THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO 2024 MOVIE REVIEW
Now, I usually review books on my blog, not movies. However, perhaps this film review won't come as a surprise to you. I don't know if you have noticed, but I included a few Monte Cristo quotes in my last post. In the post preceding that one, I mentioned how much I like French movies and recommended one of them- The Odyssey. Moreover, I admitted I'm considering seeing the new Monte Cristo film because of Pierre Niney, the actor that portrays the famous count. So, you could say this Monte Cristo post was sort of teased or at least expected.
Book vs Movie! Are these two different? Yes, actually they are, and I'll tell you how I feel about it shortly. With the estimated budget of over 43 million euros, The Count of Monte-Cristo is the most expensive French film of 2024.
DIRECTED BY ALEXANDRE AND MATTHIEU, THE COUNT OD MONTE-CRISTO 2024 HAS MET WITH FAVOURABLE REVIEWS SO FAR!
One thing I noticed when I finally looked up this film is that the reviews are extremely favourable so far.
Honestly, I don't know much about the directors of this movie, but one thing I would complement them for is casting. I managed to find an interview with the two of them online, so I'll just link it up quickly because I think it reveals a lot about how they think and what they were trying to do with this newest Monte-Cristo adaptation.
ALEXANDRE SAID THEY WERE GOING FOR A BAROQUE FEEL
One thing you'll notice about the film is that there's a lot of switching between bright scenes and dark ones. At one moment, the character find himself in this idyllic Mediterranean sunbathed outdoors and the other in a dark alley. Both outdoors and indoors can be very illuminated but also dark. The directors played with the darkness and light masterfully.
Alexandre: This book spans a number of literary genres. There’s tragedy, romance, a great romantic story. We realised this on set. We never did the same thing with the crew. We went from interior scenes to epic sequences, from adventure scenes to darker ones. We went for something baroque to a certain extent.
I DO AGREE WITH ALEXANDRE SAYING THAT THE THEME OF REVENGE HASN'T AGED
Alexandre: It is a very accessible story because we become one with the character and want to take revenge with him. But as time goes by, he strays off course. There is a very harsh critique of Monte Cristo’s journey by Dumas, which allows the viewer to go on this introspective journey with him. In this world, which was violent back then and is not much less so today, we found that the idea of revenge had not aged one bit.
MATTHIEU SEEMS TO SEE MONTE CRISTO AS A MAN WITH LITTLE TO NO MORALS
Matthieu: I also consider that Dumas’ novel is set during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, at a time and in a society that were less aristocratic, when birth would soon become less important than money. And another interesting element is that Monte Cristo is a man with no religion, no country and no morals. He is not Robin Hood. He finds treasure and, instead of sharing it, keeps it for himself to satisfy his desire for revenge.
I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS SURPRISED ME IN THE FILM, THE WAY IT ALMOST PORTRAYS COUNT MONTE-CASINO IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT
I will come back to this later, but I thought it's worth mentioning now. If you're expecting this movie to be about a heroic young man who was wronged but rose above it, you'll be disappointed. This movie is very much a tale of revenge. I didn't love all the choices that the directors took, but there's one thing I have to complement them for- and that's casting.
READING THIS INTERVIEW I REALIZED THAT ALEXANDER SPECIFICALLY WROTE IT WITH PIERRE NINEY IN MIND
Alexandre: We decided that we could not write our version of Monte Cristo without an actor in mind, despite having always refused to work that way beforehand. We got in touch with Pierre Niney, had a coffee with him and he accepted the part. We began coming up with this story, with the idea of turning the character of Monte Cristo into an avatar of Dantès by radicalising him, then worked back and forth with Pierre on a regular basis. After that, we were really lucky because we had drawn up a dream list of actors and they all agreed to come on board.
I DON'T SPEAK FRENCH, BUT I DID NOTICE THAT THE ACTORS SPOKE WITH PERFECT RHYTHM AND ON OVERALL SOUNDED VERY NATURAL
Matthieu: We needed the very best actors to make sure that the text, while faithful to the language of the 19th century, had a modern, fluid edge to it in this fantasised era. We never said to one another that we were making a period film, but we did not want to over-modernise the dialogue. For example, we asked the actors not to shorten words or omit syllables and we worked on the fluidity of this. The rhythm was so nice with them that it sounded very modern.
