Three Musketeers (1974)

Director: Richard Lester
Stars: Charlton Heston, Michael York, Raquel Welch, Oliver Reed
Plus: Excellent Cast, sumptuous costumes and sets, Great Cinematography
Best Scene: Anything with Charlton Heston

Although billed as an Adventure, this retelling of Dumas' Swashbuckling Novel, its really a comedy*. In fact, there are so many jokes it should be called "Carry on Dumas".  Some of the jokes are funny, but the constant barrage of sight gags, slap stick, and tongue-in-cheek remarks, makes it impossible to take the story seriously, even when it tries to be.

Despite all the sword fights** (almost 1/4 of the movie) we never believe any of our heroes are in danger. And showing the King and Queen as buffoons further distances us from the story.  Why should we care if the Queen gets her diamonds back?

Summary:  Three Musketeers is as Kael put it: Joke, Joke, Joke. There's very little gallantry or charm.  If you laugh fine. But if you don't -  you'd better bail out quick, unless you like pretty pictures and costumes.  

Notes
* - Lester originally planned to have the Beatles to play the 4 Musketeers but that fell through for obvious reasons.
** - Like the action in "Robin and Marian", Lester shoots most of his fights from medium and long distance, and its not very exciting. There are no exciting/serious duels  ala Rathbone v. Flynn/Power or in films like Scaramouche. Instead, Lester gives us brawls, with plenty of wrestling, knocking about,  and sword slashes in the air. Or silly fights with Lanterns or people getting shot off horses with old-timey muskets.

Ipcress File (1965)

The first of three movies starring Michael Caine as "Harry Palmer" the anti-James bond.  Plenty of location shots of 1965 London, and a great cast.  Lots of flashy direction by Stanley Furie. The best thing is Michael Caine who bring the right amount of humor and working class energy to the role. The story starts slow, taking 30 minutes for us to meet the villain and start the story. Too much time is spent showing us that Caine is NOT Bond, and that spies lives are mostly humdrum and average.

Best scenes:

• Palmer and Dalby meet in British Supermarket.
• Major Ross and Caine meet the villain while listening to a military Band
• Palmer must decide who is the Double Agent (Satirized on Get Smart)

Worst Scenes:

• Palmer is brainwashed using psychedelic lights and sketchy 60's movie science.
• We seen Caine make dinner twice. 

Summary: The first and best of the Harry Palmer Spy Triology. Labeled "The thinking man's James Bond, it starts off too slow but quickly becomes an engaging spy story with some very good acting. Overall its uneven and might bore those uninterested in 60's London and the Cold war.