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Is there a more purely entertaining novel in the classic literary canon than Alexandre DumassThe Count of Monte Cristo?
Many have abridged it and updated it and riffed on it over the decades.
Its almost impossible to screw up a movie of it.
You dont need to Hollywoodize the thing.
(Christopher NolansDark Knightfilms clearly owe a debt to Dumas.)
His betrayers have all advanced in French society, with Fernand marrying Mercedes.
But will his single-minded dedication to vengeance corrupt his own soul?
These movies reverse the classic direction of cultural transmission.
The movie might be set in the early 19th century, but its hero is a 21st century badass.
All this might be a bit much for those who like their international epics more refined and genteel.
Once upon a time, I might have even agreed.
Period action-adventures used to be Hollywoods thing.
All that couldnt prevent the genre from being replaced by endless fantasy franchises in Hollywoods post-9/11 realignment.
Its hard not to feel like the formula for successfully making such pictures has been lost along the way.
Still, one need not worry about the fates of industries to appreciate it.
After all these years, the elemental pull of Dumass tale remains irresistible.