THE CASTING OF PIERRE NINEY AS COUNT MONTE CRISTO AKA EDMUND DANTES
Some wondered at the casting of Pierre Niney as count Monte Cristo, but I think he's been born to play it. Moreover, if you look at the novel description of young protagonist Dantès in the first chapter, you'd see that Pierre fits perfectly:
"He was a fine, tall, slim young fellow of eighteen or twenty, with black eyes, and hair as dark as a raven’s wing; and his whole appearance bespoke that calmness and resolution peculiar to men accustomed from their cradle to contend with danger."
I really cannot imagine any other French actor of his generation in this role. Even the illustrations in the original novel look like him.
Cast (in credits order)
The film opens with Edmond jumping overboard into stormy sea and bravely saving Angele from certain drowning. We witness him being scolded by the ship's captain Danglars, and orders imprisonment on board for Edmond. Captain Dangles, while she's unconscious, manages to find Angele's letter signed by Napoleon and then threatens her with it. Nevertheless, Angele threatens back, saying she has powerful friends. Captain Danglars is instantly portrayed as a villain, he even states that he is proud to be a cruel man.
When they return ashore, Captain Dangles retells the incident, praising himself for caring only about the cargo and scolding Edmond for his act of bravery. The ship's owner, however, takes Edmond's side, and degrades Captain Danglers, saying that a man cannot allow a woman to perish if he can stop it. The ship owner then promises to make young Edmond captain. The importance of this is stressed both in the book and in the movies, because as a captain Edmond actually has a fighting change of marrying his beloved Mercedes.
The book tells a slight different tale. It opens with Edmond Dantès sailing the Pharaon ship after the death of the captain, Leclère. Like in the book, the ship's owner, Morrel plans to make Dantès the next captain but under different circumstances. The Napoleon conspiracy is also told differently, with the captain Leclère (on his deathbed) charging Dantès to give a package to General Bertrand (a man exiled with Napoleon), and a letter to a Bonapartist.
In the book, Danglars isn't a captain, but a crewman. However, like in the book he is jealous of Dantès becoming a captain (even if it is not at his expense). In the book, the plot against Edmond is plotted on the eve of his wedding to Mercédès.
THE BOOK PORTRAYS DE VILLEFORT DIFFERENTLY
The the movie, the plot is actually initiated by Angele's brother de Villefort, who initially feigns friendship to Edmond, who is brought to him from his wedding. It is clear to de Villefort that Edmond is innocent, and he assures him that everything is fine. However, when Danglars gives the letter to de Villefort, that he realizes that Angele might be blamed, and quickly think of involving Edmond as a way of saving his sister- and his own reputation.
The book version of de Villefort also sentences Edmond without a trial, but it's because he doesn't want people to know that his father is a Bonapartist. Do you remember the letter and the package that Edmond was given in the book? That's the connection. In the movie, it's Angele's letter that has been taken by captain Danglers and put in Edmond's book. In the movie, de Villefort.
In the book, it is when Danglers meets Fernand Mondego, Mercedes' a cousin in love with her, that they hatch a plot to accuse him of being loyal to Napoleon. In the movie, things take a different turn. Fernand doesn't confess love openly to Mercedes, like he did in the book, rather he hides it. When the movie's Mercedes and Edmond tell Fernand of their engagement, he's shocked but tries to hide his feelings and congratulate the young couple.
EDMOND AND FERNARD ARE IMPLIED TO BE FRIENDS IN THE MOVIE
In the church at the day of the wedding, Fernand stands besides them, and when Edmond is arrested at his wedding, he acts like he's truly appealed by it, demanding from guards to let him go. However, in the movie, he isn't exactly involved - yet!
