On Guard (1997)

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

... that this will go down well with Errol Flynn aficionados or indeed with anyone who enjoys a good romp. In one respect it's good old fashioned melodrama in the Sandy Dumas Vic Hugo tradition with evil plotters, disguises, circus performers and, of course, costume. Daniel Auteuil is not the first name that springs to mind when thinking 'swashbuckler' but he acquits himself excellently as did Depardieu in Cyrano de Bergerac and Vincent Perez (who was also in Cyrano) is not far behind. Fabrice Luchini is also in good form as the scheming nephew determined to inherit no matter over whose dead body. Finally we must add Marie Gillain in an early appearance as daughter turned lover (don't ask, just go see). All in all a very fine divertissment.

WARNING, THERE IS A MAJOR SPOILER IN THIS REVIEW: Yes, it was a beautiful film, and yes the acting was superb, as was the photography, costumes, sword fights, etc. But one thing disturbed the hell out of me: Here was the main character, who raises this girl from infancy, and he ends up with her? Excuse me, but that is just a bit too incestuous for me. For 16 years he is this girls father (as far as she knows), and she has the hots for him and wants to bear him three sons? No, I just don't buy it, and it's a more than a little bit unbelievable that she would be in love with him that way, even before she knows that she is royalty, rather than just this guy's daughter. Romantic? I think NOT. Woof.

If you want to escape from the world Le Bossu is a brilliant holiday.The subtitles are badly done as usual - give us Literal Translations please - we are not idiots!The story is a great romping swashbuckler that would make Errol Flynn proud. Perez and Autiel are especially good but the man that steals it is Fabrice Lucini - his voice would give anyone a lesson in French and he is very funny and diabolical - he should be a massive star.This film rollocks along and just shows you don't need complex plots to have a great movie - once again Hollywood scriptwriters - read it and weep... The French and the British are the only ones that can truly do justice to this sort of film.

This was buried away on channel 4 at 2.00 a.m. one morning and I taped it out of passing interest, only to be mesmerised when I watched it a few days later. So much so that I had to watch it all the way through without even a break for a cup of tea. It's easy to say, in hindsight, that the storyline is predictable, but I didn't find that at the time and, believe me, you can't see the twists coming when you watch it. In fact the film builds great moments of tension.The sword fight scenes, which I would normally fast forward, were really intense and believable. This is good old fashioned story telling with glorious scenery and the requisite number of nail biting moments.