The Count Of Monte Cristo (2002)

Cast
Jim Caviezel as Edmund Dantes
Guy Pearce as Mondego
Richard Harris as Faria
Dagmara Dominczyk as Mercedes
Michael Wincott as Dorleac
Luis Guzman as Jacobo

Directed by: Kevin Reynolds

Written by: Jay Wolpert

Based On The Novel by: Alexandre Dumas Sr

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller

Rated PG-13 For Adventure Violence, Swordplay and Some Sexuality

118 minutes

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is a movie that incorporates piracy, Napoleon in exile, betrayal, solitary
confinement, secret messages, escape tunnels, swashbuckling, comic relief, a treasure map, Parisian
high society and sweet revenge, and brings it in at under two hours, with performances by good actors
who are clearly having fun. This is the kind of adventure picture the studios churned out in the Golden
Age--so traditional it almost feels new.

Jim Caviezel stars, as Edmund Dantes, a low-born adventurer betrayed by his friend Fernand Mondego
(Guy Pearce). Condemned to solitary confinement on the remote prison island of Chateau d'If, he
spends years slowly growing mad and growing his hair, until one day a remarkable thing happens. A
stone in his cell floor moves and lifts, and Faria (Richard Harris) appears. Faria has even more hair than
Dantes, but is much more cheerful because he has kept up his hope over the years by digging an escape
tunnel. Alas, by digging in the wrong direction, he came up in Dantes' cell instead of outside the walls,
but c'est la vie.

"There are 5,119 stones in my walls," Dantes tells Faria. "I have counted them." Faria can think of better
ways to pass the time. Enlisting Dantes in a renewed tunneling effort, he also tutors him in the physical
and mental arts; he's the Mr. Miyagi of swashbuckling. Together, the men study the philosophies of
Adam Smith and Machiavelli, and the old man tutors the younger one in what looks uncannily like
martial arts, including the ability to move with blinding speed.

This middle section of the movie lasts long enough to suggest it may also provide the end, but no: The
third act takes place back in society, after Faria supplies Dantes with a treasure map, and the resulting
treasure finances his masquerade as the fictitious Count of Monte Cristo.

Rich, enigmatic, mysterious, he fascinates the aristocracy and throws lavish parties, all as a snare for
Mondego, while renewing his love for the beautiful Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk).
The story of course is based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, unread by me, although I was a close
student of the Classics Illustrated version. Director Kevin Reynolds redeems himself after "Waterworld"
by moving the action along at a crisp pace; we can imagine Errol Flynn in this material, although Caviezel
and Pearce bring more conviction to it, and Luis Guzman is droll as the count's loyal sidekick, doing what
sounds vaguely like 18th century standup ("I swear on my dead relatives--and even the ones that are not
feeling so good").

The various cliffs, fortresses, prisons, treasure isles and chateaus all look suitably atmospheric, the fight
scenes are well choreographed, and the moment of Mondego's comeuppance is nicely milked for every
ounce of sweet revenge. This is the kind of movie that used to be right at home at the Saturday matinee,
and it still is.

Footnote (read no further if you plan to see the movie) : There is one logistical detail that mystifies me.
After Faria is killed in a cave-in, Dantes arranges for his dead body to be found, then substitutes himself
for the corpse, is carried out of the prison and finds his freedom. All very well. But why, given the
realities involved and the need to make haste, does Dantes go to the trouble of moving Faria's corpse to
Dantes' own cell--thus supplying a premature warning of the switch, and betraying the fact of the
tunnel's existence? If he is recaptured, that tunnel might come in handy.

Synopsis

In the turbulent days in which France was transitioning away from Napoleonic rule, Edmond Dantes
(Caviezel) and his closest friend, Fernand Mondego (Pearce), aspire to gain the same two things: the
next captaincy of a ship in Morel's (Godfrey) Marseille-based shipping business and the hands of the
lovely Mercedes Iguanada (Dominczyk).

