The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) is the Hollywood adaptation of Dumas's novel. Edmond Dantès is denounced by his friend Fernand and the ship's clerk Danglars, imprisoned in the Château d'If, escapes thirteen years later and returns as the Count of Monte Cristo. Kevin Reynolds directed. Jim Caviezel plays Edmond, Guy Pearce plays Fernand and Richard Harris plays the priest Faria in the prison. It was among Harris's last films. The film alters the novel noticeably. In the book, once the revenge is complete Edmond finds that what he has won has consumed him, and he does not end up with Mercédès. Here the two are reunited and Albert's identity is changed. That is the main criticism of the adaptation. It was shot in Ireland and Malta, with Fort Ricasoli in Malta standing in for the Château d'If. It performed well against its modest budget and reached a wide audience over the years through frequent television showings. It runs 131 minutes. Good for: classical adventure, revenge stories, and costume drama. Less good for: the novel is heavily simplified and the subplots are removed entirely. The swordplay is choreographically ordinary. The happy ending inverts the whole idea of the book, which is a serious problem for anyone who loves it.