The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Kevin Reynolds

Writers (WGA):

Alexandre Dumas père (novel)
Jay Wolpert (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Prepare for adventure. Count on revenge.

Plot:

A young man, falsely imprisoned by his jealous "friends," escapes and uses a hidden treasure to exact his revenge

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Escape | Best Friend | Island Prison | Treasure

Cast

James Caviezel	...	Edmond Dantes (as Jim Caviezel)
Guy Pearce	...	Fernand Mondego
Richard Harris	...	Abbé Faria
James Frain	...	J.F. Villefort
Dagmara Dominczyk	...	Mercedès Iguanada
Michael Wincott	...	Armand Dorleac
Luis Guzmán	...	Jacopo
Christopher Adamson	...	Maurice
JB Blanc	...	Luigi Vampa
Guy Carleton	...	Mansion Owner
Alex Norton	...	Napoleon
Barry Cassin	...	Old Man Dantes
Henry Cavill	...	Albert Mondego
Aliaz Moufid	...	Holga (credit only) (as Zhara)
Brendan Costello	...	Viscount
Patrick Godfrey	...	Morrell
Katherine Holme	...	Julianne
Freddie Jones	...	Colonel Villefort
Joe Hanley	...	Partygoer No. 1
Mairead Devlin	...	Partygoer No. 2 (as Maireid Devlin)
Stella Feeley	...	Partygoer No. 3
Joseph Kelly	...	Gardener
Ivan Kennedy	...	Outrider
Alvaro Lucchesi	...	Claude
Helen McCrory	...	Valentina Villefort
Karl O'Neill	...	Marchand
Robert Price	...	Pascal
Derek Reid	...	Banker
Eric Stovell	...	Viscount Toville
Jude Sweeney	...	Mondego Servant
Brian Thunder	...	Gendarme
Gregor Truter	...	Lt. Graypool
Andrew Woodall	...	Gendarmes Captain
Albie Woodington	...	Danglars

Directed by
Kevin Reynolds

Writing credits (WGA)
Alexandre Dumas père		(novel "Le Comte de Monte Cristo")
Jay Wolpert		(screenplay)

Produced by
Gary Barber	....	producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	producer
Chris Brigham	....	executive producer
Chris Chrisafis	....	co-producer: UK
Ned Dowd	....	line producer
Derek Evans	....	co-producer
James Flynn	....	co-producer: Ireland
Jonathan Glickman	....	producer
Morgan O'Sullivan	....	co-producer
Rebekah Rudd	....	co-producer
Andrew Somper	....	co-producer: UK

Original Music by
Ed Shearmur		(as Edward Shearmur)

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stephen Semel
Christopher Womack		(as Chris Womack)

Production Design by
Mark Geraghty

Art Direction by
Conor Devlin
Terry Pritchard

Set Decoration by
John Byrne

Costume Design by
Tom Rand

Makeup Department
Lynda Armstrong	....	key makeup artist
Lynda Armstrong	....	makeup designer
Dee Corcoran	....	key hair stylist
Marie Darmanin	....	makeup artist
Marcelle Genovese	....	hair stylist
Jackie Grima	....	makeup artist
Clare Lambe	....	assistant makeup artist
Niamh O'Loan	....	makeup artist
Tina Phelan	....	makeup artist: dailies
Angele Stafrace	....	key nail technician
Margot Wilson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Chris Brigham	....	production manager
Seamus McInerney	....	unit production manager
Jane McNally	....	production manager: second unit
Malcolm Scerri-Ferrante	....	production manager: Malta

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anna Lisa Baldacchino	....	trainee assistant director: second unit
Keith Barry	....	trainee assistant director
Enda Doherty	....	trainee assistant director
Pierre Ellul	....	additional third assistant director: Malta
Adrienne Greenhalgh	....	trainee assistant director
Sean Griffin	....	third assistant director: additional photography
James Hagger	....	second assistant director: second unit
Robert Huberman	....	first assistant director (as Bob Huberman)
Ray Kenny	....	trainee assistant director
Raymond Kirk	....	third assistant director
Bailey Marks	....	trainee assistant director
Karen Richards	....	second assistant director
Nick Thomas	....	trainee assistant director
Julia Ware	....	first assistant director: second unit
Arthur Wooster	....	second unit director

