recommended

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I can't say that this movie is a failure but it didn't catch me. Yet, everything was set for a great moment: exceptional cast with special mentions for mr Bourdon (a very naive King of France) and ms Cruz, whose dedication is unique (speak french phonetically, not right but in a funny way). - superb live locations in real old-times towns - excellent wardrobe for a historical movie in Old Regime - a director offering energy & rhythm in his worksBut, the result is soporific. Maybe because it's a remake and there never the same creative impulse as in an original work (you already know where you come from & where you aim) ? Hardly, the first movie is dated from the 50's and not much in the new generation can make a comparison.the deepest setback comes truly from the script: there's no passion in the story or the dialogs, so the pictures can be perfect but they are void of humanity... Wanting things to be too polished can bring to lose the shining.. Here's a example....

If you don't go in expecting too much, this film is a pleasant way to pass some time. It is certainly no great work of art. Didn't see the original so can't comment on that score. Furthermore, don't really speak French (although enough to understand that Italian subtitled version missed large chunks of dialect), so Cruz's reportedly bad accent was lost on me. It is undoubtedly clichéd, lacking in any original ideas or concepts, and has gaping plot holes.However, that said, it has no pretensions of being anything more sophisticated than what it sets out to be. My advice would be to enjoy it for what it's meant to be: fun, swashbuckling, mildly amusing entertainment with two luscious-looking stars. In fact, just watching Perez and Cruz alone make the whole thing worthwhile.

My wife and I watched this movie while on holiday in France last summer. A great deal of the action had been shot on location in Montpazier, one of the prettiest villages in France with carefully preserved houses etc. As a 'thank you' there was an open-air showing of the film in the village square while we were there in June 2003. As it didn't get dark enough until about 22.30 there was time for a drink (or two) beforehand and we all sat in the square, under the stars. The film was a laugh from beginning to end.The most outrageous stunts and swordplay to make Errol Flynn look like an amateur. A special treat, of course, was to see images of the very buildings around us, the church, the market hall, and quite a few of the locals who appeared as extras, pop up on the screen. The whole film was tongue-in-cheek, swashbuckling, D'Artagnan type nonsense. Fencing on rooftops, jumping out of windows, kissing the girls, fighting ten men at once. What more do you want?I'll admit we saw it in ideal circumstances, which bring back happy memories of a glorious summer. But it was entertaining and made for fun. Would I watch it again? Sure! (Especially with a glass of wine!) Michael.

Behind this film we see the French Touch of Luc Besson, the producer. It is not a great film, but you'll spend a good time. Penelope Cruz is beautiful as usual and Vincent Perez is wonderful. He is climbing up the stairs, and this film will help him over the seas. FANFAN is one of these new french films, like LEON, THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLVES,THE FIFTH ELEMENT. It is like an Hollywood film with an Hollywood star (Penelope Cruz, Mark Dacascos, Bruce Willis), It is pleasant like an Hollywood movie, and you are not more cleaver after seeing these. So it shows that Hollywood is not the only place to makes movies (very good or very bad) in the world, and that directors are not obliged to show many times american banner in their movies and, of course, that heroes sometimes live anywhere but between NY and LA.