One of the differences between the movie and the book is that in the movie, Edmond and Fernand start as friends. As the two of them sail the boat with Mercedes, it's almost like they're all close childhood friends. Even if Fernand seems prideful, and it is unthinkable to him that Mercedes is even thinking of marriage beneath her position (Edmond is a son of a servant), he still seems to hold friendly feelings towards Edmond- at least until Mercedes and Edmond tell him of the engagement.
The plotting happens differently in the book, but the conspirators are the same. The difference is that Gerard de Villefort takes a more active role in the conspiracy. He tells Fernand that all he needs is a word, and he will let Edmond go free.
Fernand in that moment realizes his chance, and decides to write a letter as a testimony against Edmond. He doesn't actually come up with the plan to ruin our protagonist in the movie. So, the film Fernand only acts when the opportunity presents itself, while the book one hates Edmond with passion and thinks of the whole thing. There's also a witness.
THE CONSPIRATORS ARE THE SAME BUT THEY PLAY THEIR PARTS DIFFERENTLY
In the movie, this witness has a sneak peak through the door and sees Fernand signing the accusatory letter with the encouragement from Gerard de Villefort. This witness is shown with Dantes, so he cannot do anything at that moment. It's implied that he's also a crewmate who works with Dantes. However, he doesn't do anything later either and he doesn't make any effort to save Edmond. In the book, this witness to the plot is Dantès's neighbor, Caderousse, who is present when the conspiracy is made at the dinner. In the book, he objects to the plot, but is too drunk to prevent it. In the movie, there isn't much he can really do, as things are already in motion, but he doesn't make any effort anyways.
So, from now, you can see there are quite a lot of changes to the beginning of the novel. New characters are introduced such as Angele, and important characters such as shipowner are given little to no mention. The imprisonment period is also told differently. As I already said, the book takes its time with building the friendship between the Italian priest and young Edmond, but the movie sort of flies over it.
The books speaks more of Mercedes' suffering as well as the suffering of his father. Dantes' own suffering is also elaborated on. More time is given to all of them to express what they are feeling.
“Only seventeen months,” replied Dantès. “Oh, you do not know what is seventeen months in prison!—seventeen ages rather, especially to a man who, like me, had arrived at the summit of his ambition—to a man, who, like me, was on the point of marrying a woman he adored, who saw an honorable career opened before him, and who loses all in an instant—who sees his prospects destroyed, and is ignorant of the fate of his affianced wife, and whether his aged father be still living! Seventeen months’ captivity to a sailor accustomed to the boundless ocean, is a worse punishment than human crime ever merited. Have pity on me, then, and ask for me, not intelligence, but a trial; not pardon, but a verdict—a trial, sir, I ask only for a trial; that, surely, cannot be denied to one who is accused!”
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| I WORE A SIMILAR STYLING IN 2016 |
In the book, the protagonist is actually on the verge of suicide when he meets Italian priest Faria. They meet in the same way as they did in the movie, when Abbé Faria, digs an escape tunnel mistakenly leads to Dantès's cell. Their friendship is tangible in the movie as well, but it's more due to the acting, than to the writing. Still, it's to the directors' credit that they trusted their actors to do much with little time. These two certainly repaid their trust, so I didn't really mind the time cuts and the reduction of time these two spend together.
In the book, Abbé Faria plays a much more important role. He helps Dantès deduce everything that happens, and set him on his way, sort of speak. It is through questions about his life that Faria finds the culprits of the plot against Dantès that led to his imprisonment. As I already said, the main culprit of the book is Fernand, but in the movie, it's actually Gerard de Villefort.
One thing that the book and the movie have in common is that they give credit to Faria for educating our protagonist. The book really shows how Faria educates Dantès in languages, history, culture, mathematics, chemistry, medicine, and science during their eight years spent together. The movie just flies over that by mentioning that Faria wanted to teach him. Moreover, in the book it's often emphasized and really shown how Faria is an extremely learned man, a scholar who has a lot to teach- and he does. You might miss Faria's significance if you don't pay attention. Both in the book and in the movie, Faria tells Dantès the location of a vast treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo.
