Many anime fans are familiar with Gankutsuou, but is more of a creative interpretation and is not set in current-day Japan (future-future!), so it can't really be compared imo. There's also the 1979 Nihon Gankutsuou starring Kusakari Masao, which is set in Edo period. And while there have been a massive number of adaptations into other cultural or time settings, it's an extremely twisty story, so I always feel it must be wickedly hard to adapt completely into a modern-day setting in a satisfying and believable way... without taking major artistic license with the plot.
However, writer the writer has a lot of experience with novel adaptations, as well as twisty plots (i.e. Boku no Yabai Tsuma), and along with creative directing and generally great performances by the cast, this difficult feat was achieved with class.
While there are certain elements that require some suspension of belief such as the fictional country involved at the beginning (although creating fictional countries is pretty common, especially when there's anything negative involved!). I guarantee you will be absorbed in the plot at least by the third episode. The first two are filmed in a with a kind of generic light tone, as the past and present timelines for the characters needed to be massively contrasting. But starting with the third episode, the tone goes darker, and the cinematography gets heavy into suspense (in a great way).
If you're not familiar with the story already, feel free to just go in cold and enjoy even more surprise and suspense. But even if you've read the book or seen other movies, I would say that you will probably shockingly find the suspense and intrigue elements still compelling. I initially wasn't sure if I'd be a little bored in the beginning, because everything sticks so close to the original plot, which I'm familiar with, but I quickly got so absorbed in the characters and storytelling, I couldn't stop watching.
While dark, it wasn't just straight-up depressing revenge film. One would think that everything about the nature of vengeance and justice has been explored in the genre, but I think this actually was even more interesting an exploration of it than the original book. I wasn't sure how much artistic license they would take with the plot, so I never knew what the characters would or wouldn't do as they felt so believable thanks to the great acting and compelling dialog and pacing. They somehow managed to stick to the plot/characters of the original, but made each one very real and unique in their modern-day Japanese setting.
The cast is great. For the most part, the main characters nail their roles, and Dean Fujioka really surprised me. I've really liked him in a variety of dramas, but he went beyond with his enigmatic character here. Of course he lays on the innocent exuberance heavy in the beginning since there's a big time gap between it and the the majority of the story, but it's kind of stylized, basically the way most actors in Japan will play a younger version of their character for past events. For his current-day role, though, he's so good as the conflicted but brilliant Shinkai, who can be cold and calculating, but who also has this admirable sense of justice that makes him not-quite devious or cruel. Rather than simply trying to punish, he seems to want to find the truth of these people who destroyed his life. His character is impossible to not feel for, considering all he's gone through.
Music was spot-on...the two pop songs, especially Dean's (ECHO) are almost too catchy (fyi they sound really good with the tempo sped up!), and the score provided that extra sense of unease and suspense that kept the overall tone just right.
Rewatch: I'm too familiar with the story to want to rewatch, but if you've never encountered the plotline, this could be really cool to go back and watch with the knowledge of who is who and what will happen even if the suspense would be gone.
I'll leave it at that since I don't want to create any quasi-spoilers for anyone who doesn't know the original story. I definitely recommend even if you're not into revenge dramas (I'm not—I like some of them, but not all!). I never felt dragged down at all. If you like well-crafted dramas that are entertaining but also have some depth, while also being psychological and clever, I think you'll enjoy this.
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Possibly the best adaption of the Count of Monte Cristo.
It does make changes to the story, but compared to most adaptions, it actually retains some of the most important parts.To minimize spoilers, I'll refer to the book character names.
I was happy to see the Morrel's part in the story retained, and that Haydee was back in it, in her proper role. These are KEY characters for the lead's character arc. Nortier is actually portrayed as he is in the book, Benedetto's changes have some... squick, and if I have any reservations, its that some people get off easier than they 'should' in the story. That all said, it works surprisingly well in the modern setting - they
I'm not fluent at all in Japanese, so it was all subtitles for me, but it never interfered with my enjoyment.
Dean Fujioka really transforms Saimon Dan from a happy-go-lucky idealistic young man into the 4-D chess playing count magnificently - so much so that it truly felt like two different men.
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Devil is in the details!
