The director brings all of the threads together in a thoroughly entertaining way, while leaving enough doors open at the end to make viewers hope he returns with a third installment.

Like last year’s “Napoleon,” this is megaplex entertainment at its most grand.

As yarns go, it is all comfortingly chunky and luxuriantly spun -- winter comfort viewing that treats its audience as gallantly as its heroes treat their mission, while taking itself just seriously enough.

Bourboulon’s staging and enthralling performances from François Civil and Eva Green breathe new life into Alexandre Dumas and bring it to a new generation of moviegoers with more contemporary viewing sensibilities.