Rating: 
Summary: This Movie ROCKS!
Review: I recently watched this show at the movie theater that gets all the movies later and charges [a cheaper rate] to watch them. Well, because of that, I just recently saw this movie. In fact, I saw it the day before I watched Star Wars Episode II, and a bit after seeing Harry Potter, and Spiderman. Well, of all these films, The Count of Monte Cristo was the best! Funny how my original expectations kept me from watching it as a new release... Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't expect the story from the book
Review: The book "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas is the ultimate revenge story, but this movie is hardly the ultimate revenge movie. However, it is still a great movie to go see (or to buy or rent when released to the video stores), and probably better if you have not read the book or at least expect the movie to only be based loosely on the book rather than telling the same story. To those who have read the book, expect to see an Edmond Dantes who has lost his faith in God rather than the book's portrayal of a man who sees himself as the instrument of God's wrath. With the book, I enjoyed the relationships between the Count and Albert de Morcerf, and between Maximillan Morrel and Valentine de Villefort and all the intricacies involved with them, these were omitted from the movie and detract from the perceived brilliance of the Count. Again, a great movie, just don't go expecting the same intricacies of the book or you will be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: A Definite Must See
Review: I'm a die hard movie lover and this is a must see, must have. It has something for the adventure seakers as well as the hopeless romantics. Full of suspense, comedy and a story line that will grab and keep you till the very end, always wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: read no further if you plan to see the movie
Review: The man who became a prisoner after being backstabbed by his friend. The prisoner who became a rich guy after he found a treasure in the sea. The rich guy who defied all odds and returned to his homeland to exact revenge upon those who falsely imprisoned him in the first place. That's right, it's the Gladiat-oops, I mean...the Count of Monte Cristo!!
One of the most popular tales of love, betrayal and revenge, this flick is ideal for anyone who happens to be in a vengeful type of mood or pissed at their ex- because he/she dicked around behind their back or for anyone who never forgot about that schmuck who made fun of them in high school. In fact, it's pretty much the most extreme example of one's man incredible drive to avenge the wrongs done onto him. He gets backstabbed and suffers. Then, he suffers some more and then he suffers a little extra after that, until he finally frees himself from the chains of pain, plans his revenge and let me tell you...it's a beautiful thing to see! Granted, I'm not one to advocate this type of retribution in my own life but this is a movie and I suppose that to a certain extent, it allows for you to live vicariously through this man, and boy...was it ever sweet! Forget about MUSKETEER flick from last year and see a swashbuckling movie that actually offers an interesting story, action, drama and...sword fights! All in all, a good time is had by all.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Exiting and Entertaining Movie To Watch!
Review: I saw this movie along with my wife and we both thought it was great! This movie is getting two types of review either it was good, and some people like my self are saying its one of the years best, or it was bad because the comparison to the Book!
I view the movie apart from the book because it is a movie "get it"! If you want to sit in the theater for 5 hours to get more of the book into it, go ahead! I don't think theirs a big crowd for movies that long; or you can just watch the 400-minute mini series staring GERARD DEPARDIEU (witch was excellent) and leave the movie alone!
Nuff Said.
Rating:
Summary: Not an action-adv buff but LOVED this film!
