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Traveta reviews
Touchstone Home Video
- Cert: PG-13
- Cat.no: 24019
- Running time: 131 minutes
- Year: 2001
- Pressing: 2002
- Region(s): 1, NTSC
- Chapters: 29
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
- Languages: English, French
- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
- Widescreen: 1.85:1
- 16:9-Enhanced: Yes
- Macrovision: Yes
- Disc Format: DVD 9
- Price: $29.98
- Extras:Audio Commentary, The Epic Reborn: a collection of fivefeaturettes, Layer by Layer Sound Featurette, 4 Deleted Scenes withCommentary.
Director:
- Kevin Reynolds
Screenplay:
- Jay Wolpert
Cast:
- Edmond Dantes/Count of Monte Cristo: James Caviezel
Fernand: Guy Pierce
Jacopo: Luiz Guzman
Mercedes: Dogmara Dominczyk
Maurice: Christopher Adamson
Albert: Henry Cavill
You have to hand it to the studio.Not many films based on classicnovels tend to turn up much box office bank (except forLord of the Rings)but they still put them out. Why? Because there are still fansout there and they will most likely go see it.
The Count of Monte Cristo seems to have a simple story, but as it goeson it gets very complex. It’s a simple revenge plot though, any way youlook at it. The world is going to through the Napoleon era and startsoff on the island he was banished to. Friends Edmond Dantes and Fernandare there when Napoleon approaches them. Napoleon pulls Edmond tothe side and gives him a letter to give to an agent back home. Edmond,however, was not told that the letter was for an agent.
Fernand believes Edmond has betrayed him and informs another of theletter. Edmond is arrested for treason and is told what the note reallywas. He is tricked into believing that he is free and taken away to aprison island. The only thought which will accompany him is the thoughtfor revenge.
Edmond meets a priest in the prison who teaches him how to use a swordand escape from the island. After the priest’s death, Edmond escapes theisland and starts down the path for his revenge.
Despite the slow pacing, you should be able to find an engrossing storyhere. Having just watched the abomination that was Changing Lanes thenight before, it was nice to watch something with character. I havenever read the novel this was based on so I have nothing to compare itto. My only complaint was what I said before, the pacing.
The Count of Monte Cristo is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen.Touchstone is a subsidary of Disney who is turn a parent company toHollywood pictures, Miramax, and Dimension studios. All of thesestudios, besides Disney, put out average transfers that do not justifythe high price. With this release from Touchstone I think things MAY belooking up.
Colors are well balanced and sharp throughout butpixelization can be a major problem in dark scenes like castles andsuch. But right when you think it’s a waste, the transfer turns aroundwith a beautifully rendered outdoor scene like the sword fight climax.Pixelization is still a problem I wish these studios would work on. Butoverall, this is a decent transfer.
The sound is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 for English and Frenchtracks. Sound is good throughout and makes good use of each channel,especially during the sword fights. A few times I had a problem withdialouge interlacing.
This could have been a bare bones disc but Touchstone has supplied somedecent extras here. Here’s how it stacks up:
A fairly well put together set of supplements.
Menus are static but feature background music and a cheesy sword slashwhen something is selected.
The Count of Monte Cristo is a well placed movie that has a decent DVD.Highly recommended for fans and a good rental for anyone else.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALLEmailTraveta
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.