Art Department
Rachel Appino	....	art department trainee
Russ Bailey	....	construction coordinator
Graeme Bird	....	supervising propmaker
William Byren	....	dressing props
Patrick Byrne	....	dressing props
Elaine Chapman	....	assistant scenic artist
Jenni Cooney	....	trainee propmaker
Stephen Daly	....	assistant art director
Fionnuala Dorney	....	construction coordinator
Alan Dunne	....	dressing props
Cos Egan	....	dressing props
Ciara Gormley	....	assistant art director
Bernard Hickie	....	greensman
Jimmy Kavanagh	....	drapes
Rene Knol	....	chargehand dressing props
Daragh Lewis	....	stand-by props
Owen Lewis	....	dressing props
Frank Matthews	....	master plasterer
James McGetrick	....	trainee stand-by prop
Nuala McKernan	....	chargehand stand-by props
Laura McKinney	....	assistant buyer
Killian McNulty	....	prop storeman
Steve Mitchell	....	scenic artist
Owen Monaghan	....	dressing props
Owen Murnane	....	master scenic painter
Eamonn O'Higgins	....	property master
Jenny Oman	....	production buyer
Des O'Neill	....	supervising plasterer
Laurence O'Toole	....	graphic artist
Bob Pritchard	....	propmaker
Kathryn Pritchard	....	art department coordinator
Brendan Rankin	....	set designer
Gerard Richardson	....	supervising painter
Edwin Ryan	....	sculptor
Gary Thomas	....	storyboard artist
Gary Thomas	....	storyboard artist
Mario Vallallo	....	head plasterer
Elaine Vaughan	....	model maker
David Wallace	....	dressing props

Sound Department
Sefi Carmel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Curtis	....	sound editor
Adam Daniel	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Graham Daniel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brendan Deasy	....	production sound mixer
Paula Fairfield	....	sound effects designer
Paula Fairfield	....	sound effects editor
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Matthew Gough	....	co-sound mixer
Matthew Gough	....	sound assistant
Peter Joly	....	supervising sound editor
Ray Merrin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Peach	....	sound recordist
Eddie Quinn	....	boom operator
Michael Redfern	....	foley editor (as Mike Redfern)
Gerard Roche	....	adr mixer
Mark Rose	....	assistant sound editor
Ian Wilson	....	sound effects editor
Wendy Czajkowsky	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Carla Murray	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Aidan Byrne	....	special effects senior technician
Kevin Byrne	....	special effects supervisor
Gerry Farrell	....	special effects technician
Kevin Nolan	....	special effects technician
Neil Nolan	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Marilyn Anderson	....	technical assistant manager: Mill Film
Giacomo Bargellesi	....	technical assistant: Mill Film
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor
Steve Boag	....	optical supervisor
Andrew Bull	....	3D interface: Mill Motion Control
Martin Bullard	....	optical planning
Tim Caplan	....	I/O supervisor: Mill Film
Grant Connor	....	digital compositor: Mill Film
Colin Coull	....	colour timer: Mill Film
Rob Delicata	....	motion control producer: Mill Motion Control
Dave Early	....	digital matte painter: Mill Film (as David Early)
Andy Feery	....	CG artist: Mill Film
Greg Fisher	....	CG artist: Mill Film
Lillan Gahlin	....	digital compositor: Mill Film
Rita Gordon	....	production accountant: Mill Film
José Granell	....	model unit supervisor
Charles Green	....	optical shooting and grading
Dave Gurney	....	optical shooting and grading
Yan Hammond	....	camera operator: Mill Motion Control
Joey Harris	....	technical assistant: Mill Film
Mark Hopkins	....	digital compositor: Mill Film
Lorea Hoye	....	visual effects producer: Mill Film
Laurent Hugueniot	....	CG supervisor: Mill Film
Pete Jopling	....	digital compositor: Mill Film (as Peter Jopling)
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Ray Moody	....	motion control
Karl Mooney	....	visual effects supervisor: Mill Film
Paul Oakley	....	technical assistant: Mill Film
Simon Payne	....	digital artist
Ian Plumb	....	digital compositor: Mill Film
Leigh Raby	....	filmout manager: Mill Film
Craig Rowe	....	technical assistant: Mill Film
John Sharp	....	digital compositor: Mill Film
Simon Stanley-Clamp	....	lead compositor: Mill Film
Matthew Symonds	....	title layout (as Matt Symonds)
Nigel Trevessey	....	senior modelmaker: mill models
Lars Vinther	....	visual effects editor: Mill Film
Malcolm Woolridge	....	DOP/cameraman: Mill Motion Control
Murray Barber	....	digital preparation: Mill Film (uncredited)
Steve Barnes	....	digital preparation: Mill Film (uncredited)
Sara Bennett	....	digital preparation: Mill Film (uncredited)
Doug Bishop	....	modelmaker: mill models (uncredited)
Damien Cheetham	....	post production engineer: Mill Film (uncredited)
Stuart Cripps	....	digital preparation: Mill Film (uncredited)
Rosanne Gunn	....	camera trainee/runner: Mill Motion Control (uncredited)
Michael Illingworth	....	digital compositor: Mill Film (uncredited)
Christine Overs	....	modelmaker: mill models (uncredited)
Mark Pinheiro	....	digital preparation: Mill Film (uncredited)
Kitty Veevers	....	digital compositor: Mill Film (uncredited)
Simon Wicker	....	digital matte painter: Mill Film (uncredited)