Review: Boy, do I have a leading man to recommend to my friends! James Caviezel, who I previously thought was fabulous in "Angel Eyes," is wonderful in this film as well. (He also has the most gorgeous blue eyes since Paul Newman first graced the screen.) Betrayed by a longtime aristocratic friend, played by Guy Pearce, he spends 13 years in prison, being schooled by a priest (Richard Harris) and then breaks out to have his revenge on his enemies. Director Kevin Reynolds, know for this genre, certainly can deliver in action adventure and all is forgiven for his deservedly panned "Waterworld." It makes a big difference when BOTH hero and villain are played by top flight actors and Caviezel and Pearce were 2 perfect choices for those roles. After his breakout performance in "Memento," I was actually surprised to see Pearce playing a villain's role but perhaps he committed to this role before that film made such a big splash for him. Pearce also manages to make himself unappealing in this film, like he did in "LA Confidential" yet he was capable of making himself extremely appealing and attractive in "Memento." Obviously, Pearce has quite a range of acting ability. Ladies, even if you hate action adventure films, you can watch this one with hubby and, for a change, both of you will enjoy the movie.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT
Review: This movie is NOT like the book per se but it has all the components and allows the audience to participate in the revenge. The 1975 version with Richard Chamberlin was closer to the novel with more ploting and the outcome more satisfactory but this has a happy ending which allows the central character to realize that revenge is unfulfilling and has the opportunity to learn the lesson his friend the priest and fellow prisonier tried to teach him. In some ways this is better than the other version or even the classic book since it even has moments of humor but i'm a fool for happy endings. if i wanted real life i could watch the 6:00pm news. i hope this movie will make James Cavizel (the main actor) a big star.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Movies of 2002
Review: I have to say that I was very surprised that this movie was as good as it was. It had everything you ever want in a movie: suspense, drama, love, mystery, and action. It has been my favorite movie so far this year. I loved it and recommend it to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: They've trashed yet another masterpiece
Review: Will Hollywood never learn to stop making movies after Dumas' books? After several failed attempts at the musketeers ("The Musketeer", "The Three Musketeers" - with Charlie Sheen et al, "The Man In The Iron mask" with Leonardo Di Caprio and who knows how many more I have fortunately missed), they try their hand at "The Count of Monte Cristo", another wonderful book by Mr. Dumas. Unfortunately, nothing is the same as in the book except for the name and the general plot. If these people don't have enough faith in Dumas and his literary talent to respect his stories and his characters and put them to the big screen the same way he has written them, why do they bother using them? For somebody who has never read the book - and I think last night in the theater that was unfortunately true for more than half of the viewers - this might come off as a good adventure movie. The settings are great, the costumes are great, it has plenty of action and romance. And the two principals - Jim Caviezel and Guy Pierce - are two good actors in their own right, I have enjoyed them in several movies. Jim Caviezel is particularly striking in his appearance and I think he would have been able to give his character the depth and mystery that Dumas' Dantes has, if he had been given the chance. But he was not. Hollywood takes a wonderful and deep story of a man's betrayal, revenge and quest for justice and turns into just another action flick. The characters have almost nothing in common with their book counterparts. Dumas' Dantes was a troubled and mysterious man who was using only his machiavellic intelligence and subtlety to defeat his enemies. This Dantes engages in sword fights and even fist fights, for Pete's sake. He also makes his grand entrance to his parties in a balloon, like he was Michael Jackson or something! Dumas' Mercedes was a proud and poor girl of Spanish ancestry, strong and noble. This Mercedes is just a weak girl, a commerciant's daughter who comes along as easy and a little silly. Dumas' Mondego was Mercedes' cousin, poor like her and with hidden ambitions, capable of subtle betrayal (like he betrayed Haydee's father, for those who have read the book). This Mondego is a son's count and just a petty man. They change characters' names and actions. I will not reveal the most exaggerated one of all, but I will only say it almost topped D'Artagnan turning out to be the king's father in "The Man With The Iron Mask". Also, they changed the ending of the romantic part - but this seems to be a problem with all adaptations of this novel, nobody seems to accept that Dumas didn't want Dantes to end up with Mercedes. They leave out more than 70% of the characters - if not for the other problems, perhaps I would have been able to forgive this one, since it would have been hard to fit in the complexity of the novel in just over 2 hours or so. They add several face-to-face combats which serve no purpose other than satisfying the modern taste for such things. They make Jacopo the comic relief of the movie, uttering silly sentences fit for a B-rate comedy. I could go on forever. And Dantes' great revenge upon his enemies, which took years of careful planning, is solved with rashness in 45 or so minutes, less than half the movie, skipping over everything, never being given the importance it has in the novel, to make room for the romantic part and the sword/fist fights. This is definitely the last Dumas adaptation I'm ever going to watch. Although it is clearly better than any of the Musketeer movies, it is still a disgrace.
Rating:
Summary: king of the moment
Review: i loved this film!!! it was so refreshing to see a film where swordplay was done without kung-fu (did anyone see the musketeer?). jim caveizel was great as the wrongly imprisoned young man who proves once and for all that revenge is sweet. guy pearce,as always, is perfect as the villian who betrays jim's character. richard harris is awesome as the prisoner who teaches jim caveizel the finer points of life-reading, writing,math ,philosophy, and of course sword fighting!the style fo the film also appears very true to the time. the costumes are appropriate for the general setting of the film. the contrast between the wealthy and the poor is also very well established with costume, scenery, and the general attitudes of the chararcters. this film is for those who hated the musketeer and want to see a movie with simple sword duels, not karate.
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