Now, the death of Faria plays out similarily in the book and the movie. The film really did a great job with that, making the scene very dramatic. Like in the book, the movie Dantès hides Faria's corpse in his bed and takes its place in the burial sack. When he is thrown into the sea in the book, Dantès cuts through the sack and swims to a nearby island, while in the novel he unties the sack rather than cuts it and we don't really see where he escapes. In the book, he pretends to be a shipwrecked sailor and is rescued by Genoese smuggled. Italy plays a more important part in the book, than in the movie, where it's only hinted and implied that the count must have had spent time there. In the book, it is show how he locates and retrieves the treasure after a few months. In the movie, he does it all by himself, finding a treasure and an island as Faria's words echo in his ears. In the book, Dantès purchases the island of Monte Cristo and the title of the count of Monte Cristo. In the movie, it is not mentioned and it's not clear whether he only poses as a count or does he really have the title.
Both the book and the movie Dantès are set on vengeance. Danglars, Fernand, and Villefort are to pay for what they did. Both the book and the movie Dantès find the witness that was mentioned and that is named Caderousse. Both in the book and in the movie, our protagonist masks as the Abbé Busoni, and under this disguise, Dantès finds and confesses Caderousse, who now regrets not intervening in Dantès's arrest. In the movie, our protagonist masked as a priest, says that he will ask a favour of him in order to repay what he has done. In the movie, this witness helps the count Monte-Cristo get his revenge and is no longer mentioned.
In the book, Caderousse is the principal source of information, whereas in the movie, it's an old lady servant that informs Edmond that Mercédès married Fernand, and that Dantès's father died of starvation. The death of the father is elaborated a lot more in the book and it really shakes Dantes to the core. In the book, it is the witness that tells it all to our protagonist. In the book, Dantès rewards Caderousse with a diamond but the diamond brings bad luck because later when he kills the jeweler to keep both the diamond and the money, he is arrested and sent to the galleries. In the movie, it's implied that the witness to the conspiracy actually got the opportunity to undo the wrong, and isn't mentioned anymore.
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| THE MINI BLACK DRESS WITH RUFFLES. How I styled it before? In this post, I accessorized this ruffled mini dress with a scarf in different ways. In 2013 (eleven years ago!), I colour coordinated this dress with my German Sheppard dog. You can see how I styled it earlier this month STYLING A LBD WITH BEIGE ACCESSORIES |
Morrel opened the letter, and read:
“My Dear Maximilian,
“There is a felucca for you at anchor. Jacopo will carry you to Leghorn, where Monsieur Noirtier awaits his granddaughter, whom he wishes to bless before you lead her to the altar. All that is in this grotto, my friend, my house in the Champs-Élysées, and my château at Tréport, are the marriage gifts bestowed by Edmond Dantès upon the son of his old master, Morrel. Mademoiselle de Villefort will share them with you; for I entreat her to give to the poor the immense fortune reverting to her from her father, now a madman, and her brother who died last September with his mother. Tell the angel who will watch over your future destiny, Morrel, to pray sometimes for a man, who, like Satan, thought himself for an instant equal to God, but who now acknowledges with Christian humility that God alone possesses supreme power and infinite wisdom. Perhaps those prayers may soften the remorse he feels in his heart. As for you, Morrel, this is the secret of my conduct towards you. There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of living.
“Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget that until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words,—‘Wait and hope.’—Your friend,
“Edmond Dantès, Count of Monte Cristo.”
You can read this classical novel for free on project Gutenberg. The Count of Monte Cristo is a very long novel. Below you can find links for every single chapter.
Contents
| VOLUME ONE |
| Chapter 1. Marseilles—The Arrival Upon rereading the first chapter, I realised there's quite a lot of foreshadowing in it. Here's a memorable quote that foreshadows the sorrow that will soon follow for the young protagonist.... “Ah, is it you, Dantès?” cried the man in the skiff. “What’s the matter? and why have you such an air of sadness aboard?” “A great misfortune, M. Morrel,” replied the young man, “a great misfortune, for me especially! Off Civita Vecchia we lost our brave Captain Leclere.” “And the cargo?” inquired the owner, eagerly. “Is all safe, M. Morrel; and I think you will be satisfied on that head. But poor Captain Leclere——” “What happened to him?” asked the owner, with an air of considerable resignation. “What happened to the worthy captain?” “He died.” “Fell into the sea?” “No, sir, he died of brain-fever in dreadful agony.” Then turning to the crew, he said, “Bear a hand there, to take in sail!” All hands obeyed, and at once the eight or ten seamen who composed the crew, sprang to their respective stations at the spanker brails and outhaul, topsail sheets and halyards, the jib downhaul, and the topsail clewlines and buntlines. The young sailor gave a look to see that his orders were promptly and accurately obeyed, and then turned again to the owner. “And how did this misfortune occur?” inquired the latter, resuming the interrupted conversation. |
| Chapter 2. Father and Son This room was occupied by Dantès’ father. The news of the arrival of the Pharaon had not yet reached the old man, who, mounted on a chair, was amusing himself by training with trembling hand the nasturtiums and sprays of clematis that clambered over the trellis at his window. Suddenly, he felt an arm thrown around his body, and a well-known voice behind him exclaimed, “Father—dear father!” The old man uttered a cry, and turned round; then, seeing his son, he fell into his arms, pale and trembling. “What ails you, my dearest father? Are you ill?” inquired the young man, much alarmed. “No, no, my dear Edmond—my boy—my son!—no; but I did not expect you; and joy, the surprise of seeing you so suddenly—Ah, I feel as if I were going to die.” “Come, come, cheer up, my dear father! ’Tis I—really I! They say joy never hurts, and so I came to you without any warning. Come now, do smile, instead of looking at me so solemnly. Here I am back again, and we are going to be happy.” “Yes, yes, my boy, so we will—so we will,” replied the old man; “but how shall we be happy? Shall you never leave me again? Come, tell me all the good fortune that has befallen you.” “God forgive me,” said the young man, “for rejoicing at happiness derived from the misery of others, but, Heaven knows, I did not seek this good fortune; it has happened, and I really cannot pretend to lament it. The good Captain Leclere is dead, father, and it is probable that, with the aid of M. Morrel, I shall have his place. Do you understand, father? Only imagine me a captain at twenty, with a hundred louis pay, and a share in the profits! Is this not more than a poor sailor like me could have hoped for?” “Yes, my dear boy,” replied the old man, “it is very fortunate.” “Well, then, with the first money I touch, I mean you to have a small house, with a garden in which to plant clematis, nasturtiums, and honeysuckle. But what ails you, father? Are you not well?” “’Tis nothing, nothing; it will soon pass away”—and as he said so the old man’s strength failed him, and he fell backwards. “Come, come,” said the young man, “a glass of wine, father, will revive you. Where do you keep your wine?” “No, no; thanks. You need not look for it; I do not want it,” said the old man. “Yes, yes, father, tell me where it is,” and he opened two or three cupboards. “It is no use,” said the old man, “there is no wine.” “What, no wine?” said Dantès, turning pale, and looking alternately at the hollow cheeks of the old man and the empty cupboards. “What, no wine? Have you wanted money, father?” “I want nothing now that I have you,” said the old man. “Yet,” stammered Dantès, wiping the perspiration from his brow,—“yet I gave you two hundred francs when I left, three months ago.” “Yes, yes, Edmond, that is true, but you forgot at that time a little debt to our neighbor, Caderousse. He reminded me of it, telling me if I did not pay for you, he would be paid by M. Morrel; and so, you see, lest he might do you an injury——” “Well?” “Why, I paid him.” “But,” cried Dantès, “it was a hundred and forty francs I owed Caderousse.” “Yes,” stammered the old man. “And you paid him out of the two hundred francs I left you?” The old man nodded. “So that you have lived for three months on sixty francs,” muttered Edmond. “You know how little I require,” said the old man. “Heaven pardon me,” cried Edmond, falling on his knees before his father. “What are you doing?” “You have wounded me to the heart.” “Never mind it, for I see you once more,” said the old man; “and now it’s all over—everything is all right again.” |
