The Quartet

The Quartet is a 2007 animated adventure musical fantasy comedy film directed by NewFinders Literature Films. It is their 8th animated film in their franchise, and was one of the only 2 films in their line up released in the same year. It is based off of the Three Musketeers originally written by Alexandre Dumas. The movie received average reviews. Critics praised the movie for it's voice acting, script, story and music, but criticised the characters and animation.

SYNOPSIS
Living in a rural town in Antwerp, Belgium in January 1799, 18 year old Charlene Alure dreams of protecting her family and being as fierce as the famed legendary and popular Musketeers after the tragic death of her father in a battle 9 years prior. But overall, her life is a happy and peaceful one, as her city is an equal place because of the love, compassion and equality shared by Princess Luciana of Belgium. However, two French brothers of nobility, the Duke Emille and the Earl Lucian who are secret witches in disguise are jealous of the popularity that the princess receives from her traits, despite them being notorious for their cowardice, injustice and greed decide to abduct the princess at the beginning of the year and flee to Portugal, using their witchcraft to blatantly lie to Belgium that the princess betrayed them and secretly despised her life. As a result, the country begins to turn on her and began a life of selfishness, inequality and gloom.

On the Princess Luciana's 18th birthday (October 20th), Emille plans to marry Luciana to live off her greed and take the kingdom for herself, and to celebrate and lure high class citizens into his maddening kingdom, he plans a glorious masquerade ball. However, in the past (A month after the Princess's kidnapping), Charlene knows there is a hole in this "Story" and decides to use her dreams to put her bravery to the test and restore happiness in her country, saving the princess and bringing fourth the culprits the justice. She departs from her home and plans seeking the help of the original Musketeers to train her in the art of courage and strength. But at the border of Belgium to France, she comes across a woman who breaks the news that the Musketeers have passed on long ago. However, she is actually experienced in defence and takes her under her wing to help train her to fight as well just like a Musketeer (It is soon revealed that this woman is the sister of the princess, Princess Lilliana, who escaped her kingdom to seek help and justice and also secretly is gifted magical strength through her training). It soon becomes apparent that Charlene has only reached a pre intermediate level of fighting and might not be able to do this on her own as the kingdom is much more dangerous and powerful than expected, and so the 2 go on an adventure to seek 3 more "Musketeers".

They soon find these 3 new recruits. At the dockside to catch a boat to France, they meet 3 men departing back to their home countries who are very good friends with one another, and also are suspicious of the news of the "Betrayal". They previously arrived in Belgium to seek more advanced training to help (They were previously also pre-intermediate levelled trainers in weaponry). Marquis, a French intellectual who is extremely talented in Mathematics and Science but is also a calm headed, critical and stoic person, Patrick, a wealthy and extroverted British-Irish artist who also specialises in textiles and fashion designing but is also vain and short tempered, and Agustin, a romantic and sensitive flautist who dreams of love and fantasy, but is also not one to take risks. All together with their chemistry, they head on a journey of the lifetime from France, to Spain, to Portugal, to restore the countries, make things right and rescue the Princess, stopping the 2 brothers and becoming the brand new Musketeers.

The New Musketeers
Charlene Alure (Voiced By: Stephanie Morgenstern/Singing Voice: Melissa Lyons): An 18 year old Belgian musketeer in training who sets off to help her country and save the princess after hearing of the unusual circumstances. She is described as a very ambitious, determined and protective, but ditzy, inexperienced and reckless person. Her weapon of choice is a dagger, but when given power can transform into a sabre. Her colour of choice is red, her confirmed birthday is April 7th (Aries) and her confirmed MBTI is ENFJ.

Marquis Le-Lunette (Voiced By: Keith David): A 20 year old African-French musketeer in training who soon becomes great friends with Charlene and helps fight alongside her. He is an academic who has had professional degrees in science, mathematics and geometry. He's a calm and collected, wise and resourceful person, but is also a critical, stoic and can be a bit stubborn. His weapon of choice is a cane, but when given power can transform into a staff. His colour of choice is green, his confirmed birthday is January 2nd (Capricorn) and his confirmed MBTI is ISTJ.

