The Count of Monte Cristo (DVD, 2002)

I always liked the book of "The Count of Monte Cristo," which plays to two of my favorite subjects, "revenge," and "power," and does them well. It's been re-done as a movie a few times, and I was interested to see how it would be adapted through modern eyes.

As it turns out, Mike Reynolds, Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, and the rest of the cast do an excellent job. There was a good deal of fiddling done with the plot and characters to condense a lengthy book into a two-hour picture. They also tightened a complicated plot, eliminating the subplots of Maximilian Morrell and Villefort's murderous wife. Edmond Dantes' struggle for revenge is also cut down to exposing his three adversaries in a tighter and linked manner. In the book, their destruction requires separate operations.

In the book, Dantes hacks at each nemesis indirectly, nailing Fernand first, forcing him to commit suicide when his son Albert and wife Mercedes run out on him. Villefort goes insane when he finds his wife has killed off his whole family, with Dantes working behind the scenes to do so. Finally, Dantes bankrupts Danglars, who is a millionaire banker. Dantes then goes off with his new girlfriend.

In the movie, Dantes cons the unholy trio into thinking they are going to steal his gold, and instead brings Danglars and Villefort to justice for conspiracy and murder. Dantes nails Fernand directly -- a final swordfight. Most importantly, Dantes gets back Mercedes, learning that Albert is his son. More satisfying, tighter, more colorfully told. There is also redemption in Dantes ending the film having regained the family he deserved to have and the life he should have had. The movie has the swordplay that the book lacks.

There is also clever subtlety...Frenand dislikes his son Albert, and won't even give a toast to him at the big party, which is left to Dantes as the Count of Monte Cristo. Dantes unknowingly but movingly gives a superb father-to-son tribute, whose views are realized in the climax.

Luis Guzman, as Dantes' sidekick Jacobo, has a small and powerful role, serving as Dantes' confidante and conscience, an interesting twist of fate for a man introduced as a "maggot" and thief. J.D. LeBlanc, as captain of the smugglers, has another small role, but is truly hilarious and effective. The late Richard Harris, as the Abbe Faria, Dantes' mentor and coach, gives his usual powerful performance. He was good just reading the phone book.

Dagmara Domanczyk, a new name and face, doesn't have much to do as the loving and trapped Mercedes. Her best moment is on the "deleted scenes" section of the DVD, but one can see why everyone wants her. James Frain makes a sly Villefort.

Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce dominate the screen, of course. Pearce was asked to play Dantes, but only wanted to play Fernand. Pearce does so with gusto, making him flamboyant, amoral, charming, and callous, all at the same time. Caviezel makes an astonishing transformation from the idealistic but ignorant Dantes to the worldly, obsessed, and cold Count of Monte Cristo.

The DVD includes deleted scenes, cast interviews, background on how the film was made, and director's commentary. All of them are extremely interesting, and the director's commentary shows you how good Caviezel is...doing scenes as Dantes in prison one day, Dantes at liberty the next, Dantes as the Count the third. Astonishing transformations.

I highly recommend this film.

The story is based on a classic book by Alexandre Dumas and in my opinion, will forever be a favorite tale of lost love found. The picture in this version with Jim Caviezel as the leading character is the best. The scenery is beautiful and the picture is exciting with the sword fighting and depiction of good vs. evil. The director is Kevin Renolds who also directed Tristan and Isolde (another of my favorites). The main character, Edmond Dantes is taken away to prison and separated from the woman he loves through circumstances which befall him because he is very innocent and naive. He is betrayed by his best friend, Mondego, who covets his fiance. After spending many years in prison he is able to escape and find a treasure which will allow him to take the revenge he has planned all those years in prison. Without spoiling the entire story, I will end by saying that I feel you will enjoy this picture as it has something in it for everyone to enjoy (men, women and young adults). You won't be disappointed.

Not many movies do justice to the book that originated the story. This one does!

Jim Cavaziel, who later played Jesus in the "Passion of the Christ," plays Edmond Dantes in this story of revenge. Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce), his supposed best friend, tells lies about an innocent meeting they had with exiled Napoleon. Thus, Edmond ends up in a horrible prison, where we are introduced to Priest (Richard Harris), another inmate in the inescapable prison. Priest teaches Edmond how to survive until Priest's death, which allows Edmond to escape the prison through a ruse in who is in a makeshift bodybag tossed over the cliff into the sea.

Eventually, with the help of pirates, Edmund finds treasure at the bottom of the sea. Now rich, he returns to Marseilles, where the treachery occurred. Masquerading as the Count of Monte Cristo, he finds Fernand married to his love, Mercedes, and they have a teenage son. Edmund loves the son and saves him from a horrible experience.

How the movie ends I won't tell you. But believe me, this is one movie that will not disappoint. The ending gives the story true justice. It makes you want to read the original book by Dumas.

Glamorously photographed, this movie begs to be viewed on a large screen. The whole thing is beautiful, but especially the scene where the Count of Monte Cristo introduces himself to the people of Marseilles. They have no idea who he really is.

Why this movie did not receive some Academy Award nominations I do not understand. It's in my top movies of all time list.

Jim Caviezel (HIGH CRIMES) and Guy Pearce (THE TIME MACHINE) give sizzling performances in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO -- the greatest tale of betrayal, adventure, and revenge the world has ever known. When the dashing and guileless Edmond Dantes (Caviezel) is betrayed by his best friend (Pearce) and wrongly imprisoned, he becomes consumed by thoughts of vengeance. After a miraculous escape, he transforms himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo, insinuates himself into the French nobility, and puts his cunning plan of revenge in action. This swashbuckling thriller will have you sitting on the edge of your seat until the last ounce of revenge is exacted.

Another Great Film I had On VHS..And had to get on DVD...Amust for your Collection ..........
{Mrs Puman}

I rented this movie because a client wanted a coat made like the one Napoleon wears. I am not a fan of the story, having read the book as a youngster.

I've always been bothered by the protagonist's obsession with revenge. But watching this version made me think about why our culture is fascinated with the story. There have been at least 4 or 5 remakes in the last decade, each reasonably popular and successful.

I think some of this can be attributed to the national addiction to anger. Righteous indignation is an exciting feeling, and has become one of the few acceptable public emotions. So revenge is the logical outcome.

Revenge assumes that we must put things right, balance the scales of justice. Righteous anger assumes that there are not consequences to all of our actions that eventually balance things naturally. Rather than grieving our loss when we are harmed, we vow vengence and take action.

The Count of Monte Cristo was written at a time when life was very hard and very harsh in many ways, not unsimilar to our own times. When government does not function to protect the citizens, when social institutions fail, often we take matters into our own hands.

However, I would assert that we make our own lives harder when we take violent action to hurt others in return for injury we have recieved. If we accept the law of cause and effect, that all actions have consequences, won't our hurtful actions also have negative consequences to us?

I speculate what the story of the Count of Monte Cristo would have been, if written by a Buddhist. Edmond Dantes is wrongly condemned to prison. In prison, he vows revenge. He meets the wise old man, who counsels him to tame his anger and teaches him compassion. He escapes and spends the rest of his life helping others who have been wrongly accused, having rejoiced in the happiness his former lover and best friend have been able to find.

I know, there are no sword fights and it would never sell. What does that say about us as a culture, that we don't want everyone to have a happy ending, unless we can have sword fights and righteous indignation, and alot of suffering, along the way?