| Chapter 3. The Catalans |
| Chapter 4. Conspiracy |
| Chapter 5. The Marriage Feast |
| Chapter 6. The Deputy Procureur du Roi |
| Chapter 7. The Examination |
| Chapter 8. The Château d’If |
| Chapter 9. The Evening of the Betrothal |
| Chapter 10. The King’s Closet at the Tuileries |
| Chapter 11. The Corsican Ogre |
| Chapter 12. Father and Son |
| Chapter 13. The Hundred Days |
| Chapter 14. The Two Prisoners |
| Chapter 15. Number 34 and Number 27 |
| Chapter 16. A Learned Italian |
| Chapter 17. The Abbé’s Chamber |
| Chapter 18. The Treasure |
| Chapter 19. The Third Attack |
| Chapter 20. The Cemetery of the Château d’If |
| Chapter 21. The Island of Tiboulen |
| Chapter 22. The Smugglers |
| Chapter 23. The Island of Monte Cristo |
| Chapter 24. The Secret Cave |
| Chapter 25. The Unknown |
| Chapter 26. The Pont du Gard Inn |
Chapter 27. The Story |
| VOLUME TWO |
| Chapter 28. The Prison Register |
| Chapter 29. The House of Morrel & Son |
| Chapter 30. The Fifth of September |
| Chapter 31. Italy: Sinbad the Sailor |
| Chapter 32. The Waking |
| Chapter 33. Roman Bandits |
| Chapter 34. The Colosseum |
| Chapter 35. La Mazzolata |
| Chapter 36. The Carnival at Rome. |
| Chapter 37. The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian |
| Chapter 38. The Rendezvous |
| Chapter 39. The Guests |
| Chapter 40. The Breakfast |
| Chapter 41. The Presentation |
| Chapter 42. Monsieur Bertuccio |
| Chapter 43. The House at Auteuil |
| Chapter 44. The Vendetta |
| Chapter 45. The Rain of Blood |
| Chapter 46. Unlimited Credit |
| Chapter 47. The Dappled Grays |
| VOLUME THREE |
| Chapter 48. Ideology |
| Chapter 49. Haydée |
| Chapter 50. The Morrel Family |
| Chapter 51. Pyramus and Thisbe |
| Chapter 52. Toxicology |
| Chapter 53. Robert le Diable |
| Chapter 54. A Flurry in Stocks |
| Chapter 55. Major Cavalcanti |
| Chapter 56. Andrea Cavalcanti |
| Chapter 57. In the Lucern Patch |
| Chapter 58. M. Noirtier de Villefort |
| Chapter 59. The Will |
| Chapter 60. The Telegraph |
| Chapter 61. How a Gardener May Get Rid of the Dormice |
| Chapter 62. Ghosts |
| Chapter 63. The Dinner |
| Chapter 64. The Beggar |
| Chapter 65. A Conjugal Scene |
| Chapter 66. Matrimonial Projects |
| Chapter 67. The Office of the King’s Attorney |
| Chapter 68. A Summer Ball |
| Chapter 69. The Inquiry |
| Chapter 70. The Ball |
| Chapter 71. Bread and Salt |
| Chapter 72. Madame de Saint-Méran |
| Chapter 73. The Promise |
| VOLUME FOUR |
| Chapter 74. The Villefort Family Vault |
| Chapter 75. A Signed Statement |
| Chapter 76. Progress of Cavalcanti the Younger |
| Chapter 77. Haydée |
| Chapter 78. We hear From Yanina |
| Chapter 79. The Lemonade |
| Chapter 80. The Accusation |
| Chapter 81. The Room of the Retired Baker |
| Chapter 82. The Burglary |
| Chapter 83. The Hand of God |
| Chapter 84. Beauchamp |
| Chapter 85. The Journey |
| Chapter 86. The Trial |
| Chapter 87. The Challenge |
| Chapter 88. The Insult |
| Chapter 89. The Night |
| Chapter 90. The Meeting |
| Chapter 91. Mother and Son |
| Chapter 92. The Suicide |
| Chapter 93. Valentine |
| Chapter 94. Maximilian’s Avowal |
| Chapter 95. Father and Daughter |
| VOLUME FIVE |
| Chapter 96. The Contract |
| Chapter 97. The Departure for Belgium |
| Chapter 98. The Bell and Bottle Tavern |
| Chapter 99. The Law |
| Chapter 100. The Apparition |
| Chapter 101. Locusta |
| Chapter 102. Valentine |
| Chapter 103. Maximilian |
| Chapter 104. Danglars’ Signature |
| Chapter 105. The Cemetery of Père-Lachaise |
| Chapter 106. Dividing the Proceeds |
| Chapter 107. The Lions’ Den |
| Chapter 108. The Judge |
| Chapter 109. The Assizes |
| Chapter 110. The Indictment |
| Chapter 111. Expiation |
| Chapter 112. The Departure |
| Chapter 113. The Past |
| Chapter 114. Peppino |
| Chapter 115. Luigi Vampa’s Bill of Fare |
| Chapter 116. The Pardon |
| Chapter 117. The Fifth of October |
Thank you for reading and commenting!
