The Three Musketeers, a 3D action-oriented take on Alexandre Dumas' enduring serialized novel, arrives in theaters tomorrow, but Summit Entertainment has released the first four and a half minutes of the film online, presumably in an attempt to woo audiences with the movie's action-packed, comic book-style opening scenes.  These scenes introduce the title characters, played by Matthew Macfadyen, Luke Evans, and Ray Stevenson, along with cohort Milla Jovovich in her usual role as an ass-kicker, in this case Milady de Winter.

While nobody's expecting Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil director Paul WS Anderson's take on Dumas' swashbucklers to be exactingly faithful to the original text, I'm pretty sure that the book also opened with a scuba-diving ninja armed with steampunk-style weaponry, Aramis basically being Batman, and Porthos hulking out, all in order to raid Leonardo Da Vinci's private vault.  That, my friends, was a bit of sarcasm.

A new, second trailer for director Paul WS Anderson's The Three Musketeers declares, "This fall, the legend comes to life like never before," and it does seem to be true.  I've never seen and interpretation of Alexandre Dumas' classic serialized novel that included steampunk weaponry, CG explosions, slow motion bullet-dodging, and giant zeppelin war machines.  Given Anderson's background in video game movies and sci-fi, it's not terribly surprising that he brought along these trappings to his first adaptation of classic literature, but that certainly doesn't mean it all necessarily fits.

This fall, director Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Musketeers will update the Alexandre Dumas story that has endured for nearly 170 years by gussying it up with 3D, huge somersaulting stunts, explosions, and no shortage of steampunk weaponry.  A new poster for the film debuted today, and it indicates that D'Artagnan, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis have a previously-unexplored predilection for stylish leather.  It also features a six-way facial hair competition that includes Orlando Bloom, Christoph Waltz, and Ray Stevenson.  Also swords.  Lots of swords.

When not releasing promotional images for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, Summit Entertainment also likes to drop a picture or two from The Three Musketeers, the 3D update of Alexandre Dumas' 200 year-old novel.  Three new images show D'Artagnan and the Musketeers, played by Logan Lerman, Luke Evans, Matthew Macfadyen, and Ray Stevenson, along with Juno Temple as Queen Anne, Milla Jovovich as M'Lady De Winter, and Christoph Waltz as Cardinal Richelieu.  Dither no longer, you rapscallion, take a look the pictures, right here.

Nicolas Winding Refn certainly can make a cinematic statement. His widely acclaimed Pusher Trilogy put him on the map, but it is his recent work with Bronson and his latest, Valhalla Rising that have sent Hollywood knocking.

Gritty, dark and poetic, his films are more than just action, they are loaded with character and sometimes feel like a grim yet loving tribute to cinema. Rich with color and stylized with care, he is able to give character to wherever his actors seem to be.