It's an HISTORICAL novel so one might want to, y'know, evoke the actual period instead of Lord of the Rings. And it's a good thing they are labeled because you wouldn't be able to tell who is who otherwise. Who can tell which is the portly vain Porthos? The very religious, but womanizing dandy, Aramis? The drunken with a shameful past Athos?
The definitive film of Dumas' classic is the 1973 version with....well just about every star from the 70's in it. It was split into two films (you have to see "The 3 Musketeers" and "The 4 Musketeers" to get the whole story.)...but the actors were only paid for 1 film.
Uh oh! 
All the SAG rules changed because of the film(s).
I love Richard Lester films! (I love how Louis XIII's court is a big bore, the food is awful and nothing works)
And Yvonne Blake's costumes are perfection (can you tell who is who just by the clothes?)
...grungy when called for...eleborate when called for....
the all white and silver fancy dress ball!
The black and gold outdoor ceremony at the end of the 1st film!
Amazing real period details like the wired petal collar Geraldine Chaplin wears...
There's just no reason to fool with any other version.
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