'The Count of Monte-Cristo', the best adaptation of Alexandre Dumas?

The Count of Monte-Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo - Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière - 2024) is the eponymous adaptation of one of the greatest books of all time by the French novelist Alexandre Dumas, who is also recognized for another widely recognized work, The Three Musketeers.

The plot is well-known and one of the greatest revenge stories in fiction: the young Edmond Dantès is about to be promoted to captain, which will allow him to marry the love of his life, a gorgeous high-society woman named Mercedes Herrera. His sudden success, however, makes his adversaries and even friends envious. He is imprisoned without trial in the Château d'If prison after being betrayed by them and accused of participating in a scheme to support the exiled Napoleon.

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There he meets Abbé Faria, who becomes his mentor and educates him in all areas of knowledge. Finally, he informs him of a mythical treasure hidden on the island of Montecristo. Years later, Dantès escapes the prison, finds the treasure, and devises an amazing plan to exact the most heinous revenge on his powerful foes.

An mighty tale full of drama and passion, beautifully narrated, and with outstanding characters. The film, as usual, attempts to explain all that while omitting numerous sections and subplots. It is impossible to create a perfect adaptation because each reader has a different mental image of the novel, the characters, the setting... this happens every time, especially in a work of such density and complexity with over 1,000 pages, but Delaporte and La Patellière do quite well with such an exercise. It was a massive challenge to adapt and direct this high-budget film, which cost over 43 million dollars.

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Thus, we may be looking at the best movie or series based on a Dumas novel, possibly sharing the top spot with George Sidney's The Three Musketeers (1948), starring the magnificent Gene Kelly, who transforms his usual mastery of dance, the best in history, into sword choreography, and the wonderful Lana Turner.

Returning to the French film, Pierre Niney clearly emerges as the film's main protagonist. Well characterized, he offers a performance that is dark enough to remind us of the intricacy of the novel's character. The young Anamaria Vartolomei also stands out as Haydée, an actress who charmed audiences at the age of 21 in the intriguing L'événement (Happening - Audrey Diwan - 2021).

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The filmmakers' work behind the camera is solid, with a clean and elegant staging, yet there are some excesses in aerial shots and extraneous perspectives that don't exactly suit with the story. A stunning cinematography with subtle tonal nuances is added, which complements the plot's tragic moments.

Despite the 178 minutes of footage, there aren't rhythmic issues, which is to be appreciated. Many movies that last more than two hours these days get tiring, yet this one can entertain while remaining lighthearted for nearly three hours. The music, in my opinion, is the worst aspect of the film, with an excessive and repetitive soundtrack that becomes exhausting and is occasionally employed in an invasive manner over the narration.

In conclusion, The Count of Monte-Cristo is a more than entertaining high-budget period adventure film (for a European production) and a more than adequate adaptation of one of the peaks of universal literature. French cinema continues to shine; excellent job.

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Alberto cierra
Good job. would you like to participate in an independent film script
01:14 09 January, 2025
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Tonino Carreto

Sweet Article. I have this novel in the list of books I'd like to read. What element in particular did you think made the most justice to, from the book itself? And in another regard, what's your favourite screenplay adaptation of a literary work? If not this one of course.

04:52 24 January, 2025
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Viviana Bianco
Excelente!! análisis de un clásico, que no me atrevo ver otra vez, muy larga, te invito a leer "De Filadelfia a Buenos Aires", en la categoría: secuelas, si te gusta me regalas un like, gracias! saludos. https://www.peliplat.com/es/article/10038343/De-Filadelfia-a-Buenos-Aires
11:50 12 January, 2025
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Stephanmurawski

Hi Carlos! Good article, I have yet to see The Count of Monte-Cristo, although I am interested in doing so. I invite you again to read and support my last published article about We Live in Time, thanks in advance! :)

00:55 21 January, 2025
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GMD

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Wonderful! The thing is that French cinema has that habit, that of shining. Thank you, Carlos. During the week I see her.
06:16 06 January, 2025
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May Cosme
Maravillosa critica, de una pelicula que despues de leer el comentario, vere con mucha interes. Es una genialidad de obra y clari al leer el libro, cada lector la imagina de un millon de formas diferentes, es lo que tienen los libros y la imaginación. Pir eso es tan complicadi que te asombre una pelicula despues de leer una gran obra como, esta y despues de ver tantas versiones de la misma. Estas peliculas de aventuras, historia, con grandes escenarios magníficos paisajes, vestuarios, son mis preferidas, aunque a veces hay algunas que son una desilusión. La verdad que el cine frances, hace obras muy cuidadas y estoy deseando verla, y se sume a una de mis películas preferidas.
03:34 04 January, 2025
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Kout

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I like the way you write, you touch a very important point about adapting a book to the big screen, is impossible to create a perfect adaptation because of point of view while reading contrasting with the director perspective. But I will give an opportunity to this movie thanks to you.
18:07 02 January, 2025
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Cristian Chaz

Buen artículo. Hoy en día muchas peliculas de novelas clásicas cuestan reflejar el libro. Gracias por recomendar

13:58 28 January, 2025
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eleazarvho22

excellent post. Congratulations...

07:07 28 January, 2025
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Alexis Aleman VE

carlos excelente articulo te confieso que he leido el libro del conde de montecristo y es una historia fascinante asi como hamlet, y me voy agendar ver esas peliculas para poder ver las actuaciones entiendo que hay como tres versiones con la reciente ¿cual sera mejor actuacion? , tendre que verlas, gracias excelente articulo completo

02:05 28 January, 2025
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User-1329079352

Muy buen artículo , bien detallado

00:54 28 January, 2025
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Manuel Germano

A great critic! Congrats, I haven't seen the film yet!

04:41 25 January, 2025
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Nery Lavalle Carrillo

¡Hola!, que espectacular forma de detallarnos la magnífica historia de Alexandre Dumas que ha sido llevada a la pantalla el año pasado. Entiendo que no es la primera producción, que nunca serán iguales porque como mencionas, cada Director tendrá una propia interpretación; asimismo, los espectadores. ¡Palmas para ti! No he visto la película actual, pero la historia la conozco a la perfección y luego de tu reseña, tengo mucho deseo de embarcarme en esta nueva producción. ¡Saludos!

03:31 22 January, 2025
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Eva Guti

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Excelente reseña, aún no la he visto, pero sin dudas luego verla volveré a leerla

02:59 22 January, 2025
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Carmen Fernández Rilo
Muy buena película y resumen. Yo la he visto recientemente y me encantó. Gracias por el artículo.
03:16 15 January, 2025
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Fiorella Crepaldi
An incredible article!! I invite you to read mine and leave a like if you liked it, it's in another category. Thank you!! https://www.peliplat.com/en/article/10038771/Christiane-F.:-A-red-flag-film-in-today%E2%80%99s-generation
02:19 14 January, 2025
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