Count of Monte Cristo

Count of Monte Cristo Review

The Count of Monte Cristo, directed by Kevin Reynolds, is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas. The film is set in France just after the fall and exile of Napoleon Bonaparte. During his exile, Napoleon still had many supporters in France. As a result, even being suspected of associating with Napoleon or any of his supporters could lead to grave results. The main character is Edmond Dantes, a man who is falsely imprisoned for aiding the exiled Napoleon. His best friend Fernand Mondego, a shipmate named Danglars, and Villefort, the magistrate, betray Dantes. Mondego then marries Mercedes, Dantes’ fiancé and tells her that Dantes is dead. While in prision, Dantes meets a man named Abbe Faria, who tells Dantes the location of a treasure thought to be lost. After suffering for many years, Dantes escapes the prison, meets a friend named Jacabo, and together they find this treasure and use the vast fortune to create a false identity, the Count of Monte Cristo, to execute the complicated revenge plot. The main theme of the film is revenge.

Revenge drives Dantes throughout the film and cannot be satiated until those who made him suffer, suffer as he did. Dantes’ plan to get revenge begins by staging the abduction of Mondego’s son, Albert. Dantes then saves Albert from the kidnappers and befriends him. To thank Dantes for his heroic deed, Albert invites Dantes to his home for his birthday.

While at the birthday party, Dantes meets his old friend and fiancé for the first time as the Count of Monte Cristo. Mercedes almost immediately recognizes him and confronts him about his true identity. It is at this point, that Dantes could have taken back his fiancé but his deep-seated hatred of Mondego and Mercedes does not allow him to do so.

Instead, he continues his plan. In the next step of his plan, Dantes tells Villefort about a shipment of goods that need to be brought to Marseilles. Villefort agrees...