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The Count of Monte Cristo is the story of two young men. Edmond Dantes and Fernand Mondego both work for a shipping business, but come from completely different backgrounds. Edmond is the son of a common man, and lacks education and common sense. Mondego, on the other hand, is the son of ... Read review
Jim Caviezel (Pay it Forward, Thin Red Line) and Guy Pearce (Momento, The Time Machine), ... more
two of the hottest young actors today, give sizzling performances alongside Richard Harris (Harry Potter) in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - Dashing young sailor Edmon...
Retelling a story that has made it onto the silver screen more than most, this latest ... more
adaptation ofThe Count of Monte Cristomakes yet another swashbuckling attempt to win over a new generation of cinema goers. A dashing James Caviezel takes the role of...
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Retelling a story that has made it onto the silver screen more than most, this latest ... more
adaptation ofThe Count of Monte Cristomakes yet another swashbuckling attempt to win over a new generation of cinema goers. A dashing James Caviezel takes the role of...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
The Count of Monte Cristo is Alexandre Dumas' classic story of an innocent man wrongly but ... more
deliberately imprisoned and his brilliant strategy for revenge against those who betrayed him. Dashing young sailor Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) is a guileless a...
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The Count of Monte Cristo tells the dramatic story of Edmond Dantes, a young French sailor ... more
who is falsely denounced as a political traitor and unjustly imprisoned for eighteen years without trial. After a daring escape, Dantes flees to the island of Monte Cristo where he finds a colossal treasure of gold and jewells bequeathed to him by a dying inmate. Using these riches, he assumes a new identity and devises a plan to take vengeance on all those who betrayed him.
Take a classic, swashbuckling story, add unforgettable songs, fill it with a cast of cool ... more
characters including a very funky feline and you've got the latest adaptation of Alexander Dumas' classic tale THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO.From the first rousing sailor's song to the last breathtaking duel, it's a story we guarantee your family will treasure forever.The magic begins in Marseilles in 1815. Edmond Dantes is about to marry his true love, Mercedes when three jealous scoundrels, General Frenand Mondego, Dorleac and Calaruse frame him for a robbery.Edmond is captured and thrown into France's most famous prison, Chateau D'Ifprison. Two years later, he meets fellow inmate Abbe Faria, together they tunnel their way out of prison, Abbe is too weak to join Edmund's bid for freedom but before Edmond escapes Abbe gives him a map of a Monastery on the Isle of Monte Cristo, where he believes a king's fortune was hidden three centuries ago. Abbe makes Edmond swear to use the treasure to seek justice and not revenge. Edmond discovers the Isle and its treasure and returns to France to seek justice as the mysterious Count Of Monte Cristo!Fifteen years later, Edmund finally makes it to Marseilles where he finds his loyal servant (the funky feline) Louis. Together they leave for Paris to find Mondego and his motley crew. Louis enlists the help of Fiorello, a clumsy chef and Lucia, a beautiful girl disguised as a serving boy. But can his friends help him find justice and can Lucia teach Edmond that love is more important than revenge?With a great collection of songs and a fantastic cast of characters, this action packed feature is pure magic for children and adults.
It is the height of the Napoleonic era and for Edmond Dantes (Richard Chamberlain), life ... more
is on the perfect course. He is about to become a Captain in the Navy and marry his true love, Mercedes (Kate Nelligan). His plans are shattered by three men (Donald Pleasence, Tony Curtis and Alessio Orano), who falsely accuse him of conspiring with Napoleon. Prosecuted by the conniving de Villefort (Louis Jordan), he is sentenced to an agonising life on the isolated island fortress of Monte-Cristo. The only thing that keeps him alive is his overwhelming desire for revenge...
Production Year: 2008 - Action/Adventure - Director: Steven Spielberg - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Karen Allen, John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Jim Broadbent, Cate Blanchett
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Advantages: Good swashbuckling fun, classic story Disadvantages: Not quite enough action
...already, it does rather beg the question, “What’s the point of doing yet another version?” It was nearly twenty years since the last film version of Alexandre Dumas’s was released in cinemas, so with an entirely new generation of filmgoers to be enthralled, perhaps the time was right to re-make this classic story.
The Count of Monte Cristo is the story of two young men. Edmond Dantes and Fernand Mondego both ... ...backgrounds. Edmond is the son of a common man, and lacks education and common sense. Mondego, on the other hand, is the son of a wealthy count and is well educated in all matters. Nonetheless, despite the pair’s wildly varying family backgrounds, it is Edmond who is the most successful in life and love. Whilst aboard their ship, the two men decide to make a trip to the small island off the Italian coast that is the refuge of Napoleon Bonaparte. ... more
When a story has been dramatised into film nine times already, it does rather beg the question, “What’s the point of doing yet another version?” It was nearly twenty years since the last film version of Alexandre Dumas’s was released in cinemas, so with an entirely new generation of filmgoers to be enthralled, perhaps the time was right to re-make this classic story.
The Count of Monte Cristo is the story of two young men. Edmond Dantes and Fernand Mondego both work for a shipping business, but come from completely different backgrounds. Edmond is the son of a common man, and lacks education and common sense. Mondego, on the other hand, is the son of a wealthy count and is well educated in all matters. Nonetheless, despite the pair’s wildly varying family backgrounds, it is Edmond who is the most successful in life and love. Whilst aboard their ship, the two men decide to make a trip to the small island off the Italian coast that is the refuge of Napoleon Bonaparte. Whilst resting on the island, Edmond is one night approached by Napoleon himself and asked to deliver a letter to a friend on the mainland. Edmond is assured that there is nothing untoward about the request and reluctantly agrees to make the delivery.
When the ship subsequently reaches the docks, Mondego is further enraged by Edmond’s promotion to ship’s captain and is overcome with jealousy for Edmond’s bride-to-be, Mercedes. He lets slip to another member of the crew that Edmond is carrying a letter from Napoleon and very soon Edmond finds himself under arrest. Although the chief prosecutor originally accepts his innocence, Edmond is eventually thrown into prison when it becomes apparent that the letter was intended for the prosecutor’s father. And so, Edmond spends thirteen terrible years in a grim prison cell. Whilst in prison he befriends an old man, who teaches him the ways of mathematics, science and combat and sets the way for the young man to exact his terrible revenge on the friend who so cruelly betrayed him.
If The Count of Monte Cristo were a can of paint, it would be advertised as doing exactly what it says on the tin. There are very few surprises in this movie – what you see is what you get – but the production is carried off with a certain flair that makes this film highly entertaining.
One of the difficulties with classic films and novels is that many people are already completely familiar with the story. This was not something I suffered with as, having never seen the film before, I didn’t really know what to expect. I rather enjoy these period adventure stories, as there is something much more uplifting about swordplay and hand to hand combat than there is about high-tech special effects and guns. The story of Monte Cristo is certainly one of tragedy – Edmond is effectively robbed of thirteen years of his life, and the primitive conditions in which he languishes make the eventual revenge plan all the more satisfying. I don’t know about you, but I can think of nothing more fulfilling than a good old-fashioned story of one man’s revenge on the friends that betrayed him.
These classic period dramas often fail to retain my interest as they dwell too heavily on a romantic interest. This is not something from which Monte Cristo suffers and it is all the more enjoyable for it. Granted, there will always be a beautiful, buxom woman somewhere in the picture, but Mercedes does not dominate this picture and there are no open-armed reunions in cornfields to be endured. The story does, however, boast a wonderful selection of period characters, some of which are slightly over-the-top, but all good fun nonetheless. There is a particularly revolting prison keeper, who revels in whipping the inmates on every anniversary after their arrival at the prison. The chief prosecutor is a suitably snide, conniving, cowardly creature and his eventual demise is deliciously played.
The real bad guy in this story is, of course, Fernand Mondego, played by Guy Pearce. Pearce seems to have settled into something of a Hollywood niche, where he plays unpleasant characters and he revels in the opportunity to camp things up in this film. His disregard for everyone is evident and just when you think he has stooped as far as he can go he pulls another trick from his sleeve. Pearce (originally cast as Mike in Neighbours) has come a long way over the last few years, but although he is very competent in his part, I couldn’t help thinking that an English actor would have provided a more suitable English villain. Edmond Dantes is a character of two halves, basically portrayed as a dim but harmless peasant before his imprisonment, and subsequently as an articulate, dashing man thereafter. I was very impressed with James Caviezel in this role, who was just as convincing in each guise. His face seems perfect for the part of wide-eyed innocent, but once he dons a goatee beard and a velvet cloak he is also excellent nobility material. Although I was unfamiliar with most of the supporting cast by name, I did recognise all sorts of faces and this does become one of those, “Wasn’t he in…?” kind of movies after a while.