It's great to see how excited you are about this film and how much you loved it. I will definitely take note. Such fun summer outfits. And I love how the movie inspired you too. Thanks for the fantastic quotes and so much insight to the movie and film! Happy Friday! All the best to your summer adventures and where they lead you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellie. Yes, it's fun to be finally excited about something. Sometimes I go through phases when I don't watch TV or movies at all. So, it's nice to be able to enjoy something again.
DeleteAdoring your review! Wow, I am very impressed with this new version. It sounds as if the costuming and cast are perfect! Oh, it is the ultimate revenge! Love the denim vest with this the lace. Perfect for summer. Love those sporty sneakers, as well. Thanks so much for the wonderful Friday post! All the best to a sweet weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you dear. I appreciate it!
DeleteThat is a gorgeous outfit. I am not a big cinema person but we took my daughter to see Despicable Me 4 as she loves the Minions. I usually wait until they are on Amazon or Disney! Glad you enjoyed it :-D
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it. Maybe I should take my younger students to see it. Thanks!
DeleteDear Ivana, I'm glad you visited me or my blog again :-) I've never read the book, only seen the film adaptation with Gérard Depardieu. Somehow I'm not interested in the story, even though it's so timeless - even though I find the images you show interesting. But I don't think I necessarily want to watch a three-hour film about revenge that doesn't really correspond to the novel... I like it when films stick as closely as possible to the original, unless there are logical errors in the original... Okay, and sometimes I prefer it when there's a positive ending, even if the book doesn't end so positively... Ta, you see, I don't agree with myself ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I like your outfits, especially the white lace dress!
All the best and happy weekend!
I heard good things about the previous adaptations, but I cannot remember whether I have seen them. Anyway, thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!
DeleteThanks for your review
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteLoving your review, babe- and the outfit here! The black and teal is so chic together!
ReplyDelete-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Gracias por la reseña. Me gusto la novela. tomó nota de la película. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeletegracias
DeleteThank you for the excellent review! I watched a version of The Count of Monte Cristo a long time ago and that movie was superb. And the book was in my school reading list and I read it in one sitting, it was very exciting:) I will definitely watch this new movie, especially after your suggestions... Greetings Ivana 🫅
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll enjoy it.
DeleteAdoring your review and wow you look so pretty in this outfit. Wonderful Post! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteRampdiary
I go to the cinema often, I watch a lot of movies, I will watch this one too. And you look great.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, I hope you'll enjoy it.
DeleteI read with interest the review of the movie of one of my favorite books. For me, the question is book or movie. Each of them has its good points. Regardless of whether I saw the movie, I would read the book. I can say that sometimes movies disappoint me. Writers appeal to the imaginations and feelings of their readers. In the film, the means of expression are different. There, in addition to acting, directing skills and the script are also important.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Betty for your thoughtful comment. I agree that books and films are very different art forms. I used to get disappointed when the movie wouldn't matched the book, but then I realized that different interpretations can be a very good thing.
