The Count Of Monte Cristo (DVD)

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?” In 2002, it was nearly twenty years since the last film version of Alexandre Dumas’s classic novel had been released in cinemas, so with an entirely new generation of film goers to be enthralled, perhaps the time was right to re-make. 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 the complete review

They don’t make adventure movies like they used to. Hey, bear with me – it’s difficult coming up with an opening line! But it’s true – ‘adventure’ in the cinema these days 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). Now I must admit, I completely enjoyed both of those film. But in The Count of Monte Cristo, we find 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 ...  Read the complete review

As many of you may have done, I watched this film on TV a few nights ago, since I have heard of the book but never read it, and I have recently watched and enjoyed Le Bossu (The Hunchback), so I'm into period French revenge swashbucklers at the moment. The first thing I have to say about this film is that if you watched the fourth series of 24, you will recognise the man who plays Villefort, and it will annoy you all the way through trying to work out where you've seen him. Well it did me. His name is James Frain, and he played Paul Reynes. So there you go. Anyway, now onto the film. Directed by Kevin Reynolds, it is the latest adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' ...  Read the complete review

I saw The Count of Monte Cristo on the first day it came out in the UK, but I wasn't overly impressed. Here's why... =========================================== The Man in the Iron Mask, Anybody? =========================================== Dashing young men dash across the screen quite dashingly in this distinctly average tale of trust, bravery and - well - dashing, really. Admittedly there are some impressive scenes and the landscape is breathtaking, but the story-line leaves a little to be desired... ============================================= The Plot of The Count of Monte Cristo ...  Read the complete review

What?” I said “I said, 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 argument I thought. “Well, I have two free tickets courtesy of our friends at thefilmfactory.co.uk.” And so it was that I found myself ...  Read the complete review