Dantes and Mondego are diverted to Elba on a shipping mission because their captain requires
medical attention. Assistance comes, unexpectedly, in the form of the personal physician of the exiled
Napoleon (Norton). In return for the use of his doctor, Napoleon demands that Dantes deliver a letter
for him and that the mission and the letter be kept a secret. Unknown to the illiterate Dantes, the letter
will provide Bonapartists in Marseille information of pertinence to a possible rescue of Napoleon. Also
unknown to him, Fernand has discovered and read the letter and has full knowledge of its contents.

On his return to France, Dantes's fortunes peak as Morel names him captain of one of his ships and an
improved station in life prompts Edmond to propose to Mercedes, who accepts the offer. In the process
of being beaten out of the two things that matter most to him in life, the jealous Fernand knows that
the letter Dantes is carrying can be used to falsely implicate him in an act that might be viewed by local
authorities as treasonous. Fernand, and his confidant, shipping colleague Danglars (Woodington), betray
Dantes by making the magistrate Villefort (Frain) aware of the letter.

Dantes is taken by local authorities in front of Villefort. Despite his determination that Dantes is
innocent of any crime, he becomes edgy upon learning that the letter was addressed to Noirtier
Villefort, a known Bonpartist, and, consequently, a politically inconvenient father for a young man
aspiring to a prominent law career in post-Napoleonic France. To eliminate all evidence that his father
was involved in plans for an escape attempt by Napoleon from Elba, Villefort burns the letter and has
Dantes arrested and taken to the Chateau D'If, a maximum security prison, where Dantes rots for over a
decade, with no prospects of getting out in the imaginable future.
 Dantes befriends a fellow prisoner named Abbe Faria (Harris), who is a great scholar and who, very
gradually, transforms the unworldly Dantes into a wise, learned and cultivated man. Faria is an old man,
however, and when he comes to realize that he is fatally ill, he tells Dantes of a great treasure and
where it is buried.

Secretly placing himself in Faria's burial sack, which is to be thrown over the cliffs and into the river
alongside the prison, Dantes manages to escape. After a dangerous ordeal in which he mingles with, but
ultimately befriends, an enterprising, yet violent, group of smugglers led by Luigi Vampa (Blanc), he
makes his way back to Marseilles. Dantes now turns his attention to claiming the treasure Abbe Faria
had referred to.

After locating the treasure, Dantes's riches are suddenly boundless, but rather than retiring to a life of
leisure, his new raison d'etre is vengeance, with the objects of his revenge being Fernand (now a count),
Danglars (now a baron), and Villefort (now a chief prosecutor), all of whom live in Paris. As they are now
members of Parisian high society, Dantes realizes that to gain access to them, he'll need to reinvent
himself, and uses some of his newfound riches to purchase a huge estate near Paris. He then proclaims
himself to be the Count of Monte Cristo, and although nobody knows of him, his claim is very credible in
view of his visibly substantial wealth.

The Count plans a party at his new estate and invites many members of Parisian high society,
including all the objects of his vengeance. Now having considerable access to each of them, one at a
time, he successfully sets them up for failure. Danglars is tricked into an act of embezzlement and
Villefort is tricked into confessing to conspiracy to have his own father murdered within earshot of local
authorities.

The Count gains close access to Fernand and Mercedes, who are now husband and wife, by paying the
smuggler Luigi Vampa to pretend to kidnap their son, Albert. This enables the Count himself to save
Albert. Having saved their son, the Count is now welcome in the home of Fernand and Mercedes.

Taking note of his mannerisms, Mercedes soon works out that the Count is actually Edmond Dantes,
but the Count still has a bone to pick with her, as she married Fernand very shortly after his arrest and
had Fernand's son, Albert (Cavill), not long after that. This seemed a sign of her infidelity, but the Count
ultimately learns that Villefort had announced that Dantes was dead shortly after the onset of his
imprisonment. Fernand, it turns out, had bargained for this announcement, from which he hoped to
gain the hand of Mercedes, by murdering, at Villefort's request, Villefort's father. Now understanding
that Mercedes had believed him dead, the Count is less incensed by her marriage to Fernand, but still
finds the very short period of time between his imprisonment and their marriage very unsettling.

