Question about movie: The Count of Monte Cristo

[akshatp]

First of all, this is one my favorite movies ever.

I just watched it again and still cannot figure one part of the movie.

What is the significance of the yearly beatings with the whip by the warden.

Is it as simple as reminding the prisoners of how long they have been there? If the answer is just that the warden enjoys it so much, why wouldnt he beat them on a more regular basis?

PS I love the part when the old man emerges from Dantes' prison cell floor and realizes he didn't reach the outside walls. LOL

 

[Alone]

It's one of those "win/win" situations. It's just as he said; it's a reminder of their time there.

 

[NFS4]

Dude, it's just a movie

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Dude, it's just a movie

HAHAHAHA Touche!! I did NOT expect that.

 

[50cent1228]

this is one of my favorite movies ever

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
this is one of my favorite movies ever

I have only seen the 2002 release. Has anyone seen the original, or read the book?

 

[Syringer]

Why would you think there's more to it than there is?

 

[Brutuskend]

No significance, IMO he just liked kicking peoples ass.

What "I" never understood was HOW could the addition of a Goatee, and NOTHING else make him totally unrecognizable to EVERYONE he knew?

 

[d33pt]

i have read the book..it gets very involved in the book. I think it was more than 1000 pgs. I should read it again, it's been a while.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
No significance, IMO he just liked kicking peoples ass.

What "I" never understood was HOW could the addition of a Goatee, and NOTHING else make him totally unrecognizable to EVERYONE he knew?

Ha, QFT. They could play the he's 13 years older card, but once he shaved it Guy Pearce's character immediately recognized him.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
No significance, IMO he just liked kicking peoples ass.

What "I" never understood was HOW could the addition of a Goatee, and NOTHING else make him totally unrecognizable to EVERYONE he knew?

Ha, QFT. They could play the he's 13 years older card, but once he shaved it Guy Pearce's character immediately recognized him.

Well, that kind of stuff I put down to it being a story of fiction.

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
No significance, IMO he just liked kicking peoples ass.

What "I" never understood was HOW could the addition of a Goatee, and NOTHING else make him totally unrecognizable to EVERYONE he knew?

I read that as Goatse. I was confused.

HOWEVER, everyone was told that he was put to death, so they couldn't even imagine that it would be him.

 

[50cent1228]

i have read the book two its long but awsome

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
this is one of my favorite movies ever

I have only seen the 2002 release. Has anyone seen the original, or read the book?

I despise this movie. It modifies characters' identities, changes the WHOLE story line, and is not what I perceive as the book The Count of Monte Cristo. The book is amazing - my favorite book. It's 1300 pages. The movie is... I just can't stand it; and maybe when you read the book, you'll see it too. The movie doesn't do the book any justice.

One example of difference between the movie and the book, Fernand Mondego was never a friend, nor a shipmate of Dantes'. He was only Mercedes' friend who was in love with her, while she was in love with Dantes. Fernand, while drunk, therefore was influenced by Danglars (the ship's budget / shipment / technicality guy). Danglars made the letter, Fernand turned it in. At no point did Fernand and Villeforte converse as conspirators. It was simply an anonymous letter.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Alone

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
No significance, IMO he just liked kicking peoples ass.

What "I" never understood was HOW could the addition of a Goatee, and NOTHING else make him totally unrecognizable to EVERYONE he knew?

I read that as Goatse. I was confused.

HOWEVER, everyone was told that he was put to death, so they couldn't even imagine that it would be him.

Well, in the book, the something like 13 years of prison makes him unrecognizable. He grows up, basically. In the movie, they obviously can't age the actor 13 years. In another version, a French version, of the movie (which is like 8 hours long), they have the son of the actor play Dantes and have his father play the Count of Monte Cristo. They don't look anything alike, which makes the story more believable.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Alone

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
No significance, IMO he just liked kicking peoples ass.

What "I" never understood was HOW could the addition of a Goatee, and NOTHING else make him totally unrecognizable to EVERYONE he knew?

HOWEVER, everyone was told that he was put to death, so they couldn't even imagine that it would be him.

Remember, they can't exactly film the first part, wait 13 years and film the second half.

Normally, a 13 year aging process will alter a person's physical appearance quite a bit. Add to that, Dantes was secluded for those 13 years and all his family was told he was dead. People's memories fade with time.

Then there's the mental changes, when Dantes was imprisoned, he was a simple sailor/trader, born a peasant. When he escaped, he was a smuggler and a pirate, and after that a count. He learned to play many roles convincingy, taking on entirely different personas to accomplish a task.

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
this is one of my favorite movies ever

I have only seen the 2002 release. Has anyone seen the original, or read the book?

I despise this movie. It modifies characters' identities, changes the WHOLE story line, and is not what I perceive as the book The Count of Monte Cristo. The book is amazing - my favorite book. It's 1300 pages. The movie is... I just can't stand it; and maybe when you read the book, you'll see it too. The movie doesn't do the book any justice.

