Multiplex Madness
The Count of Monte Cristo
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Genre: Adventure, Thriller
Director: Matthieu Delaporte, Alexandre de La Patellière
Starring: Pierre Niney, Bastien Bouillon, Anaïs Demoustier, Anamaria Vartolomei, Laurent Lafitte
There are dozens of adaptations of The Count of Monte Cristo, the most recent of which being a Disney production from twenty years ago from the director of Waterworld starring Guy Pearce, Richard Harris, a very young Henry Cavill, and famed jerkass Jim Caviezel in the title role. You might ponder if we need another one, but this latest adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's famed revenge thriller comes straight from Dumas's homeland of France itself, which gives it just that much more authenticity. The story is, of course, that of a man imprisoned for many years, escaping only to discover that his fiancèe has moved on by marrying the man who betrayed him. He then spends even more time plotting and elaborate revenge scheme to make those who wronged him suffer.
The Count of Monte Cristo seems to be a call for a return to swashbuckling period adventures. The last attempt I vividly recall here in the States that wasn't a Johnny Depp led pirate movie being fellow Dumas adaptation The Three Musketeers, directed by kinetic bad movie autuer Paul W.S. Anderson, who is probably the last person who should make one of these movies. If Anderson's Musketeers movie was an argument that they should die, then Monte Cristo is an argument that they should be reborn, showcasing that we can make them today with more grandeur than ever before. This film is as large, sweeping, and adventurous as one would hope for in a Dumas adaptation. It's a beautifully detailed epic made with passion. The film is so grandiose and stunning that it's scope will dazzle while the performances will captivate, making this daunting three-hour adventure one to relish in. It's certainly a case where a film's runtime is not an issue, as it allows us to bathe in the film's beauty while the story never stagnates. The film is constantly in motion, with the only quibble being that it begins to creak toward the middle as the film begins to run out of time for its elaborate setup and begins to rush with time jumps. I probably wouldn't have been against the movie being even longer if it meant smoothing out these rough edges, but it's an excellent tale told with power in spite of this. For those who miss the classical period sagas of yesteryear, the film is a must-see that will scratch an itch they've probably had for decades. I'm actually impressed at my theater for carrying this. Normally I don't see this much of a banger on the first week of January.
The Damned
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Horror
Director: Thordour Palsson
Starring: Odessa Young, Joe Cole, Siobhan Finneran, Rory McCann, Turlough Convery, Lewis Gribben, Francis Magee, Mícheál Óg Lane
You know, this is the second time in as many weeks that I've gone to a dramatic horror film that had a parade of walkouts and some dude falling asleep, loudly snoring throughout. The same thing happened when I went to see Nosferatu last week. But at least the guy who went to slumberland this time had the decency to do it halfway through, while sleepyhead at Nosferatu didn't last five minutes. Meanwhile, the walkouts were less patient here, lasting a half hour rather than ninty minutes. I bring this up because this should give you an idea of what type of horror film The Damned is, because while it's very good, it won't be in everyone's wheelhouse. The Damned is one of those horror movies that is more about mood than scares, which means horror filmmakers will love it for its craftsmanship and horror fanatics will probably hate it because it doesn't go hard enough. The film's story takes place at a 19th century fishing outpost in the Arctic. The residents witness a ship sink off the coast, but choose not to assist as to not strain their resources. Soon they begin being seeing haunting images of vengeful spirits, who they believe have come to punish them. The film uses its horror metaphorically, showcasing the concept of "haunting" clashing between literally and figuratively, while stringing the audience along to guess as to which one is really at play. It's a film about the guilt of making a hard choice when a result can lead to suffering. Those seeking adequate BOO-factor from their ghost stories won't find it here, though the ghost scenes the movie does provide are excellently crafted and well-photographed. I feel the movie could have raised its tension to allow for some balance with the psychological drama, but I find myself not being able to complain too hard when the movie is this handsome. But I might have been tempted to rewatch it, otherwise.
Movies Still Playing At My Theater
Babygirl ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Complete Unknown ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Fire Inside ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gladiator II ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Homestead ⭐️
Moana 2 ⭐️⭐️
Mufasa: The Lion King ⭐️⭐️1/2
Nosferatu ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ⭐️⭐️1/2
Wicked Part I ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
New To Streaming
A Real Pain ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wicked Part I ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Coming Soon!
