The Count of Monte Cristo

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The Count of Monte Cristo

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The Count of Monte Cristo

Dagmara Dominczyk, Guy Pearce, Henry Cavill, James Caviezel, James Frain

Dashing young sailor Edmond Dantes is a guileless and honest man, whose peaceful life and plans to marry the beautiful Mercedes are abruptly shattered when his best friend Fernand, who wants Mercedes ...( read more  read more... )for himself, deceives him. Set up to be unlawfully sentenced to the infamous island prison of Chateau D'If, Edmond is trapped in a nightmare that lasts for thirteen years. Over time everything he ever believed about right and wrong is abandoned and replaced by all-consuming thoughts of vengeance against those who betrayed him. With the help of an equally innocent fellow inmate, Dantes plots and succeeds in his mission to escape from prison, whereupon he transforms himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo. With cunning ruthlessness, he cleverly insinuates himself into the French nobility and systematically destroys the men who manipulated and enslaved him.

Id: 1140845

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Recent Reviews

The Count of Monte Cristo Recent Reviews
  • BiologyBabe2012
    May 5, 2009
    BiologyBabe2012
    Well, to be honest, I have only looked at parts of the book of circa 1000 pages by Dumas. Yes yes, I know you're supposed to read the book first, but I was feeling lazy. Needless to say, it was an intimidating volume.

    It's quite lengthy; over 2 hours. But it's worth your time. A...( read more)ll the actors severely underrated, especially Guy Pearce, who plays Edmond Dantes' scheming friend, Fernand.

    The only problem, I would say, would have to be Luis Guzman's American accent, which does not fit its place. Other than that, a good movie. And it's just an added bonus that James Caviezel isn't exactly an eyesore (apologies).
  • 76Majikat
    February 6, 2009
    76Majikat
    The best revenge story ever. A great adaption of the book. Performances were great all around, but the performance has to be Guy Pearce for being believably arrogant and a character that compells you to hate with a vengence
  • garyX
    January 20, 2009
    garyX
    Edmond Dantes naively accepts a letter from Napoleon and is consequently betrayed and imprisoned for 13 years. Upon his escape, he sets about destroying those responsible. The Count Of Monte Cristo is a solid, reasonably faithful adaptation of Dumas' literary classic with a stron...( read more)g cast who all put in decent performances. The best part of the film is probably the interaction between Caviezel and veteran actor Richard Harris as his prison bound mentor although I would like to have seen more made of this relationship. Freddie Jones and Michael Wincott also do well with parts that barely qualify for cameo status although Guy Pearce's Fernand is so irredeemably caddish he seems a little two dimensional. It has a certain authenticity however, with beautiful locations and fine costumes but it is a little lacking in the kind of flair exhibited by the best examples of the genre. Not bad though.
  • mrpopcorn
    October 13, 2008
    mrpopcorn
    "Prepare for adventure. Count on revenge."

    The classic tale of swashbuckling adventure by the senior Alexandre Dumas comes to the screen in its umpteenth incarnation, this time from Kevin Reynolds, directing his first feature in five years. James Caviezel stars as Edmond ...( read more)Dantes, an honest sailor who plans to marry his beautiful lover Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). Edmond doesn't know that his best friend Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce) secretly desires Mercedes for himself and schemes with fallen aristocrat Villefort (James Frain) to frame Edmond for a crime he didn't commit. Sentenced to life on the remote island prison of D'If, Edmond becomes consumed by plans for revenge. Thirteen years pass and he meets a fellow innocent convict, Abbe Faria (Richard Harris), who becomes Edmond's mentor in swordfighting, finance, and escape, confiding that a vast treasure awaits a discoverer on the island of Monte Cristo. Eventually, Edmond is able to get away using Faria's tunnels and makes his way to Monte Cristo, where he retrieves the fortune and uses it to make himself over as the wealthy "Count of Monte Cristo." With the help of a loyal sidekick (Luis Guzman), Edmond insinuates himself into French royalty and sets about getting revenge on Villefort and Fernand, who is now married to Mercedes. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) also stars Michael Wincott and Albie Woodington.

    Review
    The Count of Monte Cristo, like Les Miserables, stands as a great achievement in world literature by a Frenchman. The truest English translation yet became available in 1996, and the movie echoes its vibrance with a lucid plot and multi-dimensional characters that do the old master (Dumas) proud.

    Jim Caviezel is the brightest spot in this great production that eschews the more depraved violence of the novel for an aesthetically and morally pleasing vengeance. Whole plots are left out, and those kept are cut down to their bare bones, but so pleasantly that the movie feels right, even to this jaded reviewer. Romance is the order of the day in this production; pregnant pauses, knowing servants, and failing marriages help balance the implacable Count in his pursuit of revenge. Richard Harris as the Abbe Faria brings a welcome touch of anti-gravitas to the role.

    One unpleasant touch to the whole movie: there is a ludicrous scene of torture that serves to mark time in Dantes's imprisonment at the Chateau D'If. At the time it is totally extraneous, but once Dantes begins his revenge, the film resolves it nicely.
  • shootmybaby
    September 7, 2008
    shootmybaby
    Insult to anyone who has ever laid eyes on the Count of Monte Cristo as a book.....
    if they change the title i might actually like this film, but they have actually written a different story entirely. missed out almost every single important character (or changed their gender) a...( read more)nd missed out all intrigue.... GAAAH!
  • serasabi
    January 6, 2010
    serasabi
    I feel like this film was so underrated when it came out. This remake is so awesome, that I could watch it over and over again (and have). The story of Dantes exacting his revenge on everyone is so compelling simply because he's so pure & good & easily duped in the beginning, not...( read more) to mention that he carries out his revenge so stylishly and mercilessly that it's exciting to watch. Caviezel's transformation is fun, and even Luis Guzman adds humor. Guy Pearce is deliciously cold & jealous when he adds a drawl to nearly every word that comes out of his mouth. Richard Harris is especially touching as the old priest. This movie has a terrific rewatchability aspect to it, largely due to style and class.
  • siewmaywah
    January 3, 2010
    siewmaywah
    Better-than-expected version, with Caviezel a good Edmond Dantes, who is unjustly imprisoned and vows revenge against those who wronged him. Final section of the story succumbs to the obvious, but overall an adequate job.
  • ghosttrigger
    December 19, 2009
    ghosttrigger
    was freaking amazing, haven't read the book, so you might not want to really "believe" this review
  • fckfear82
    December 13, 2009
    fckfear82
    this movie is a classic and is and always will be the shiiiiit !!!!!
  • LisaMichelleAckles
    December 9, 2009
    LisaMichelleAckles
    Not a bad film, better than what i thought it would be. Henry Cavill was just as cute as he is in The Tudors. Not a great film, but not bad either.
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