One example of difference between the movie and the book, Fernand Mondego was never a friend, nor a shipmate of Dantes'. He was only Mercedes' friend who was in love with her, while she was in love with Dantes. Fernand, while drunk, therefore was influenced by Danglars (the ship's budget / shipment / technicality guy). Danglars made the letter, Fernand turned it in. At no point did Fernand and Villeforte converse as conspirators. It was simply an anonymous letter.

While that might be interesting in writing, it just won't do for a movie that's basically set on conspiracy and betrayal. Obviously it's not the same storyline, but how often (save LOTR) does a movie accurately reflect the book? You must remember; 1300 pages would make quite a long movie and things need to be removed and changed.

I'll read the book either way, but I'll accept them as two completely different stories.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
this is one of my favorite movies ever

I have only seen the 2002 release. Has anyone seen the original, or read the book?

I despise this movie. It modifies characters' identities, changes the WHOLE story line, and is not what I perceive as the book The Count of Monte Cristo. The book is amazing - my favorite book. It's 1300 pages. The movie is... I just can't stand it; and maybe when you read the book, you'll see it too. The movie doesn't do the book any justice.

One example of difference between the movie and the book, Fernand Mondego was never a friend, nor a shipmate of Dantes'. He was only Mercedes' friend who was in love with her, while she was in love with Dantes. Fernand, while drunk, therefore was influenced by Danglars (the ship's budget / shipment / technicality guy). Danglars made the letter, Fernand turned it in. At no point did Fernand and Villeforte converse as conspirators. It was simply an anonymous letter.

I shall buy and read the book in the new year, when I have some time.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
this is one of my favorite movies ever

I have only seen the 2002 release. Has anyone seen the original, or read the book?

I despise this movie. It modifies characters' identities, changes the WHOLE story line, and is not what I perceive as the book The Count of Monte Cristo. The book is amazing - my favorite book. It's 1300 pages. The movie is... I just can't stand it; and maybe when you read the book, you'll see it too. The movie doesn't do the book any justice.

One example of difference between the movie and the book, Fernand Mondego was never a friend, nor a shipmate of Dantes'. He was only Mercedes' friend who was in love with her, while she was in love with Dantes. Fernand, while drunk, therefore was influenced by Danglars (the ship's budget / shipment / technicality guy). Danglars made the letter, Fernand turned it in. At no point did Fernand and Villeforte converse as conspirators. It was simply an anonymous letter.

Yes, God forbid any movie be modified from the book it's based off of, it will upset all the literature elitists who can't stand change.

 

[Bateluer]

I think I'll add this book to my list of books, I'll be needing some good reading material over the holidays.

Edit - Used my 25 dollar Amazon gift certificate to buy it, among some other books to qualify for free shipping and use the entire gift card. Free shipping is slow though, and the holiday season is picking up. So long as they have it here before 20 Dec, I'll be happy.

 

[DayLaPaul]

I loved the book. I hated the movie. They turned it into a big lovey dovey chick flick. I'm not going to spoil the book for anyone, but what they did in the movie was bastardize one of the main concepts/plotlines. This wasn't a simple case of modifying it for the big screen. Obviously when you have a book that is 700+ pages abridged, you're bound to make a few changes, but this was unacceptable. I don't understand why every movie in Hollywood has to have a tired, classic "happy ending." The beauty of the book was the way it ended was thought provoking. I don't know why they had to dumb it down for the Hollywood audience.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: 50cent1228
this is one of my favorite movies ever

I have only seen the 2002 release. Has anyone seen the original, or read the book?

I was listening to the audiobook, but then I changed jobs and my commute dropped from an hour and a half to 7 minutes. It would take me a few years to finish it on my way to and from work now.

 

[dandruff]

book is way better ..

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: DayLaPaul
I loved the book. I hated the movie. They turned it into a big lovey dovey chick flick. I'm not going to spoil the book for anyone, but what they did in the movie was bastardize one of the main concepts/plotlines. This wasn't a simple case of modifying it for the big screen. Obviously when you have a book that is 700+ pages abridged, you're bound to make a few changes, but this was unacceptable. I don't understand why every movie in Hollywood has to have a tired, classic "happy ending." The beauty of the book was the way it ended was thought provoking. I don't know why they had to dumb it down for the Hollywood audience.

You dont want to spoil the book for anyone? Too late.

First you say there was one big difference in the main plotline, and then hit us with this beauty:

I don't understand why every movie in Hollywood has to have a tired, classic "happy ending." The beauty of the book was the way it ended

Not to hard to deduce how the book ended from that little snippet. Thanks, you saved me some time and money from buying and reading the book. Idiot.

 

[DayLaPaul]

Ok smart guy, then how does it end? Just because you know how it doesn't end doesn't mean that you know how it ends. And if you are going to let one sentence ruin what perhaps is the greatest book of all time, that's your choice.