While watching the last episode, it had all of a sudden dawned to me: every single makjang that has ever been made originates in The Count of Monte Cristo. Just like Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is the blueprint for every enemies to lovers romcom ever made (and Darcy is the original tsundere heartthrob!), Dumas' Monte Cristo is the same for the revenge dramas!The book is a classic I read many times. I have also seen many adaptations for cinema and tv. So I wondered if the japanese would manage to give it that particular japanese flavour. Unfortunately, they failed in this.
They faithfully follow the major plot points and that's what is wrong with this adaptation: it is not japanese enough. The first thing I found grating was the name: Monte Cristo. Why did they keep it? That name passes all right in Europe but it sounds
weird in Asia.
The next was the fake country and a terrorist organization. And even though I enjoyed immensely the first episode, the terrorists and then finally the name managed to make me completely lose interest.
Another huge problem were the subs which, from the episode 5 to the end, were badly timed and showed up before the characters spoke or even appeared.
The pacing of the drama was also off: too fast but at the same time too slow, too much time spent on certain characters (like crazy wives) and not enough on others (Dan and Airi). On the other hand they successfully managed to transpose the 19th century story to modern world. The actors were exceptional, Dean Fujioka was the best by far and his transformation from the happy go lucky fishermen to a cynical billionaire was amazing. And he sings!
You know when you watch a piece of fiction, the question is not whether the story is true but whether they managed to make it so believable it sounds true. Here they failed completely and only because of a few details they did not but should have changed.
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Hello!! I've been waiting to write this review because I wanted to write a good one but I can't wait anymore!This drama is perfection! and what made it more perfect is Dean Fujioka, with his acting and looks. But! that's not all, it's a revenge drama, so if you like revenge drama this is the one for you!! (I love them)
Story
well, it's pretty known story and this is an adaptation, so it's not really an original but what I like about Japanese adaptation is that it's real, every character is real and you can feel it, you also get to see their develpment and their human side, even Shinkai(Dan) was surprised and shaken.
acting
the acting was superb, really i couldn't ask for more! every character is perfect! i apreciated so much every actor, i loved Rumi and her story.
Dean pulled such a perfect Shinkai that I don't even know how to describe my love for him! you just need to go and watch it for yourself, he just blinks and I go crazy.
Music
wow!! and the fact that one of the ost was sang by Dean himself added so much.
rewatch
well I could rewatch it even know, it's amazing
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Don't understand the changes from the original novel
Well, this is a story that has, for me, a big difference.Edmond (in the book) was a sweet lover and friend, a great human. Count of Monte Cristo is also the same but with a strong desire for revenge.
In this drama, Saimon Dan was a wonderful and warm groom, son, friend, etc. Monte Cristo is a bad man, driven by revenge and using innocent people to achieve his goals.
STORY - with some different characters and stories, but it is an adaptation of an amazing book of French writer Alexandre Dumas. I think the villains have a much sweet end...
ACTING - Wonderful acting!
MUSIC - very good. To hear songs like the hallelujah version of Jeff Buckley is always good.
REWATCH - will never do it. First, because I know the plot and the changes; second, I find some inconsistencies in Saimon Dan behaviour. How can he be a little redeemed when he find Kagura Rumi's motherly love and ask Sumire to abandon her daughter? That doesn’t fit… And what will Sumire do when she supposedly agrees to marry him, if he didn’t faked his death?
OVERALL - nothing new if you know this story. If you do not, I think you will enjoy a revenge drama!
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If you're wondering whether you should watch it or not, my answer is yes, definitely! It's heavy, intense, engaging as it keeps making you want to know more about it on every episode. 'What would happen next?' , 'What else?' , and so on.
I love everything about the drama but what I love most are the plot and the main character's (played by Dean Fujioka) character development. You have to see it for yourself ;D
What you can expect from this drama: a LOT of secrets, real stories that (might be) easy to relate, deep meaning, good moral story, Dean's wonderful visual and transformation.
Overall, it's really a great one! Try for it yourself and see if it's your liking because, at the end of the day, watching also involves our personal preference so it would be different to everyone. One episode is enough for me to get addicted and finish the drama, what about you?
Hope this short review of mine would help XD
p.s the soundtrack is reaaaally nice too! It's ECHO by Dean Fujioka.
Have a nice day!
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