On Guard!

This rip-snorting period yarn from France wisely follows two important rules of swashbuckling adventures: It never lets the action overwhelm the plot, and it never, ever takes itself too seriously. Paris, 1699. Abandoned at birth and raised by two fencing masters (Jean-Francois Stevenin, Dider Pain), Lagardere (Daniel Auteuil) now ranks among France's finest swordsmen. But he yearns to learn the legendary secret technique known only to the Duke of Nevers (Vincent Perez) and known as the "Nevers attack" — a powerful, fatal thrust aimed right between an opponent's eyes and driven straight through his skull. Nevers is the nephew of the Duke of Orleans (Phili...