(no subject)

I was watching movies over the weekend. First, in Friday there was The Three Musketeers – the 1993 Disney production. And I have to say, we laughed through the whole movie, and I, even trying to get my critical faculties to work cannot call it a bad movie. Of course it has nothing to do with Alexander Dumas’ novel, or the French history, but if you don’t expect it to be, it is okay. Well, with the ridiculous storyline, insipid dialogue, and cardboard characters who have similar names to Dumas’ ones, but okay.

What? I had a good time watching it. Especially the love story between Luis and Anne (they were cute), and Shakespeare – you know, the English guy, that every French knows by heart, and recite it in the time of war with England in all taverns, and the cardinal’s plot, that was very evil, but made no sense whatsoever.

Is there a perfect interpretation? (Yes, and I know it, but you hardly ever get a chance watching it.) I know all the songs from there by heart, and have a crush on Richelieu. ;-)

I went to IMDB afterwards, and found this:

Very few people know and only if you are well versed in "black history" do you know that Alexander Dumas (the author of the book "The Three Musketeers") was African-American.

Political correctness doesn’t excuse stupidity. I mean, yes, Dumas’ grandmother was a black slave in his grandfather’s estate on Haiti, but wouldn’t Dumas be African-French, anyway? Of course, Dumas would object to be called anything but French, I suspect.

The movie and the interpretations got me thinking about Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. It is in no way historically accurate – he never pretended to be, but still, he took the historical characters and events, and spin them in a adventure story – making up reasons, and details, and affairs, but his Richelieu still deeply cares about France – it just we, following our heroes don’t care about that. My father counts this book among the best comedy books ever. I, as a child, didn’t agree – yea, there were funny moments, but Constance died! Now, I see that this book is a perfect mix of everything- complicated characters, intrigue, sparking dialogue, marred morals, and Constance – she is a nice girl, but she is boring. I am still sorry that she died, but I am more sorry about Milady.

How Dumas made us care about people who do such awful things? ( I don’t mean Milady only here – but – everyone.) The queen considers a treason – against a country, and we only wish she get back her diamonds…


Yesterday I had a Pride &Prejudice marathon with friends, one of whom has never seen it or read it. Six hours of fun! (Plus rose wine.)


For some reasons, we concentrated on Lydia and her marriage, and by the end decided, that she’ll do fine, having such a happy character without an ability to care about anyone beyond herself.