The Count of Monte Cristo

Rating:
Summary: If you've read the book, DON'T buy this
Review: I wonder if the director has ever read the book. The film lost most of the plots of the stories that had been carefully and wisely planned by Dumas', which had made this book so full of surpirses and exitment and therefore ever-lasting and famous, leaving this film nothing but a dull and standard film about revenge. I wouldn't waste time pointing out how badly every single character in the book has been twisted in the film. I strongly recommend you to read the book instead, it's much cheaper, and it's far more entertaining...

Rating:
Summary: The Count of Monte Cristo
Review: The Count of Monte Cristo is a movie based on Alexandre Dumas's classic book by the same name. By necessity the film is compressed resulting in a condensed version of the novel, but still it is very well done in that the storyline follows the plot of the novel very, very closely. Jim Caviezel portrays Edmond Dantes in a perfect way, following the descriptions of the novel perfectly. The same is true with every character, following descriptions, lifestyles, and attitudes that the book describes. The one negative aspect of this film is this: the climax of the film strays away from the book's climax. Still, a very well done adaptation. I also loved the soundtrack.

The storyline of the film concerns a young sailor named Edmond Dantes. As the movie begins, he is on a sea voyage when the captain of the ship suddenly becomes very sick. They stop at the island of Elba where Napoleon has been exiled and Edmond Dantes along with his friend row ashore, seeking help for their sick captain. After surviving an attack by Napoleon's soldiers, they meet Napoleon face to face. Napoleon agrees to help, but nevertheless the captain dies, and in exchange for the help of his physician, Napoleon demand that Edmond carry a letter for him to take to a man named Villefort. After returning to Marseilles, Edmond eventually delivers the letter to Villefort. The letter turns out to be a letter accusing Villefort's father of a crime that he did indeed commit. Villefort, in an attempt to protect his father burns the letter. But his friends, jealous of his new career as ship captain and of his girlfriend had read the letter, and, along with Villefort, betrays him. Being falsely accused of treason, he finds himself being whisked away to the dungeons of Chateau Dif. After 13 years in prison, in which he learns from a companion imprisoned with him, that he is heir to a large fortune hidden on the island of Monte Cristo, he narrowly escapes and is recued by smugglers and joins their crew. After claiming the island fortune he sets out to take revenge on those who betrayed him.

If you have not seen the movie yet but are planning to, I reccomend reading the complete and unabridged novel first. It is well worth your time. Rated PG-13 for action violence.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie I Have Seen In Theaters
Review: I normally don't go to movies, but I loved the book so I had to go see "The Count of Monte Cristo." Although it didn't follow the book to closely, the acting was great and the costumes were so beautiful! This is a movie that guys and girls are going to like. Girls: James Caviezel has his shirt off for half the movie. :) The fight scene at the end of the film was a little long and a bit predictable, but over all this is the best movie I've seen in a really long time.

Rating:
Summary: Caviezel makes strong impression
Review: I liked this version of the Count of Monte Cristo. I do not understand why it did not do better business at the box office. Hopefully it will be rediscovered on video/dvd. The entire cast was fine including the always underappreciated,Guy Pearce who was phenomenal in last year's "Memento" and in "LA Confidential" a couple of years ago. Jim Caviezel makes the strongest impression as the title character. I have enjoyed his work since "A Thin Red Line." He was a very good choice for the title character. He convincingly played the initially innocent and naive Edmond Montes and later the revengeful Count of Monte Cristo.

Rating:
Summary: I find that the Count of Monte Cristo is for me!
Review: Wonderful film!

James Caviezel does an excellent job as the Count of Monte Cristo, actually made me look on online to find out what other movies he played in. (you might remember him in Frequency with Dennis Quaid)

Love the lines in the movie (some of the lines are quoted in Quotes and Trivia under Product Details)

Costume Design and Makeup was well done!

Sword Fight was Climactic!

A classic!

Rating:
Summary: This movie was really good!
Review: I enjoyed this movie very much. I wish I had seen it at the theatre instead of on home video. But it still is good either way.I thought that I was going to fall asleep on this movie, but the plot was so interesting you couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.I recommend you go see this movie.If you like movies like the mask of zorro, then you'll like this one for sure!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A good movie to see
Review: I LOVE this movie!!! I read the book before watching the movie, (which by the way, you have to read the book it's awesome) I was disappointed it didn't keep to the book, but I understand if it did, it would be much longer. Many "mini-plots" were kept out, and it was simply Dantes' revenge. I must admit it was a very good movie. I simply loved the balloon entrance, and I must say, I would love to have a robe like him, which I must also say, was a good choice of costume. That is all I have to say, except SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

Rating:
Summary: Petered out toward the end.....
Review: The Count of Monte Cristo is the tale of naive but likeable commoner Edmund Dantes, his best friend Fernand Mondego and his betrayal at the hands of Mondego, to the government and subsequent imprisonment in Chateau D'If. Upon escape from the Chateau D'If, Dantes assumes the identity of the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo in order to take revenge upon the men who put him there.

I want to preface this review, by saying I have never read the Dumas' classic, and so this is my first experience with the count's story.

James Caviezel plays a very good Edmond. His romance with Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk) was convincing, his interaction with the other characters well portrayed....But I admit, I grew tired of the endless sword-fighting scenes near the end (I found my finger straying to the 'fast-forward' button), and I grew tired of Edmond's endless and obsessive need for revenge. (About three-quarters of the way through the movie, I kept thinking it might be a good idea to put Edmond back in Chateau D'If).

While the sceneary and setting were both quite spectacular, I can only give this movie an 'average' rating, because of the sheer unlikable qualities of most of the main characters. By the end of this movie, I asked myself "Who Cares about Edmond, Mercedes of Fernand?" Not this viewer.

Rating:
Summary: Count of Monte Cristo
Review: If you like the book, read the book, don't see the movie. The screenwriter said it. In dealing with a Classic you will invaribly make someone unhappy, because you have to make material fit movie length and budget.

Having said that, I find that I like this adaptation of the Classic. I found Dagmara Dominczyk very engaging. Jim Caviezel as Edmund Dantes does a good job. Chateu D'If location was great. How much more can you say about Richard Harris. The cinimatography was dark at time or I would've given the movie 5 stars.

If you like swashbuckling action flicks this is the one to get

Rating:
Summary: Dumbed-down and gloomy
Review: Very inferior to the 1975 Richard Chamberlain version. It's as if a chimp took a sledgehammer to the story and knocked all the sense out of it. The characters are dumbed down and the actors are forced into flat caricatures (except for a fine performance by Richard Harris). Caviezal is unable to transform the guileless young Dantes into the dynamic Machiavellian. When he makes his entrance as The Count of Monte Cristo, he limply floats onto the scene and sighs, "Glad you could all make it to my party." Since most of the movie was shot in the dark, there is little for the eyes here. Even the music disappoints.