Stunts
Lucy Allen	....	stunts
David Andrews	....	stunts
Del Baker	....	stunts
Richard Bradshaw	....	stunts
Michel Carliez	....	fight coordinator
Gary Connery	....	stunts
Danielle da Costa	....	stunts (as Danielle Da Costa)
Rowley Irlam	....	stunts
Brian Nichols	....	stunts
Donal O'Farrell	....	stunts
Peter Pedrero	....	stunts
Curtis Rivers	....	stunts
Rita Van Opzellant	....	stunts
Shaun Wallace	....	stunt dive master
Shaun Wallace	....	stunts
Alan Walsh	....	stunts
Michelle Weaver	....	stunts
Paul Weston	....	stunt coordinator
Peter White	....	stunts
Brenda Camilleri	....	stunt double: Dagmara Dominczyk (uncredited)
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunts (uncredited)
Curtis Rivers	....	stunt double: Jim Caviezel (uncredited)
Olivier Vitrant	....	stunts (uncredited)
Philippe Zone	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Fionn Comerford	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Tadhg Conway	....	key video assist operator
Richard Copeman	....	assistant camera
Michael Costelloe	....	camera focus puller: "b" camera (as Mike Costelloe)
Robert Cuddy	....	electrician
Stephen Doyle	....	rigging gaffer: Malta
Sarah Francis	....	assistant camera
Malcolm Huse	....	key grip
Ciaran Kavanagh	....	assistant camera
Davie Mayes	....	generator operator
James McGuire	....	gaffer
Jack McPhee	....	electrician
Terry Mulligan	....	rigging gaffer: studio
Philip Murphy	....	best boy grip
Bill O'Drobinak	....	camera operator (as William O'Drobinak)
John-Martin O'Flaherty	....	best boy
Eoin O'Hagan	....	rigging gaffer: Ireland
Andrew O'Reilly	....	trainee camera
Kevin Scott	....	best boy
Keith Sewell	....	Steadicam operator
Keith Sewell	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Gary Smith	....	grip
Andrew Smyth	....	clapper loader: "a" camera
Arthur Wooster	....	director of photography: second unit
Arthur Wooster	....	underwater camera operator
Graeme Haughton	....	electrician (uncredited)
Anthony Meade	....	additional clapper loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Laura Dickens	....	casting associate
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting
Priscilla John	....	casting: UK
Marcia Ross	....	casting: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lee Clayton	....	tailor
Philippa O'Brien	....	costume assistant
Sue Wain	....	costume supervisor
Alex Carey	....	costume breakdown artist (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tania Blunden	....	post-production (as Tania Windsor Blunden)
Joe Finley	....	digital colorist
Andrew Haigh	....	assistant editor
Sinéad McGoldrick	....	assistant film editor
Michele Mehaffey	....	post-production assistant
Karoline Moser	....	assistant editor: avid
Angela Torrez Parker	....	post-production
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Bob Raring)
Sean Thompson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
John Bell	....	orchestrator
Christopher Brooks	....	music editor
Andy Brown	....	music contractor
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Chris Douridas	....	music supervisor
Robert Elhai	....	orchestrator (as Robert Elhi)
Vic Fraser	....	music preparation
Joel Iwataki	....	music recording engineer
Daryl B. Kell	....	music editor (as Daryl Kell)
The London Metropolitan Orchestra	....	music performed by
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music mixer (as Stephen P. McLaughlin)
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music recordist (as Stephen P. McLaughlin)
Brad Warnaar	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Brendan King	....	unit driver
Eamonn Murphy	....	transportation coordinator: Ireland/Malta
Michael Phelan	....	driver: Jim Caviezel, Ireland/Malta

