On Guard (1998)

The swordplay never ends in this dazzling, Dumas-like adventure of conspiracy and revenge, set around 1700 and presented here in its seventh filmed incarnation, directed by French New Wave titan Philippe de Broca (That Man from Rio). Daniel Auteuil plays Legardere, a callow swordsman who becomes friend to and bodyguard of the Duke of Nevers (Vincent Perez). When the latter is assassinated by his scheming cousin, Gonzague (Fabrice Luchini), Nevers's daughter, Aurore (Marie Gillain), is left in the care of Legardere, who raises her within the protective camouflage of a traveling troupe of actors. Years later, back in Paris, Legardere exacts a complicated retribution under Gonzague's nose, determined to give Aurore the life and inheritance she deserves. This exceptionally handsome film is an all-out adventure, but the witty de Broca is not one to settle for mere derring-do. The great Auteuil (The Girl on the Bridge) proves as funny as he is heroic. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

Awesome movie.

This is one of my most favorite movies of all time. And that's saying a lot, since I usually go for straight up genre (horror, action) and not the more literary types of films that this clearly falls into. September 11, 2007

If you like the Three Musketeers...

This French feature film (with English subtitles) is *not* a Three Musketeers story -- but it has similar attractions. Set in the same epoch, it has sword fights, chases, disguises, pomp, and humor and wit as well as action and drama. The actors took pains to learn how to fence, and the sword fighting looks appropriately lethal. The story is tightly written, the acting outstanding, and the story surprisingly fresh. A movie to enjoy rather than endure. August 1, 2007

A rollicking Swashbuckler

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie so much, that I immediadtely bought duplicates for friends and family. June 14, 2007

A very pleasant surprise

Amazon's one-click feature, combined with Amazon prime, is an excllent tool (for them!) in that, at least in my case, it drives a lot of impulse buying. I find myself browsing through my recommended items lists one-clicking my way towards a smaller bank account and a huge pile of books and DVDs I'll never find the time to make it through.

On Guard was one of those items that, when it arrived, I thought to myself "what the hell was I thinking when I bought this?". It had been recommended to me because I had recently purchased another French film, the 6+ hour French version of The Count of Monte Cristo (which I've also reviewed and gave 4 stars).

Now, I've never read "Le Bossu" or anything else by Paul Feval for that matter, but I am a big fan of Alexander Dumas and it was the comparisons to his work in the helpful Amazon.com reviews that drove me to one-click a copy of On Guard.

My curiousity being piqued, the very evening the DVD arrived I settled down with a bottle of fine Bordeaux (ok it was an $8 California Cabernet) and watched it - and was pleasantly surprised.

I found the film to be very good - as I said before I haven't read anything by Feval (but may order something of his after watching On Guard) but the Dumas references were spot on, with Auteil's character himself having some very d'Artagnan-esque qualities, in my opinion.

I thought the film had plenty of swashbuckling action - certainly enough to keep it interesting and fast paced, but not so much as to turn it into a cheesy hollywood-style action movie with no plot.

I'm not going to go into the story because a) others have done so and b) I don't like spoiling anything in my reviews, but suffice it to say if you're a fan of swashbucklers, or of Dumas (and presumably of this Feval character), or if you just want to try something new and different from the typical crap hollywood churns out, I highly recommend On Guard. February 28, 2007

Right Movie wrong area disc!

I have seen this Movie before. My purchase from Amazon has been thwarted because they sent me an area 2 disc, and it can not play on my Australian set up player, since we are area 4. Amazon should know better.
I also had to open the disc, because it was not labeled for area! None the less it does not play.
Unhappy customer. February 4, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...