![The Count Of Monte Cristo [DVD] [2002]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Ej3o3G0iL.jpg)
Product Description Betrayed by his childhood friend Fernand (Guy Pearce), sailor Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) is found guilty of trumped-up charges and sent to the island prison of Chateau d'If. Thirteen years later, having learnt the art of fencing from the Abbé Faria (Richard Harris), a fellow inmate who also revealed to him the location of a vast treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo, Edmond realises that the time has come and carries out a daring escape attempt. Taking the treasure for himself, he reappears as the Count of Monte Cristo and becomes the talk of Parisian society; but he soon learns that Fernand has married Mercédès (Dagmara Dominczyk), Edmond's own childhood sweetheart, and starts drawing up his plans for revenge. .co.uk Review Retelling a story that has made it onto the silver screen more than most, this latest adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo makes yet another swashbuckling attempt to win over a new generation of cinema goers. A dashing James Caviezel takes the role of the Count, who is driven by a desire for revenge after being betrayed by his best friend Fernand (played by a dishevelled Guy Pearce) and landed with 16 years of solitary confinement in Chateau D'If, a damp cavernous prison. Thus the scene is set for a good old-fashioned romp. The trouble with this "re-imagining" (to borrow a phrase from Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes) is that it's never quite sure whether to take itself seriously or not. Alexandre Dumas's original story is a traditionally melodramatic tale of deceit and double-crossing, with clear-cut bad guys and a moral lesson to be learned at the end. Here, director Kevin Reynolds appears unsure about whether to stick with tradition or bring the story up to date and turn it into a post-modern play on the old Victorian values and style. When the Count and his heavy-breathing loved one are reunited, their kiss is actually framed as a cameo. Both lead actors are also prone to heavy bouts of overacting, garnishing their performances with exaggerated baroque gestures. Clearly this is a film in which the actors could over-indulge themselves and (almost) get away with it, were it not for the fact that--bar Richard Harris as the "Priest"--none of them seem to have the faintest idea about how to conduct themselves in a period drama. This Count of Monte Cristo will leave the audience a little confused as to whether they should cry along with the story or laugh along with the actors. --Nikki DisneyOn the DVD: The Count of Monte Cristo on disc offers no escape from the dry drawl of director Kevin Reynolds, who features in almost every element of the extensive extras package. With a shy studio disclaimer before his commentary, he's got a refreshingly frank attitude to explaining a movie's making. Also included are details of the ambitious swordfight choreography, the origins and adaptation of Dumas's classic book and how the sound was developed as well as a behind-the-scenes feature on location. Quite often the footage feels like a tourism promo for Malta. The 5.1 sound mix is superbly utilised (when Reynolds isn't talking) and the transfer (1.85:1) is as pristine as you'd hope and expect. --Paul Tonks
M**.
Enjoyable
Great dvd
P**N
This is a fantastic movie that is even better on blu ray
I love this movie. Always been a big fan of The Count of Monte Cristo. I have read the Count of Monte Cristo book as a teen I was hooked with his story. Now the book is a lot different to the movie. The story is about the same person but the events have changed at times completely different.But do not judge this movie based on the book as its a movie and I have not yet seen a movie to be exact to the book, always changed. Judge it on how the story is told, the directing,the actors and and if it is better than the other Count of Monte Cristomovies you have seen.He suffered a lot for something he didn't do. Betrayed by his best friend and the corrupt officials he gets imprisoned into on of the infamous prisons in Napoleon times. The movie portrays the story very well and the actors do a great job. The role of Count of Monte Cristo role suits Jim Caviezel really well. He does a great job. Planning his revenge after escaping from prison its something that follows him throughout the movie. Getting rich by finding the gold and pretending to be someone else in front of the woman he loves is not easy not only that his past best friend who betrayed him is married to her. Thats not all he has a son too. Thats all I will say as you have to watch the rest but the movie is great. The story is very interesting and anyone will enjoy it. I have both the dvd and blu ray version which I can confirm it works on the UK as well.the picture quality is fantastic on blu ray. A must own Pls check photos.If you haven't got it yet just get it. Dont let this movie past by as it is that good. Great seller as always fast delivery. Thank You.
E**G
One of my favourite films
First saw this film many years ago on a tiny screen on a flight to New York and I really enjoyed it. It then popped up on the TV and I recorded it and kept it for ages but decided in the end to buy the DVD as I watched it so often and was tired of shooting through the ads.I have read the book by Dumas but will admit to finding it hard going though I am fascinated by this story. Years ago in the days of black and white TV I remember a Sunday night serial, thirteen episodes long, of this story with Alan Badel as the Count. I also remember the marvellous one with Gerard Depardieu. This is a great swashbuckler and full of adventure and fun as well as being the story of a man bent on revenge for all the wrongs done him. Lovely to look at, it takes some liberties with the characters but nothing too outrageous and I loved every single minute of it. One has to suspend disbelief as Armand looks exactly the same as when he was arrested and he would be recognised straight away, but hey it is a movie.Also great fun to see the young Superman featuring!One of my favourite films, love it
C**S
caught like a fish
i saw the last hour of this on tv and was caught up in the plot almost instantly. i decided i had to buy this on dvd. seeing the film as a whole was great.the story is excellent. revenge, fighting, suffering, joy. also, an aura of cleverness seems to surround this film (everything draws together in the end).the fight scenes are well done (quite realistic). the acting is top notch. some scenes are fantasticly done with elaborate sets. a lot of effort has clearly gone into the making of this picture. there are a few wow thats cool moments and then theres the wow thats sad ones to counter them.i had never encountered this tale before so i decided it was good purely on the merit of the film itself. id say most people would enjoy this.quite simply it is a very well made and thouroughly entertaining film.i now have the novel of monte cristo in my basket for future enjoyment.
W**4
Chateu d'If - or what if?
A somewhat fanciful version of a famous old literary classic, best approached as a film-orientatedadaptation and enjoyed for its own various pleasures, which include the excellent leading actors andthe bits of action along the way. Just adjust the imagination at certain places, that's all.
M**S
Great value
Timeless story , excellent cast.A must for anyone's collection.👍
Q**N
SMASHING STUFF!!
Every one in the main cast was quite exceptional, but special reference has to be made to Jim Caviezel, who played the cruelly imprisoned Edmond Dantes. Guy Pearce was also terrific, as the corrupt Mondego, with a performance laced with gusto and menace.Attention to detail to life in the times of the Napoleonic Wars, was impressive. Though the story was quite different to the way Alexandre Dumas wrote it, entertainment level I found to be pretty high, so much so that I have already watched it thrice.Then, for me, the icing on the cake was the locations in Malta, and on the nearby island of Comino, where St Mary's Tower, built by the Knights of St John, stood in for the forbidding prison, the Chateau D'If. I was born in Malta and lived there for some years.
S**S
review
great!
Trustpilot
2 months ago
2 weeks ago
![The Count of Monte Cristo [Region 2]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81Ej3o3G0iL._AC_UL116_SR116,116_.jpg)
