In this highly entertaining, beautifully photographed rekindling of the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas, director Kevin Reynolds choreographs a fantastic adventure replete with breathtaking scenery, fiery swashbuckling battles, lavish costumes, and, above all else, sweet revenge. In 19th-century Marseille, Edmond Dantès (Jim Caviezel) is the optimistic but uneducated son of a sea captain. He cherishes his friendship with the son of a count, Mondego (Guy Pearce), and is deeply in love with his fiancée, Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). Young Dantès is so innocent and naive that it is positively shocking when Mondego turns on him, accusing him of treason, and having him sentenced to life in the dreary dungeon of Chateau D'If. Years of isolation and torture nearly defeat the revenge-thirsty Dantès, but with the help of invaluable lessons from the Abbé Faria (Richard Harris), his luck slowly changes. An incredible prison break starts Dantès on his way to a new life, and from there Reynolds' COUNT truly takes off. Battles with pirates lead to hunts for sunken ocean treasure, and soon Dantes is living in Marseille as the transformed, newly rich, self-proclaimed Count of Monte Cristo. Installed in a ritzy chateau, he slowly unfurls his excrutiatingly careful plans to exact his revenge on Mondego and all those who ever wronged him.

Rating: PG-13 (MPAA)

Rating Reason: adventure violence/swordplay and some sensuality

Runtime: 131 minutes

DVD Code: Region 1 US, CA

Genre: Action/Adventure

Color: Color

Rating: DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Audio:
Dolby Digital Surround - French

Guy Pearce, Jim Caviezel, James Caviezel, Richard Harris, Luis Guzmán, Luis Guzman, Dagmara Dominczyk, James Frain, Helen McCrory, Michael Wincott, Albie Woodington

Kevin Reynolds

Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Chris Brigham, Jonathan Glickman, Jon Glickman

"...The period details are meticulous....[The director] is well served by his hardworking cast....Hard to resist..."
New York Times

"...Opulently produced and superbly acted....Caviezel embodies the transformation of his character completely..."
Box Office

"...Handsomely mounted....[The] costumes and furnishings are scrupulously detailed and give off a sense of authenticity..."
Sight and Sound

"...Caviezel's quiet intensity and now trademark haunted eyes means it's him you'll be watching....Very enjoyable..."
Total Film

"...A lavishly mounted and appealingly old-fashioned swashbuckler....The pic boasts a compelling human element to complement lively storytelling and sporadic action highlights..."
Variety

"...It's the kind of adventure picture the studios churned out in the Golden Age -- so traditional it almost feels new..."
Chicago Sun-Times

"...Caviezel makes a good fall guy..."
Entertainment Weekly