Other crew
Adrian Borg Ghigo	....	production runner: Malta
Jean Bourne	....	script supervisor
Kate Bowe	....	unit publicist
Kim Buttlar	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Barber
Brenda Camilleri	....	body double (as Mercedes)
Jessica Chavez	....	assistant: Mr. Glickman
Mel Churcher	....	dialogue coach
Gillian Cody	....	first assistant accountant
Maria Collins	....	production coordinator
Kieran Cuddihy	....	location assistant
Steve Cummings	....	armorer
R.H. Davies	....	marine coordinator (as Robin Davies)
Tony Doyle	....	horse master
Edward Drew	....	animal handler: small animals
Erin Egan	....	accounts assistant
Ilan Eshkeri	....	production assistant
Michael Farrugia	....	helicopter pilot: Malta (as Lt. Michael Farrugia)
Nial Fulton	....	location scout
Ingrid Goodwin	....	location coordinator
Jennifer Griffin	....	assistant accountant
Tara Hegarty	....	assistant: Chris Brigham
Manus Hingerty	....	location manager
William Hobbs	....	fight arranger (as Bill Hobbs)
Eoin Holohan	....	location assistant: Malta
Gregory James	....	assistant: Jim Caviezel, Ireland (as Jeff Nowinski)
Eva Juel	....	personal assistant to actor
Ivan Kennedy	....	assistant wrangler
John Kirby	....	acting coach: Mr. Caviezel
Lilene Mansell	....	dialect coach
Niall Martin	....	assistant location manager
Dorothy McDonnell	....	production assistant
Stephen McGillen	....	post-production accounts
David Murphy	....	production accountant
Elaine Nicell	....	assistant production coordinator
John Nixon	....	armorer
Patrick O'Neill	....	production assistant
Tricia Perrott	....	production coordinator: Malta
David Redhead	....	marine coordinator: second unit
Luigi Riitano	....	location accountant
Simon Sansone	....	production assistant
Laurel Seaborn	....	ship crew
Gemma Sirol	....	marine assistant: Malta
Kathleen Switzer	....	assistant: Kevin Reynolds (as Kathleen A. Switzer)
Marlena Thomas	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Birnbaum
Cassidy Watkins	....	assistant: Jim Caviezel
Wade Whitman	....	location assistant
Tim Ballou	....	script clearance manager (uncredited)
J.B. Benna	....	intern (uncredited)
Richard Bonehill	....	fencing coach (uncredited)
Andrew Debono	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond representative (uncredited)
Warren Haughey	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Anna Nugent	....	dance teacher (uncredited)

Thanks
Leo Busuttil	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)
• Spyglass Entertainment
• World 2000 Entertainment
• Epsilon Motion Pictures
• Count of Monte Cristo Ltd.

