep Bass Challenging):
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield):
(Aggressive Split Surround):
(Center Back Surround Imaging):
(Directionalized Dialogue):
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: