The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
Directed by Kevin Reynolds
Young sailor Edmond Dantès is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes, finds treasure, and reinvents himself as the wealthy Count of Monte Cristo to exact revenge on those who betrayed him.
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Viewers unfamiliar with the original work or previous adaptations will obviously recognize the underlying, universal revenge theme as well as similarities to films such as "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and "The Mask of Zorro," both of which borrowed some elements or at least were inspired by Dumas' work.
So why is this year’s reimagining of The Count of Monte Cristo the best swashbuckler since The Mask of Zorro ?
Enjoyable swashbuckler that’s similar to The Mask of Zorro in that it benefits from being played mostly straight – it’s well made with good performances and some impressive set pieces including a stunning Gratuitous Balloon Entrance.
While it's clearly no "Papillon" as this one feels like a big dress up film compared to that grueling 1973 Steve McQueen picture, the moments are fairly entertaining and engaging thanks to some good performances and occasionally sharp writing.
"The Count of Monte Cristo" is not as good of a film as say "Captain Blood" probably because well, Errol Flynn was the master of these kinds of movies, but it's old school in another way.
Unwittingly, he and his childhood friend Fernand (Guy Pearce, "Memento") land on Elba, where they're attacked by British dragoons holding Napoleon (Alex Norton, "Local Hero") in exile.
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After all the smoke has cleared and blood's been spilt, Reynolds zeroes in hopefully on a ridiculous bit of prison graffiti indicating that God will avenge all wrongs--funny, here I was watching a meticulously premeditated period Death Wish that runs at least thirty minutes too long.
Supporting performances are decent from the likes of James Frain ("Titus," "Sunshine") and Albie Woodington ("The 13th Warrior," "First Knight"), but Dagmara Dominczyk ("Rock Star," "Keeping the Faith") is rather flat as the love interest that's been cast and played in somewhat of a subdued Catherine Zeta-Jones vein.
The latest big screen version comes from director Kevin Reynolds, who also helmed Waterworld, 187, and Fandango.
He made Costner's first feature Fandango , then also steered the disappointing Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and the abject disaster Waterworld , both with more input from Costner than he may have preferred.
Supporting performances are decent from the likes of James Frain ("Titus," "Sunshine") and Albie Woodington ("The 13th Warrior," "First Knight"), but Dagmara Dominczyk ("Rock Star," "Keeping the Faith") is rather flat as the love interest that's been cast and played in somewhat of a subdued Catherine Zeta-Jones vein.
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Although Caviezel's character achieves a remarkable escape and plots a complicated 19th century revenge worthy of Mission Impossible, he has his feet planted too firmly on the ground.
I felt like I was watching a discussion between Dr. Evil and his son Scott in "Austin Powers.")