Distributors

• Buena Vista International Italia (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Spain (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2002) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (2002) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (Mexico) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Buena Vista Home Video (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2002) (Switzerland) (DVD) (as Medaria Home Entertainment)
• SBS6 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Mill Films (I) (visual effects)
• Visual Effects Company, The (as The Mill) (motion control)

Other Companies

• A&M Hire  prop hire
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  score recorded at (as Air Lyndhurst, London)
• Ardmore Studios  sound transfer
• Arredamenti Cineteatrali G.R.P.  prop hire
• Cine 800  prop hire
• Cine Electric Ltd.  lighting equipment
• Cine Image Film Opticals  end crawl (as Cine Image)
• Cine Image Film Opticals  opticals (as Cine Image)
• Cosprop  costumes made and supplied by
• Costumi d'Arte  costumes made and supplied by
• Ditta Rancati  costumes made and supplied by (as Rancati)
• Ditta Rancati  prop hire (as Rancati)
• Farani  costumes made and supplied by (as Farani Sartoria Teatrale)
• Farley Hire  prop hire
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  Akai DD8 dubbers supplied by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  Apogee converters supplied by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  Avid AudioVision systems supplied by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Global Music Service  music copyist
• Historic Interiors  prop hire
• Juniper Post  sound re-recording
• Keeleu Hire  prop hire
• L.C.P. di Pompei  costumes made and supplied by (as Pompei)
• London Metropolitan Orchestra, The  orchestra
• Panavision Ireland  camera equipment
• Panavision UK  camera equipment
• Picture Mill, The  main titles (as Picture Mill)
• RCA Victor  soundtrack published by
• Shadow Creations  special props
• Shepperton Film Studios  re-recorded at
• Square Sail Shipyard Ltd.  ship supplier
• Technicolor  prints
• Tirelli Costumi  costumes made and supplied by
• Tony Smart  horses and carriages
• Twickenham Film Studios  cutting rooms
• Victoria & Richard Professional Stunts  horses and carriages
• Wigs Specialties  wigs

Also Known As:

Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for adventure violence/swordplay and some sensuality.

Runtime:

131 min | Spain:134 min

Country:

UK | USA | Ireland

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #38851) | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Australia:G (TV rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG (cut) | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Ardmore Studios - Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

The red paisley waistcoat Luis Guzmán (Jacopo) wears in the final scene is the same costume Chris Gorell Barnes wears in "The Regency House Party" (2004), Dan Stevens (Edward Ferrars) wears for Edward's arrival at Norland in "Sense & Sensibility" (2008), and JJ Feild (Fred Garland) wears in The Shadow in the North (2007) (TV).

Goofs:

Plot holes: In the graphic when Edmond comes back to Marseilles, it says "Three Months later", yet later in the movie Edmond indicates he's been in the Chateau d'If for 13 years and "everywhere else" for a total of 16 years (Albert's age). This would indicate that he was "smuggling" for 3 years therefore the graphic should have said "Three years later". (It may have been copied from a later graphic at the end of the movie that says "3 Months Later").

Quotes:

Dorleac: Now you're thinking, just now "Why me, O God?". The answer is, God has nothing to do with it. In fact, God is never in France this time of year.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Oldboy (2003)

I love this film!!

It's kind of strange, my wife and I just recently rented Rob Roy. I remember hearing that it was quite good when it was released in the 90's. And although I can't say it was a bad film, I can't really say it was all that satisfying. It had it's moments but it is not one that will linger with any real distinction in my mind. Usually films in that time frame intrigue me and it was a little disappointing to see such an average film with a pretty good cast. On the other end of the rainbow, you have this film. Now even though this is not exactly the same time frame, it is that "type of film". You know, old England, old France, old whatever. It is pre-1900's. I put all kinds of films into this category. Anything from Braveheart to Man In The Iron Mask to Quills all falls neatly into this type of category. Just like you would say anything from Nosferatu to Nightmare On Elm Street is horror, anything pre-1900 is in this "type of film" category.

The Count of Monte Cristo is in one word, AMAZING. There are two reasons I wanted to see this film. One is the trailer had me completely intrigued and the second is because I really enjoyed the book and the film version of "Sleepers". That was the Robert Deniro, Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman and Barry Levinson film where several youths are sent to a boys prison for an innocent enough mistake that cost someone their life. In the film the boys are tormented by Kevin Bacon and his entourage of prison guards and one of the things that keeps them going is the book, The Count of Monte Cristo. When one of the boys is first given the book, he looks at the authors name and says, " by Alexander Dumb Ass?" and his friend replies, "that's Doomaa, read it, it's about a guy that escapes from prison and takes revenge on the ones that hurt him." That is not the line verbatim, but you get the point. Ever since seeing this film I have wanted to read the book. Never getting the opportunity to do so, when the film was advertised, I was, needless to say, excited.

The Count of Monte Cristo is the ultimate tale of revenge. It is a story that has stood the test of time because it is probably everyone's fantasy to right the unjust wrongs that have been comitted against them. And oh what fun it is to imagine yourself finding a buried treasure and then making yourself a king or a count? To have everything usurped from you only to take it all back twenty fold is not only intriguing, it is absolutely diabolical and gives you a sense of power. Perhaps that is why the story transcends generations and time frames. Because it is a story and a concept that we can all relate to, perhaps not out of experience but because we have all dreamed about it. A simple man makes a decent living, is thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit and then escapes and finds some hidden treasure and becomes the richest man in the world and extracts revenge. How can that not sound intriguing?

This present version of Monte Cristo is masterfully made. Kevin Reynolds, of Waterworld and Robin Hood fame, was given the director's chair and he doesn't disappoint. There is enough action in here for all of us looking the for next great swashbuckling adventure and there is also a trace of romance and even some humour.

Jim Caviezel plays Edmund Dantes and Guy Pearce plays Fernand Mondego. Together, these two shine. I wasn't a big fan of Caviezel's work thus far. I thought he was alright in Thin Red Line and Angel Eyes but his work in Pay It Forward as the homeless junkie really turned me off of him. In Frequency he was quite good but that was the only film I could really recommend him in. But I think that has all changed now that he has made this film. He is perfect as the average peasant that works to achieve his goals and eventually as the man who has learned from the fountain of knowledge and takes his revenge. Guy Peace, on the other hand is not even recognizable in his role as the insanely jealous best friend. When you look at his last film, Memento and then see him here, you won't even realize this is the same actor. He comes across as a jealous, scheming, whining son of a wealthy man that has been given everything to him on a silver platter. One of the best lines in the film describing his acerbic disposition in life is when Mercedes ( the love interest in the film ) tells Fernando that when he was a little boy, he was upset when he got a pony and Edmund got a whistle because that whistle made Edmund happier that when Fernando had his pony. He is perpetually unhappy and I'm not really sure what could give him any sort of concord. He reminds me a little of the Tombstone character Johnny Ringo. Doc Holliday once described him a man who wanted revenge for being born. Perhaps Ringo and Fernand are distant cousins.

A sure sign that you are enjoying a film is when you laugh at what is not even funny. You are enjoying yourself to the point that you are anticipating with such joy at what is about to happen. You know that sometime in the film Edmund is going to escape the prison that he is in and that he is going to find Richard Harris' treasure and extract revenge on the monsters that put him in prison. But all the while you can't keep that goofy grin on your face. There wasn't one moment in this film when I wasn't having a great time. And that is not easy to do. I think at times it is simple to become a cynic when you see as many movies as we all do. I perhaps see a little more than the next person, so when so many films begin to tread down that familiar path that it usually does, the perpetual groans become standard occurences. But this film kept me laughing, entertained and anxious to see the outcome. I love this film. This is on par with some of the greats like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire Strikes Back, Predator, Lethal Weapon and a few others that never stops the action. There is nothing to dislike about it and there is every reason to recommend it.

2001 was one of the weaker years that I can recall for the film industry. There were very few pictures that I really honestly enjoyed. There were so many films that will take the infamous ephemeral dive. Five years from now, ask anyone what the best picture of 2001 was and not many people will recall with reverance what films came out in 2001. But here we are in the second month of 2002 and I have already seen two films that blew me away. Mothman Prophecies and The Count of Monte Cristo are two films that I am proud to recommend to many of my friends. I am sure I have made Mothman an extra couple thousand dollars because of my recommending it. I hope I can do the same for The Count. These are two films that people should not miss. But seeing as this is a review for The Count, let's just end it by saying, I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!

9.5 out of 10 Just see this movie.