The director, Kevin Reynolds, clearly has a love of the classic adventure movie, having previously directed Rapa Nui, Waterworld and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. For me, Monte Cristo is by far the more accomplished film of them all, with a sumptuous atmosphere and a flair for location filming. That aside, I was quite surprised to learn that most of the film was actually shot in Ireland, with only a few scenes actually made in the Mediterranean. The locations are wonderful though, particularly the infamous Chateau D’If prison, which oozes atmosphere and menace. It is probably the scenes in the prison that merited the PG certificate – otherwise, the movie is suitable for everyone.
I have no criticisms of this movie, purely because it is a fine example of a film in this genre. It isn’t the most intellectual film that I have seen this year, nor is it the most interesting, but it has a great sense of fun about it and I enjoyed it immensely. If you like things like The Three Musketeers and The Man In The Iron Mask, then I am quite sure that this will be a perfect movie for you to watch.
Advantages: Good old fashioned romp Disadvantages: Not enough romping
...of him as cool. Redressing the balance and creating good medieval movies has met with mixed results over the years. Who can forget the inexplicably dire First Knight with Richard Gere? Everyone, hopefully. Robin Hood (the one with Kevin Costner) was pretty good, and A Knight’s Tale seems to have won over modern audiences with its bizarre fusion of jousting and modern rock.
Now, into the red corner steps a new contender, one who takes the genre seriously ... ...their ailing captain (he has the wonderfully nondescript illness known as “brain fever”), they stumble across the secret prison of Napoleon Bonaparte, and after a swift battle with the prison guards, Napoleon protests their innocence – but also hands Edmond a seemingly innocent letter to take back to the mainland. Fernand witnesses this act, and growing jealous after being repeatedly bettered in life and love by the illiterate Edmond, he betrays ...
peppersinclaire 10.11.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Count Of Monte Cristo (DVD)
Advantages: Great solid old-fashioned story telling Disadvantages: performaces on the hammy side, not enough fighting
...d’ya fancy going to see the remake of “The Count of Monte Cristo”?”, she replied.
“ A remake of “The Count of Monte Cristo” how redundant is that? A story which, according to IMDB.com, has been made into a cinematic movie 13 times, 3 TV movies and 4 series. I’d say the last thing the world needs is yet another version. What on earth makes you think I’d ever go and see this movie?” A winning ... ...that I found myself making the trek to the Edinburgh UCI and I have to say I’m very glad I did, because it turns out the movie is not half bad at all, in fact I have to admit to rather enjoying it.
Based on the book by Alexander Dumas, this is the one that isn’t about the imprisoned King of France (that’s “The Man in the Iron Mask, I get them mixed up everytime). Set during the earlier part of 19th Century France, it is the ...
daveking 21.04.2002 (22.04.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Count Of Monte Cristo (DVD)
Advantages: good, old-fashioned swash-buckling adventure yarn Disadvantages: drippy heroine, and a first half that might drag on repeated viewings
...a time when ‘adventure’ in the cinema tends to either be your big special effects-laden fantasy epic (Lord of the Rings) or your big special effects-laden action adventure (The Mummy, for instance), The Count of Monte Cristo sees cinema harking back to an era where ‘adventure’ was more adventurous all by itself and not because some horrible computer generated baddie was chasing the hero(es). No, this is all about buckling ... ...the heaving bosom of the heroine in a conveniently low cut dress.
•¤• THE PLOT •¤•
Based as it is on a classic piece of literature – the book of the same name by Alexandre (The Three Musketeers) Dumas – the plot of The Count of Monte Cristo is too well known for the trailers to the film to have bothered with any element of suspense. No, even before you’ve stepped near a cinema, you’ll already know ...
Calypte 29.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Count Of Monte Cristo (DVD)
Advantages: Intriguing Disadvantages: Bits cut from the book and long
...unable to place one of the characters? The second lead in this film, Guy Pearce, used to be in BBC1s Neighbours. Now nothing will spoil your enjoyment.