The Count is about to turn his back completely on Mercedes. But then, Fernand's financial ruin from
compulsive gambling compels him to leave Paris to evade his debtors, against whom he has committed
crimes. Unwilling to follow Fernand with their son, Mercedes, finally, tells the Count the truth ---- she
had married Fernand because she had, unknown to the Count, been impregnated by Dantes shortly
before he was arrested. She wanted Albert to have a father. In truth, however, Albert's biological father
is the Count himself.
 Finally willing to forgive her, the Count falls in love all over again with Mercedes, and, with those who
had betrayed them out of the way, they resolve to live their lives, casting aside the dark and regrettable
episodes which had robbed them of so many happy times with each other and with their son Albert.

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 Film)

I am a movie buff I like movies that whenever I have time I always watch one whether its mainstream or
indie films .

But Today I will share to you one of my favorite movies of all time and this is the 2002 Film “The Count
of Monte Cristo”

The Movie stars Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantes, Guy Pearce as Fernand Mondego and Dagmara
Dominczyk as Mercedes. Edmond Dantes is the Protagonist in this movie while Fernand Mondego is the
Antagonist. Basically the plot is all about the envy and jealousy of Fernand Mondego to Edmond Dantes
over the girl in the film which is Mercedes.

The Plot

The movie started when the two friends Dantes and Mondego seeks medical help for their ailing captain
aboard the French Trading ship. Dantes and Mondego are chased by british dragoons who believe they
are spies for the exiled Napoloeon Bonaparte, While Bonaparte comes to their aid stating that they are
not his agents, Bonaparte asks Dantes to carry a letter and deliver it to a certain “Monsieur Clarion” in
France. Although the Captain dies they headed at home and Dantes was reprimanded for disobeying
orders. However, the company’s boss commended dantes fo his bravery thus promiting him to be the
next captain, this started the jealousy of Mondego and tells the authorities about the letter being
carried by Dantes. This is also the part of the movie where Mondego got bitter of all the success of
Dantes including Mercedes.

The Jail

The planned rolled out smoothly as Mondego successfully jailed Dantes where Dantes befriends “Abbe
Faria” who teaches him a lot of things including fighting, education including mathematics and as such.

The Escape

Edmond Dantes planned his escape by putting himself to a body bag in place of the original cadaver. He
then successfully escaped and on the next morning he found himself to an island with pirates. He then
joined the pirates while conniving with them that he knows a place with a lot of treasures.

The Revenge

After getting all the gold and jewels Edmond Dantes went back to France and bought a large mansion
where he planned his revenge to the now married Mondego and Mercedes. At the party Mercedes
recognizes Dantes and confronts him if he is the real Dantes, Dantes turns her away but as the story
goes found out the he is still in love with Mercedes and plans to get her back from Mondego.

Ending
Having lost everything Mondego shoots Mercedes but only wounds her, Mondego then tries to get away
but Dantes fights him. Dantes stabs Mondego through the heart killing him, Dantes returns to Chateau
d’if to pay homage to Faria and Promises him that he will live a better life, with his revenge Dantes
leaves the island with Mercedes, Albert and Jacopo.

Conclusion

This is an example of a classic story of an innocent man wrongly accused and imprisoned. His survival
instincts kicks in and planned for a brilliant revenge that eventually got his life back and love of his life.

PLOT
In 1815, Edmond Dantés, Second Mate of a French merchant vessel, and his friend Fernand Mondego,
representative of the shipping company, seek medical help at Elba for their ailing captain. Napoleon
Bonaparte, having kept his guardians from killing the pair, exchanges his physician’s services with
Edmond for the delivery of a letter. Edmond is sworn to its secrecy, but the exchange is witnessed by
Fernand.

In Marseille, the company owner Morrell commends Edmond for his bravery, promoting him to captain
over First Mate Danglars, who had given Edmond explicit orders not to land at Elba. Edmond thereafter
states his intention to marry his girlfriend, Mercédès, whom Fernand lusts after.

