The Bottom Line
"The Count of Monte Cristo" is basically an entertaining, old-fashioned swashbuckler, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Pros
- Entertaining throughout
- Competent acting by Caviezel, Pearce, and Harris
- Lavish sets and costumes and charming locations
Cons
- Dialogue occasionally sounds anachronistic
- Lead actress Dagmara Dominczyk not convincing
- Movie may be too old-fashioned for some
Description
- DVD containing screen adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's "The Count of Monte Cristo"
- Movie directed by Kevin Reynolds and stars Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, and Richard Harris
- DVD contains several special features
Guide Review - "The Count of Monte Cristo" DVD
In 19th-century France, Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) is betrayed by his friend Mondego (Guy Pearce) and imprisoned for years at the dreaded Chateau d'If. There Dantes meets the Abbe Faria (Richard Harris), who teaches him how to be a gentleman. Eventually Dantes escapes and transforms himself into the fictitious Count of Monte Cristo. He enters Parisian high society, where he takes revenge against Mondego. "The Count of Monte Cristo" is basically an entertaining, old-fashioned swashbuckler, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a beautiful, lushly cinematic film with lavish sets, gorgeous costumes, and charming locations. I thought the acting was competent, but Dagmara Dominczyk is not convincing as a 19th-century woman.
