Written by: Alexandre Dumas (novel), Jay Wolpert (screenplay)
Directed by: Kevin Reynolds
Starring: Jim Caviezel , Guy Pearce , Richard Harris
Rated: PG-13
My rating is simple, Watch It, It Depends, Skip it. Read my previous movie reviews!
Plot
Falsely imprisoned by his friend, a young man escapes and uses hidden treasure to exact revenge.
Verdict
It's a well made movie, but it's a tale I've heard so many times that I've feel like I've seen this movie before. Caviezel and Pearce do an excellent job of overcoming that, and if you're unfamiliar with the story you should check this out. It's got sword fighting, a prison escape, pirates, and even Napoleon. It does a lot in a short time.
It depends.
Review
Based on Alexandre Dumas's novel of the same name, originally written in 1844, this is one of Dumas's most famous novels along with The Three Musketeers.
Edmond Dantés (Jim Caviezel) is betrayed by a man he considered a friend, Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce). That jealously leads to Dantés wrongful imprisonment for years. Eventually he escapes the prison with the help of a prist, becomes a pirate, and then uncovers treasure that will aid his plan to exact revenge.
The production values are impressive. The locations and landscapes look great, from France to the prison to the cave with treasure.
This is a sweeping tale of adventure and revenge. We root for Dantés because he's been wronged. His life has been stolen from him. He's been in jail so long he's forgotten. He finally escapes and is conscripted by pirates. When he's finally free he discovers enough treasure that he is able to buy a palace and claim himself the Count of Monte Cristo. He uses the same pirates to ingratiate himself to the Mondego family, who after all these years don't recognize him.
It's well written. The trials Dantés endures inform his eventual revenge. Of course by the end he faces off against Mondego.
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