I would suggest that you read the book first. It's a long read but in the end it's worth it. Forget the Americanized movie version. I was amused when I watched it; go see the French film instead. The French know how to make a film that would be on the same level as the book. Since we are discussion Alexandre Dumas I will use another one of his films as an example. The Three Musketeers. A long time ago at the age of seven or eight I have seen various French versions from 30's and 40's, and they are the closest ones to the original book. All other versions drifted away from the book, and just used the theme of the novel. Guy Pearce's The Count of Monte Cristo, is decent for what it is, but once you read the book the movie looses its charm. The ending was the downfall of the picture. Yes indeed the long awaited sword fight was good, but the way all the characters met together in the end was laughable. And the book is much darker in nature, than the film.