The Count of Monte Cristo [VHS]

The best version of the Count of Monte Cristo
This epic 400-minute version of The Count of Monte Cristo is the best out there, and one of the best television serializations of any classic book. Gérard Depardieu of course steals the show as Edmond Dantes, but the rest of the cast is great. The length of the film really allows it to delve into the plot and allow it to thicken - and, as best as my memory serves, the movie is fairly faithful to the book. The production quality does look a bit dated and "made-for-TV," which is too bad, but doesn't detract from the experience too much. Overall, this is a great film experience.

First Class all the way.
I found this to be one of the most intriguing and intersting DVDs I have ever purchased. Due to the lenght of the movie, I had to watch it in segments but it was well worth the price.

Le Comte De Monte Cristo...Not So Much.
I recently came across this miniseries on the Internet and viewed it on a Thursday and several Fridays. I expected a fleshed out version of the novel. Alas, that is not so. I enjoyed it, but there was a scene that I didn't like (where Dantes breaks into a church and swears that he is taking His place; I found that scene blasphemous), and the implied sex scene between The Count and Richardais (a character not in the novel) was so out of place. One thing more: the miniseries doesn't set up the story correctly, as it begins with Dantes in the Chateau D'If, shows Dantes, Mercedes, Fernand & Danglars in too brief flashbacks and almost skips over the relationship between Dantes & Abbe Faria in prison, completely screwing up the first half of the story. Some of the subplots are retained, but much is changed. But the 2002 version, while simplifying the 1462 page novel, is much more entertaining and retains the main themes of the novel, in addition to adding Christian themes (which I really liked). Disney did it better.

The Count of Monte Cristo - French version
A great version of the tale, with details I never saw in other versions. The absence of an English sound track is sad, but if you can read at a decent speed, the English subtitles are all there. Ornella Muti, as the Count's(and formerly Edmund Dante), former fiancee and love interest is a pleasure to watch. [...]The Count of Monte Cristo The four 1 1/2 hour episodes make it easy to split the viewing over a number of days, if desired.

The Count
I loved this version of The Count of Monte Crisco! We rented it all the time. I always love to watch it on a rainy day, with lots of popcorn and my sister. We have a great time watching it and discussing it. I was so happy to buy my own copy!