The Count of Monte Christo is a very famous and well loved story. This screen adaptation doesn't manage to encompass the whole of the story, but it copes pretty well; the swash is buckled, the hero cast into a pit of oblivion, the heroine wronged and finally a great revenege is wrought. The natural ... ...even begin to spell) and the younger son of a Count (Guy Pearce). At the beginning both are on board a ship, where the Captain has become very ill. The young sailor (who will eventually be the Count) is first mate and insists on taking the Captain ashore onto Elba (where Napolean is being held) in search of aid. The problem being that at this time, the British shot anyone who landed there for any reason. They land, and after an initial skirmish, ...
Psychgirl 06.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Count Of Monte Cristo (DVD)
Advantages: Harris, the scenery, the acting Disadvantages: not a lot - Pearce, lack of continuity in parts
...overblown, badly cast, inaccurate. The adjectives continue in this vein. Kevin Reynolds must be used to this treatment by the critics though – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Waterworld, both perfectly above-average films based on enjoyment factor at least, being prime examples.
This film reminds one strongly of Reynolds’ style – dodgy accents notwithstanding it also has the through-and-through evil guy, the damsel in distress, ... ...as the stereotypical bad guy he is so good at playing. All in the name of fun though, as a thread of (sometimes dark) humour runs throughout, particularly when Richard Harris’ wonderful priest, a fellow inmate, is onscreen, as he teaches Edmond the way of the world.
Who cares if the story is preposterous, or if certain details have not been thought through properly (I had to admit Edmond was in very good nick for someone in prison for 13 years). ...
aunico 22.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Count Of Monte Cristo (DVD)
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Advantages: Great performences, Superb story Disadvantages: Mix of accents, some of original story lost
The Count of Monte-Cristo
I first saw this film on Film4, where I have since seen it showing on quite a few occasions. I absolutely loved it and now own the DVD. My copy cost £7 from HMV; it is also available from Play and Amazon for around £6.
The front of the DVD case looks like the photograph shown. The back has a short description of the plot and some credits. This film was produced in 1975, and this DVD version released in 2007.
Plot
The film is a made-for-TV movie adaption of the novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas and is set in the Napoleonic era and stars Richard Chamberlain as Edward Dantes; a man with the world at his feet. Dantes is about to become a Captain in the Navy and is set to marry his true love, Mercedes (played by Kate Nelligan).
Dantes plans are scuppered by three men who falsely ...
The story of Edmond Dantes, a young sailor who plans to marry Mercedes, his beautiful girlfriend. Edmond is betrayed by his best friend Fernand and finds himself sentenced to life imprisonment on the island of Chateau D'If...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
Touchstone Home Video; Technicolor Distribution Services
Release date
03/02/2003
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
BED 888544
Barcode
5017188885447
Author
Alexandre Dumas
Writer
Alexandre Dumas
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Deleted Scenes, Alternative Scenes, Sword Choreography, En Garde Multi Angle Dailies, Layer By Layer Sound Design Edmonds Escape
DVD Description
In this highly entertaining, beautifully photographed rekindling of the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas, director Kevin Reynolds choreographs a fantastic adventure replete with breathtaking scenery, fiery swashbuckling battles, lavish costumes, and, above all else, sweet revenge. In 19th-century Marseille, Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) is the optimistic but uneducated son of a sea captain. He cherishes his friendship with the son of a count, Mondego (Guy Pearce), and is deeply in love with his fiancee, Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). Young Dantes is so innocent and naive that it is positively shocking when Mondego turns on him, accusing him of treason, and having him sentenced to life in the dreary dungeon of Chateau D'If. Years of isolation and torture nearly defeat the revenge-thirsty Dantes, but with the help of invaluable lessons from the Abbe Faria (Richard Harris), his luck slowly changes. An incredible prison break starts Dantes on his way to a new life, and from there Reynolds' COUNT truly takes off. Battles with pirates lead to hunts for sunken ocean treasure, and soon Dantes is living in Marseille as the transformed, newly rich, self-proclaimed Count of Monte Cristo. Installed in a ritzy chateau, he slowly unfurls his excrutiatingly careful plans to exact his revenge on Mondego and all those who ever wronged him.
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