Alatriste's books are great because of 2 reasons: the plot and (mainly) the character of Alatriste. There are other good characters, of course, but there is no other with the depths of Alatriste. This film is not as good as the books because one of these reasons is absent: the plot. At least in the first part of the film there is hardly any connected fact allowing the audience (those who have read the book and those who haven't) to know why Alatriste is so special, and why his actions deserve a film and a book series. What I call "the second part" is different: it comprises the facts from the fourth and fifth books, and the plot is more solid and the script is more tightly written. Besides, Mortensen as Alatriste simply shines: OK, the accent is not perfect, but who cares when he doesn't need words to express feelings? He's superb when he's hurt (his 'mierda de vida!' left me speechless), when he pays his last visit to María (there she is great too) and at the battle,when the French soldier falls and he cannot stand up for his life. He's the faithful portrait of a hopeless individual. On the whole, 7/10 to the film, but Viggo is just amazing and deserves much more. The art direction is also remarkable.