Patrick Talisman (Voiced By: Morgan Crowley): An 18 year old British-Irish musketeer in training who soon becomes great friends with Charlene and helps fight alongside her. He is an extroverted and talkative entrepreneur who is talented in the arts and comes from a wealthy family. He is a talented painter and fashion designer with gracious and up to date tastes. Though he has a gentle voice at times, he is almost the opposite as he is very optimistic and talkative as well as prideful, but is also vain, boastful, dramatic and short tempered, as well as minding his appearance too many times. His weapon of choice is a paintbrush, but when given power can transform into a morning star whip. His colour of choice is yellow, his confirmed birthday is September 28th (Libra) and his confirmed MBTI is ESTP.

Augustin Solaria (Voiced By: David Bedella): A 19 year old Spanish musketeer in training who soon becomes great friends with Charlene and helps fight alongside her. He's a flautist and musician who always carries his flute for good measures, though he has also developed a hobby for poetry and astrology. He's a very kind hearted, sensitive and romantic person who dreams of magic and love, but is a bit air-headed, can be emotional and is not one for taking risks. His weapon of choice is a flute, but when given power can transform into a musical crossbow. His colour of choice is blue, his confirmed birthday is November 10th (Scorpio) and his confirmed MBTI is INFP.

Princess Lilliana (Voiced By: Sara Bareilles): The 18 year old older sister of Princess Luciana. After her sister's abduction and the fall of her kingdom, she ran away to seek help by training a group of fighters to help her seek justice and get the happiness of the countries back, rescuing her sister. Though she's quiet, she's also very sly, courageous and very skilled in defence, and can be very supportive and wise to her trainers. She possesses a secret magical power that can increase her strength through the weapons she utilises. Her confirmed birthday is July 14th (Cancer).

Antagonists
Duke Emilie (Voiced By: Matthew Géczy/Singing Voice: Ross Higgins): The main antagonist of the film. The 19 year old Duke of Avignon, France. He and his brother come from high nobility, as well as a kingdom of high society. However, they are secretly witches in disguise who study the art of witchcraft to get their biggest desires. Emilie is the most greedy, cunning and jealous of the brothers, and desires to keep Luciana to himself so he could win her wealth and become the new ruler. His confirmed birthday is March 26th (Aries).

Earl Lucian (Voiced By: Mathias Malzieu): The supporting antagonist of the film. The 18 year old Earl of Avignon, France behind his brother Emilie. He and his brother come from high nobility, as well as a kingdom of high society. However, they are secretly witches in disguise who study the art of witchcraft to get their biggest desires. Lucian is a very quiet, but intelligent and alluring person. He is usually the one to follow Emilie's orders. When he does speak or sing, he usually speaks and sings in French as it is the only language he knows. His confirmed birthday is August 21st (Leo).

Supporting Characters
Princess Luciana (Voiced By: Robyn Moore): The princess of Belgium and the sister of Lilliana. She was captured by Emilie and Lucian and was planned to be married to them in favour of her wealth and royalty. Her kingdom turned against her when they were lied to after being abducted. In reality, she's an extremely compassionate, timid and peaceful princess who only wants everyone to have equal and happy lives. Her confirmed birthday is October 20th (Libra).

SOUNDTRACK
The main score was composed by Arnie Roth, who is most famous for his live orchestra conducting as well as being the main composer behind several Barbie movies from 2001 to 2008, including The Nutcracker and The Princess And The Pauper. Most of the songs would be composed and written by musician and lyricist Joel McNeely, who was the main composer for several animated Disney sequels including Return To Neverland and Cinderella III: A Twist In Time, which was released months prior. The guest composers who composed and written the rest of the music (Including the end credits) were French pop band Dionysos. A soundtrack for the film was released on CD in Christmas of 2007.

SONGS LIST

 * 1) It's Out There (Vocals: Melissa Lyons)
 * 2) Musketeers Ballad (Vocals: Sara Bareilles)
 * 3) We Got You Covered! (Vocals: Keith David/Morgan Crowley/David Bedella/Melissa Lyons)
 * 4) Duke Emile's Theme/Malchanceux (Vocals: Ross Higgins/Mathias Malzieu)
 * 5) The Call Of Luciana (Vocals: Robyn Moore)
 * 6) Musketeers Ballad Reprise (Vocals: Melissa Lyons/Morgan Crowley/David Bedella/Keith David)
 * 7) Musketeers United! (Vocals: Melissa Lyons/Morgan Crowley/David Bedella/Keith David/Sara Bareilles)
 * 8) C'est Comme Ça Qu'on Fonctionne (Vocals: Dionysos)



DVD FEATURES

 * Full 75 Minute Movie
 * Behind The Scenes
 * Blooper Reel
 * Sing Along Soundtrack
 * Become A Musketeer DVD Game