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The Count of Monte Cristo is a 2002 film based on the novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas. It stars Jim Caviezel as the title character, and also Guy Pearce as Fernand, Dagmara Dominczyk as Mercedes, James Frain as Villefort, Richard Harris as Abbe Faria, and a 19-year-old Henry Cavill as Albert.
- Adapted Out: Haydée, Bertuccio, Peppo...
- Ascended Extra: Jacopo, a mere Yes-Man in the book, is upgraded to The Watson.
- Adaptational Villainy: Holy shit, Fernand.
- Beardness Protection Program: The Count trims his prison beard as part of his noble disguise.
- Chess Motifs: Edmond and Fernand have a chess king that they trade back and forth when the other has a victory, recognizing the other as "King of the Moment". Edmond explains this to Napoleon Bonaparte, who observes that "In life, we are all either Kings or Pawns."
- Composite Character: Jacopo pretty much takes up Bertuccio's role.
- Dialogue Reversal: "Why are you doing this?" "It's complicated."
- Did You Actually Believe?: The Count's final words to Villefort.
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"You didn't think I'd make it that easy for you, did you?" |
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- Engineered Public Confession: The Count engineers one for Villefort.
- Historical Domain Character: Cameo appearance by Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Hollywood Atheist: Dantes loses his faith on account of his unjust imprisonment (and then regains it at the end of the film). This is a contrast to the novel, in which Dantes is still religious as the Count — he just worships a very vengeful God.
- Human Ladder: The priest asks to stand on Edmond's shoulders to see out a window for the first time in decades.
- I Never Told You My Name: "Edmond Dantes is dead." Mercedes never told "the Count" Edmond's last name. Whoops.
- In the Local Tongue:
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Luigi: We shall call him... Zatarra. |
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- Large Ham: A gleefully sneering Guy Pearce as Fernand.
- Leave Behind a Pistol: Subverted. Dantes leaves Villefort a pistol, but it isn't loaded.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Albert is the son of Mercedes and Edmond, not Fernand.
- Meaningful Echo: "I'm a count, not a saint."
- Modesty Bedsheet: Mercedes gets one.
- Number One Dime: A pair of chess pieces have sentimental value to Edmond and Fernand.
- Physical Scars, Psychological Scars: The scars on Edmond's back that he received from being repeatedly lashed in the Chateau D'If represent how his time in prison embittered him.
- Sarcastic Clapping: Abbe Faria does this when Dantes realizes the reason Villefort burned the incriminating letter and imprisoned him right after acquitting him of the charges.
- Sauna of Death: A scene with Villefort and the Count takes place in one of these.
- Stating the Simple Solution: Jacopo's response upon hearing Dantes' plans for revenge.
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Jacopo: Why not just kill them? I'll do it! I'll run up to Paris — bam, bam, bam, bam — I'm back before week's end. We spend the treasure. How is this a bad plan? |
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- Teach Me How to Fight
- When You Snatch the Pebble: Edmond is challenged by the old priest to move his hand through dripping water without getting wet.