When he finally becomes the Count of Monte Cristo, friends and enemies from his past no longer recognize him. The performances from the cast are also a highlight, and Caviezel's gradual transformation comes across as believable and emotional. Director Kevin Reynolds brings a nice level of competency to the proceedings, and stages many of the sword fights and action scenes with some welcomed visual thrills. This is meant to play like a sweeping adventure, full of action, romance, impressive costumes, elaborate sets, and exciting set pieces, and on that front it mostly succeeds. While some big fans of the book might balk at all the changes, the results are still entertaining and though the alterations can be a bit too simplistic at times, they are understandable. Though it shares many core aspects with the celebrated novel, the script is a pretty basic Hollywood filtered adaptation, simplifying the dense work into a traditional two hour, three act structure. Now possessing the means and know how, he plots to systematically enact swift vengeance on those that ruined his life. Forever changed by his hardships, the once unimposing man transforms himself into the dashing and enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo. Ignited by a thirst for vengeance, Dantes hones his skills and eventually escapes. Unfortunately, jealousy fuels tragedy, and after being betrayed by his best friend, Fernand Mondego (Guy Pierce), Dantes is falsely imprisoned for treason. Unfortunately, despite several strengths, the movie still features some clunky editing and underdeveloped themes.īased on the Alexandre Dumas classic, the story follows Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel), a kind but naïve young man who wants nothing more than to marry his beautiful love, Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk), and live a nice, quiet life. From director Kevin Reynolds, the 2002 film adaptation takes the core of the novel and turns it into an entertaining and occasionally exciting Hollywood production. 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' is such a story, and its enticing adventure and deep themes have fueled several retellings and imitators over the years. Amongst all the many possible motivations for a character, is there really a more powerful drive than pure, unfettered vengeance? Is there a call to action that can more decisively get an audience behind a protagonist's journey, than revenge? Indeed, throughout all of fiction, retribution is a commonly reoccurring force, propelling narratives to often bloody and tragic ends seeped in moral uncertainty.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |