The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
Once you’ve seen the 1998 French miniseries starring Gérard Depardieu, your enjoyment will be spoiled for any other version of The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s very difficult to fit all the elements of the story into two hours of screen time. The 2002 American version certainly gives a good college try, and it is quite entertaining. But if you’ve been spoiled, you’ve been spoiled.
Jim Caviezel plays Edmond Dantes, with Guy Pearce as Fernand the villain. It’s a compelling story that instantly tugs at your heart, when the lead character gets betrayed by his best friend and thrown in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Obviously, we all want Jim to get revenge on Guy, through any means possible. In this version, Jim doesn’t don many disguises to fool the other characters, but it’s a case of suspension of disbelief that no one recognizes him when he creates a new identity.
Just in case you don’t know the story, I won’t spoil things. You can exercise your brain and read the book, read six hours of subtitles during the French miniseries, or relax and enjoy the “abridged” version from 2002. If you do, you’ll get to see some familiar faces, Richard Harris, Henry Cavill, Luis Guzman, and Helen McCrory.
More Richard Harris movies here!
Jim Caviezel plays Edmond Dantes, with Guy Pearce as Fernand the villain. It’s a compelling story that instantly tugs at your heart, when the lead character gets betrayed by his best friend and thrown in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Obviously, we all want Jim to get revenge on Guy, through any means possible. In this version, Jim doesn’t don many disguises to fool the other characters, but it’s a case of suspension of disbelief that no one recognizes him when he creates a new identity.
Just in case you don’t know the story, I won’t spoil things. You can exercise your brain and read the book, read six hours of subtitles during the French miniseries, or relax and enjoy the “abridged” version from 2002. If you do, you’ll get to see some familiar faces, Richard Harris, Henry Cavill, Luis Guzman, and Helen McCrory.
More Richard Harris movies here!