The Count of Monte Cristo, a movie about lost love, found treasure and vengeance, all delivered with a French accent, what’s not to like? Do not miss this one.
Edmond Dantès (Pierre Niney) is a young sailor who disobeys orders to save a drowning woman. You’d think that’d set him on a good path, but life on the high seas in 1815 works to different rules. His captain is not impressed.
Later, on dry land, Dantes actions are praised and he’s promoted to ship’s captain. Such a position means he can finally marry the love of his life, Mercédès (Anaïs Demoustier). But the promotion creates an enemy in his old captain who was stripped of his ship.
Just as life looks good for Dantès and he’s about to marry his love, he’s marched off to court, denounced as a member of a pro-Napoleon conspiracy.
Incarcerated without trial he spends over ten years in an isolated prison, in a very deep hole in the ground to be exact.
One night he hears movement from within his cell walls and after much digging he meets the inmate in the adjacent cell, Abbé Faria (Pierfrancesco Favino). Together they hatch a plan to get out. But just as freedom awaits an accident means Faria won’t make it. On his death bed he reveals the location of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo.
Freed and wealthy Dantes seeks revenge on the three men who wronged him.
As the audience wandered out I pondered:
- Who knew three hours could go by so quickly?;
- Niney makes a perfect Count;
- The movie asks and interesting question. When does revenge stop being about getting square and start changing the victim into a new perpetrator?;
- I can see why 10 million tickets were sold in France, you don’t want to miss this one;
- There were a couple of moment that didn’t ring true, like how did the prisoners get candles, but you soon overlook that.
For more information go to Luna Cinemas
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