Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo

Based on the book by Alexandre Dumas, Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo follows Jim Caviezel’s Edmond Dantes as he’s framed for treason by several nefarious characters and sent to a remote island prison – with the movie subsequently detailing Edmond’s escape and transformation into the wealthy title figure. It’s an admittedly irresistible premise for an old-fashioned adventure and filmmaker Kevin Reynolds certainly exploits the material for all its worth, as Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo progresses at an impressively brisk pace and contains a number of thoroughly exciting sequences and interludes – although it’s worth noting, certainly, that the picture fares equally well during its smaller, quieter moments (eg Edmond’s prison-based exploits, particularly his friendship with Richard Harris’ Abbé Faria, are undoubtedly quite engrossing). And although there are a few lulls here and there – the 131 minute running time is probably a little longer than necessary – Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, for the most part, comes off as a thoroughly rewarding and satisfying tale of revenge that benefits substantially from Caviezel’s stirring performance (and this is to say nothing of Guy Pearce’s gleefully broad work as the mustache-twirling villain).

***1/2 out of ****