The Count of Monte Cristo
Movie, 2002, Modern era, Set in Jim Caviezel
The Count of Monte Cristo is #7 of 11 in release order and #7 of 11 in chronological order in the The Count of Monte Cristo.
The story
Young sailor Edmond Dantès is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes, finds treasure, and reinvents himself as the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo to exact revenge on those who betrayed him.
The Count of Monte Cristo recap
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) is Kevin Reynolds's film with Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantès, Guy Pearce as Fernand Mondego, Richard Harris as the Abbé Faria and an early Henry Cavill as Albert; it keeps the novel's imprisonment and revenge but changes relationships and the ending. In 1815, Napoleon asks Edmond to carry a letter from Elba, and his jealous friend Fernand and the first mate Danglars inform on him. The magistrate Villefort, finding the letter is for his own father, has Edmond locked in the Château d'If, and Fernand kills Villefort's father in return for convincing Mercédès that Edmond is dead. After years in prison, Faria tunnels into Edmond's cell and trains him in learning and swordsmanship. Edmond escapes, wins the loyalty of the smuggler Jacopo, and finds the Spada treasure on Monte Cristo.
The Count of Monte Cristo ending explained
Edmond lures his enemies with a fake shipment of treasure: Danglars is caught stealing and Villefort is tricked into admitting he had his father killed, and both are arrested. Mercédès recognises Edmond and reveals that her son Albert is his, which is why she married Fernand. Edmond lures Fernand to a ruined country estate with the promise of treasure and kills him in a fight to the death, then buys the Château d'If and, keeping his promise to Faria, leaves with Mercédès and Albert.
Where to watch The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo is streaming on Prime Video in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 74%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Count of Monte Cristo, before Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo.
- Chronological order: after The Count of Monte Cristo, before Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo.
What to watch before The Count of Monte Cristo
Nothing. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own.
Cast
- Jim Caviezel as Edmond Dantes
- Guy Pearce as Fernand Mondego
- Richard Harris as Abbé Faria
- James Frain as J.F. Villefort
- Dagmara Dominczyk as Mercedes Iguanada
- Michael Wincott as Armand Dorleac
- Luis Guzmán as Jacopo
- Christopher Adamson as Maurice
- JB Blanc as Luigi Vampa
- Henry Cavill as Albert Mondego
- Katherine Holme as Julianne
- Helen McCrory as Valentina Villefort
Directed by Kevin Reynolds.