The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 film)
_Film |
name = The Count of Monte Cristo |
image = The Count of Monte Cristo film.jpg |
caption =
The Count of Monte Cristo film poster | director =
Kevin Reynolds | producer = Gary Barber
Roger Birbaum
Jonathan Glickman |
writer = Jay Wolpert |
starring =
James CaviezelGuy PearceDagmara DominczykRichard Harris| movie_music =
Edward Shearmur| distributor =
Buena Vista Pictures| released =
January 25,
2002 |
runtime = 131 minutes|
language =
English |
imdb_id = 0245844|
music = |
awards = |
budget = $35,000,000 (estimated)|
amg_id = 1:259131 |
imdb_id = 0245844
}}
Prepare for adventure. Count on revenge.The Count of Monte Cristo is a
2002 film based upon the book
The Count of Monte Cristo, by
Alexandre Dumas, père. It was directed by
Kevin Reynolds and starred
James Caviezel,
Dagmara Dominczyk, and
Guy Pearce. It follows the general plot (the main storyline of
imprisonment and
revenge is preserved), but many aspects of the novel, including the relationships between major characters and the ending, have been changed, simplified, or removed. It was criticized for these changes by some scholars of the book, who saw the changes as reducing the dramatic power and moral insight of the novel, while others praised the film as a successful adaptation, simplifying the plot while retaining the important themes of the novel. The movie met with mediocre
box office success, bringing in about $54 million overall.
Despite its poor box office earnings, the film was generally very well-received by audiences and critics alike. As of June 20th, 2006, the film currently maintains a rating of 7.4 (based on 18,413 votes) at the
IMDb and a 74% at
Rotten Tomatoes. Like Kevin Reynolds' other historical picture,
Tristan + Isolde, the film has gone on to achieve something of a cult status among fans.
The novel begins with Edmond Dantès returning to
Marseille, where he meets his family and friends. There, the reader learns that he is the ship's first mate, about to receive promotion to captaincy and also is on the verge of marrying a beautiful
Catalan, Mercédès.
It is revealed that the previous Captain Leclére, who was a staunch supporter of the now exiled Emperor
Napoleon, charged Dantès on his deathbed to deliver a package to former
Grand Marshal Maréchal Bertrand, who has been exiled to the isle of
Elba. During his visit, he spoke to Napoleon himself, who asked him to deliver a confidential letter to a man in
Paris for him.
However, the naive Dantès does not realize how his fortune affects those he considers friends. Danglars, the ship's chief of cargo who envies Edmond's promotion, and Fernand (also Mercédès' cousin), who desires Mercédès, seek to accuse Edmond as a
Bonapartist agent; he is sent to the deputy
public prosecutor and
magistrate, Villefort. Though Villefort is at once sure of Edmond's innocence and is on the verge of setting him free, he discovers that the addressee is none other than his own father, Noirtier, a prominent Bonapartist. However, the son has denounced his father to improve his relations with the current royalist regime, and a resurgence of speculation about his true loyalties could irrevocably damage his career and prevent his imminent marriage to a well-known
aristocratic family. In order to bury this secret, Villefort sends Edmond to languish indefinitely in the infamous
Château d'If.
*
James Caviezel -
Edmond Dantes*
Guy Pearce - Fernand Mondego
*
Richard Harris -
Abbé Faria*
James Frain - J.F. Villefort
*
Dagmara Dominczyk - Mercedès Iguanada
*
Luis Guzmán - Jacopo
* Christopher Adamson - Maurice
*Guy Pearce was originally offered the lead role of Edmond Dantes.
*During the last sword fight in the wheat field, large overhead power lines are clearly visible in the valley. A radio communications tower is also visible next to the building, off in the distance. Also, when Count Mondego is talking with Monsieur de Villefort in his office with the window open, you can just make out cars parked on the other side of the harbor.
*When Abbé Faria and Edmond Dantes are crawling in the tunnel, Faria accidentally blows out his candle, but there is still light coming from the candle holder.
*SPOILER: The scene involving Villefort trying to kill himself and Monte Cristo asking him: "Did you think I'd make it that easy for you?" was shot in two versions. The director thought the other version, where the gun was actually loaded, worked better and put it into the original cut. However, some test audiences, without the knowledge of the existing footage, indicated it would be better if the gun was not loaded, so the scene in the final cut was inserted.
*SPOILER: During one of the fencing scenes between 'Jim Caviezel' and 'Guy Pearce' , a move was performed incorrectly and Pearce was actually stabbed through the skin on his side. They took him to a hospital, and after he was patched up, he was bragging about the wound proudly, while Caviezel apologized profusely the whole time.
