The Count of Monte Cristo: Classically Entertaining

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The Count of Monte Cristo is fabulously entertaining with its mixture of revenge, love, suspense, and action sequences; transporting audiences back to a time when honor and loyalty were highly valued and a man’s last name was more important than the man himself. It seems there is something for everyone in this film. While the beautiful love story speaks to the romantic, the dueling swordplay and thought of buried treasure speaks to the inner child. Everyone in between will likely be moved by some aspect of the film. While the plot is exciting enough on its own, the awe-inspiring scenery, flavorful language, and superb acting are what turn this classic story into a truly enthralling and passionate film.

The most recent adaptation of Alexander Dumas’s classic novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, was directed by Kevin Reynolds and released in 2002. The story takes place in the 1820’s when France was moving away from the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. The character of Edmond Dantes played by James Caviezel starts out a young lowly sailor who is madly in love with Mercedes Iguanada (Dagmara Dominczyk) and hopes to marry her once he acquires enough money to do so. His best friend Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce) who also seems infatuated with Mercedes, knowingly turns Edmond over to the authorities for treason where he is imprisoned in Chateau d’If on a remote island for 13 years. During the first part of his stay in prison, Dantes wallows in misery and despair, but his luck begins to change when Abbe Faria (Richard Harris), an ex-soldier and priest, accidentally emerges in Dantes’s cell by way of an underground tunnel Faria dug intending to take him out of the prison. Faria then enlists Dantes to help him dig the tunnel in exchange for knowled...

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...lm critic Roger Ebert, “ This is the kind of adventure picture the studios churned out in the Golden Age—so traditional it almost feels new” (Ebert). Under the direction of Reynolds, The Count of Monte Cristo shined not only at the box office, but continues to shine in the hearts of its audiences. Aside from other aspects, the stunning scenery, intriguing dialogue, and outstanding acting alone make this a truly pleasurable film for people of all ages.

Works Cited

Ebert, Roger. "The Count Of Monte Cristo :: Rogerebert.com :: Reviews." Rogerebert.com. 25 Jan. 2002. Web. 06 Mar. 2011.

Scott, A. O. "Movie Review - The Count of Monte Cristo - FILM REVIEW; And Swashes Buckled All Around - NYTimes.com." The New York Times. 25 June 2002. Web. 06 Mar. 2011.

"The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) - Memorable Quotes." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 06 Mar. 2011.

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