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Actors: James Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, Dagmara Dominczyk
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) |
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Alexandre Duma's sweeping 19th century classic novel of betrayal, imprisonment, and exquisite revenge has been filmed more than two dozen times from 1908 on, if we count French, Italian, German, Mexican, and Russian versions, pastiches such as "Sword of," "Wife of," "Son of," "Return of," and even several comedy versions titled "The Countess of Monte Cristo" (one with Sonja Henie on ice!). Perhaps the best known American version is the 1975 TV movie with Richard Chamberlain. Director Kevin Reynolds (at the helm for two of Costner's failed epics) and first-time feature writer Jay Wolpert offer an old-fashioned, lump-in-the-throat retelling whose swashbuckling, sets, and locations (with Ireland and Malta standing in for France and Italy) nearly overwhelm the valiant efforts of the actors. Young sailor Edmond Dantes (Caviezel) is betrayed by his unscrupulous nobleman friend Fernand Mondego (Pearce), who marries Edmond's fiancee after our hero is sent to prison and reported executed. For nearly 15 years, Edmond plans his vengeance upon Mondego and the others who put him away. It's a terrific tale of swordplay, piracy, mysterious fortunes, secrets, and final reckonings, though as seems inevitable, much of the novel is left out. Richard Harris has a magnificent turn as a long-time prisoner who takes Edmond in hand and teaches him the ropes.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 40%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 19th century
Technology/treasure/info search
Yes
involving:
- money/gems/treasure
Crime & Police Story?
Yes
Criminal enemy is...
- politicians
If this is a criminal POV story...
- jail abuse/escape story
Romance
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- blue collar worker
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- short/standard wavy (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Unclothed?
- Chest
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- white/grey
Hair style
- (man) very short/crewcut
Body type
- very skinny (man)
How much in movie?
- 20%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- not employed but independently wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Hair color
- blonde
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- French
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Italy
- France
Water?
Yes
Water:
- swimming on
- drowning
- sail boat
Island?
Yes
City?
Yes
City:
- Dirty, grimy (like New York)
- wealthy
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
- prison
- fort/military installation
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
Movie makes you feel...
- excited
How many deaths in film?
- 8 or more
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- kissing
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 1 (None)
Kind of violence:
- mission to destroy something
- hand to hand
- guns
- swords
Unusual forms of death
- crushed
- drowned
- perforation--bullets
- perforation--swords/knives
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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