celtigra

I first came across The Count of Monte Cristo in the BBC TV adaption starring Alan Badel. This has lead, over the years, to reading the book several times and also watching all the adaptations made by film makers. I do appreciate that it would be very hard to portray and explore all the intricacies of the book with its sub plots in just eight episodes. Knowing the book well it did, however, annoy me with some of the changes to the plot. The actor playing Danglars was brilliantly cast. The rest - well I am only four episodes in - the jury is still out. I could not binge this series as I'm afraid modern actors have terrible diction and I have to use subtitles. This version, however, is a little more faithful to the book than all the terrible films made in the intervening years. The actor playing Dantes though, I feel, shows too much emotion. After all the years imprisonment his heart would have hardened and he would not have been quivering on meeting Mercedes again. It would have been stone cold. I recently watched the original series (black and white) which has been released on a DVD, and I am afraid, for me, there will be only one Count and that actor was Alan Badel.

Last night I watched Netflix drop Dept Q and the first two episodes. I must say I really enjoyed it. I live just outside Edinburgh and used to work there. The outside footage was indeed accurate and I could identify with many of the locations. How lovely it was to see Scotland's capital city even though the subject matter was grim. Matthew Goode was excellent, if a little different from the usual suave types he plays. The stellar Scottish cast was very good as well. I will certainly be watching the rest of the series and even now I hope they renew it. If you like your detectives quirky I am sure you will take to this.

I rarely give 9 stars to a film, but this one certainly deserved it. The acting was superb from all involved. Yes, it was a bit slow in parts, but that was to be expected. If you want to know how a conclave works this explained it well. Frankly, the cardinals were more interested in furthering their positions within the church rather than looking after their flock, but I guess even the Vatican has fallen prey to politics. However, the ending was jaw dropping. Normally I can suss out the way a film is going to go and I did pick the future Pope, but the twist I did not see coming. It is not a film that I would watch again but it did stand out for the quality of the acting and the story line.