DeleteEvery adaptation brings something new to a classic. Adaptations make classics more relevant. Every time when a classic is adapted to film, it finds new readers and that makes me happy.
I'm definitely more a book lover at heart. However, I learned to appreciate the art of film-making. In this movie, the directors seem to put more emphasis on acting and I really loved that!
I love going to the cinema and try and go as often as I can. I don't think I've ever read or watched The Count of Monte Cristo. I need to be in the mood to tackle a very long book, there's a couple of huge volumes on my to-read shelf that make me feel guilty every time I look at them!
ReplyDeleteLoving both your outfits! xx
Yes, I know what you mean. When it comes to very long books, one needs to plan time ahead to read them. The worst thing is when you start reading a long classic, and you have to abandon it to do something, and then you forget everything you read and have to start again.
DeleteThis is such a great post. You've seen my last post on my trip to France and the round-up from Marseille. I've included the link to another post, Château d’If, which was from where Dumas got some of the inspiration for The Count of Monte Cristo.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the movie, but I will watch it, that's for sure!
Yes, I've seen your post about Marseille. It's a magical place.
DeleteHow amazing he got the inspiration for The Count of Monte Carlo there!
I'm afraid I never read the book and it's been ages since I last went to the cinema. I used to go a lot many years ago, but all cinemas that are left here now are those multi-screen mastodonts, which I'm not exactly a fan of. I loved visiting the more intimate venues we had here in the past. Nevertheless, thank you for your review! xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm exactly the same. I only like those small cinemas, fortunately there are still some independent small left. I watched this one in one of those big ones, but if I had the opportunity, I'd go to a smaller one.
DeleteThank you so much for your sharing your review. The movie was on my list to see, but it seems a shame that the plot lets down the casting and acting, and I must admit that 3 hours seems very long.
ReplyDeleteJulia x
I don't think I wrote that the plot lets down the casting and the acting. I wrote that the casting and the acting was perfect. I wrote that the plot was well done, but that perhaps the ending could have been better.
Deletei have read a book, but did not watch the movie
ReplyDeleteThe book is always better, but this movie is pretty good.
DeleteI just read your engaging review of the new The Count of Monte Cristo film! It's fascinating to see how you approached this adaptation, especially given your usual focus on books. Your excitement about the film, despite its lengthy runtime, really comes through, and I can appreciate how the film’s significant budget and the involvement of Pierre Niney add to the anticipation.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I’ve just posted a new blog entry on how to style jeans and a tank top for a date night. I think you might enjoy it! You can check it out here: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2024/07/how-to-style-jeans-and-tank-top-for-date-night.html.
Thank you dear Melody!
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ReplyDeleteA captivating story, i can watch it again and again.
The turquoise details on your black outfit look great.
Thank you. I thought they might make it more fun.
DeleteBom dia, uma excelente segunda-feira e uma ótima semana minha querida amiga. História interessante. Obrigada pela resenha.
ReplyDeleteObrigada!
DeleteHello
ReplyDeleteI think you wanted to impersonate the Count of Monte Cristo himself with that black dress! I saw an adaptation of this book when I was young, I have vague memories of the story, only with your description did I remember! But I was impressed by the meticulous comparison you made between the film and the book! I also really liked seeing you in that white dress! Wow, you look amazing, as does this review!
xoxo
Well, these outfits were taken before the film, but I did go for a dramatic look for the outfit I wore to the cinema. :)
DeleteThank you so much for your comment. I love writing in-depth reviews of things.
It's so fun when there's a new adaptation of a novel that one loves! I was head over heels when they were making the (now famous) Lord of the Rings trilogy back in 2001ish, and like you, couldn't resist comparing the movies to the books - I think I reread them a few times as the movies rolled out!
ReplyDeleteI'll watch for this one, thanks, Ivana!
Lovely outfits!
Yes, movies often make us reread things- and I love them for it.
DeleteIf the LoTR movies didn't come out, so many people would have never read the books or became familiar with the magic of Tolkien's imagination.
You look beautiful! I love your style :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
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