Given all the stale, regurgitated crap coming out of Hollywood, there are some pieces they will never get right, or refuse to. Last year, Hollywood produced over 40% Reboots/Remakes/Sequels, so it takes a very good production of something that's been done before, to hold interest. I recently found it, in the new The Count of Monte Cristo, directed by Bille August, produced by Mediawan with Palomar in Italy, and starring Sam Claflin as Edmond Dantes/The Count. The series is so fresh, with just enough Modernizing to make it relatable, while still feeling classic. I enjoyed all of the characters, but especially those on The Count's team; Caderousse and Jacopo.
The pros:
Claflin is very believable, showing anguish, obsession, and cold calculation. His being a Character actor, I had to look Claflin up, and while I think I'll avoid some of the stuff he's done in the past, I am not surprised he played the Sailor who falls for the Mermaid in The Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.
The production approaches Race in a very adult, realistic manner. Of course France had Black residents, so this post-America France rings true.
I have to mention the Opera, which Communists in the Film Industry have been targeting, using little tools like Timothy Chalamet, to target things like Ballet.. I take personal offense to that. Nearly every art form we have started out as a creation from the Poor; a needed outlet or way to put food on the table. Unfortunately, the Wealth class takes over and ruins nearly everything, and just because THEY do not wish others to benefit, they either gatekeep or destroy it. I took singing lessons as a teen. My teacher used to have me practice Operatic pieces. There is something actually calming and definitely Heart-opening about Opera music. It requires developing discipline which anyone would benefit from, and you don't have to be rich. You don't even have to speak the Language you sing, although, it does encourage learning it. The Count of Monte Cristo rightly uses Opera as another character, matching pieces with scenes, very well.
Con: Just one. I wish this version of The Count of Monte Cristo had been in the theater. It's deserving. The tension holds all the way through to the final episode.