Fernand and Danglar inform on Edmond regarding Bonaparte's letter. Villefort, the city's magistrate, has
Edmond arrested, but initially prepares to exonerate Edmond until he learns the letter is addressed to
Villefort's father, Monsieur Clarion, a Bonapartist. He burns the letter and orders Edmond imprisoned in
Château d'If. Edmond escapes, and turns to Fernand for help, but Fernand instead turns him over to the
pursuing Gendarmes. Edmond is consigned to the island prison and its sadistic warden, Armand Dorleac.
Villefort has Fernand assassinate his father in exchange for persuading Mercédès that Edmond has been
executed for treason and that she should take comfort in Fernand.

Six years later, Edmond is startled in his cell by an eruption in the ground revealing another prisoner.
Abbé Faria, who has been imprisoned for 11 years after he refused to tell Bonaparte the whereabouts of
the treasure of Spada, has dug an escape tunnel. However, upon seeing that he is in Edmond's cell, he
realizes he dug in the wrong direction. In exchange for his help digging a new escape tunnel, Edmond is
educated by Faria in all manner of scholarship and swordplay for the next 7 years. Faria dies in a tunnel
cave-in but before expiring he reveals a map to the treasure. Edmond escapes by switching himself for
Faria's body in the body bag, and is thrown into the sea, pulling Dorleac along with him, whom he
drowns.

Floating ashore, Edmond encounters a band of pirates preparing to execute a fellow pirate, Jacopo, (Luis
Guzmán). Their leader, Luigi Vampa, decides justice and entertainment would be better served by
pitting Edmond and Jacopo in a knife fight. Edmond wins, but spares Jacopo, who swears himself to
Edmond for life, and they both work for the pirates until they arrive in Marseille.

Edmond learns from Morrell, who does not recognize him, that Fernand and Danglars are complicit in
his betrayal, and that Fernand and Mercédès have wed. With Faria's map, he and Jacopo locate the
treasure of Spada. Using his newfound wealth and advanced education, he establishes himself in
Parisian society as "The Count of Monte Cristo," and swears vengeance on those who conspired against
him.

Edmond ingratiates himself to the Mondegos by staging the kidnap and rescue of their son, Albert
(Henry Cavill). He lures Fernand, Villefort and Danglars into a trap by letting slip the notion that he has
located the treasure of Spada, and is shipping it through Marseille. His plans result in Danglars being
caught red-handed in the act of theft, and Villefort being tricked into revealing his role in his father's
death; both are arrested. Fernand is brought to financial ruin as Edmond has his gambling debts called
in.

Even though his appearance has dramatically changed, Edmond is recognized by Mercédès. Eventually,
she softens him, and they rekindle their relationship. As Fernand prepares to flee, Mercédès reveals the
only reason she married him was that she was pregnant with Albert, who is really Edmond’s son.

Edmond ambushes Fernand in the ruins of his family's country estate, having led Fernand to believe that
the treasure of Spada would be waiting for him. Albert intervenes when Edmond attempts to kill
Fernand, but Mercédès tells him of his true parentage. Fernand attempts to flee, but changes his mind
upon realizing that he has nothing left to live for, and challenges Edmond to a fight to death; Edmond
prevails.

Edmond purchases Château d'If, intending to raze it, but instead leaves it standing as he swears to Faria
to use his vast resources for good.
Cast

Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantès, Zatara, the Count of Monte Cristo

Guy Pearce as Fernand Mondego
James Frain as J.F. Villefort
Dagmara Domińczyk as Mercedès Mondego (née Herrera)
Luis Guzmán as Jacopo
Richard Harris as Abbé Faria
Michael Wincott as Armand Dorleac, prison warden
Henry Cavill as Albert Mondego
Albie Woodington as Danglars
JB Blanc as Luigi Vampa
Alex Norton as Napoleon
Patrick Godfrey as Morrell
Freddie Jones as Colonel Villefort
Helen McCrory as Valentina Villefort
Christopher Adamson as Maurice