A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

Date Viewed: 1/26/02

Details:

James Caviezel

Guy Pearce

Dagmara Dominczyk

James Frain

Richard Harris

Director: Kevin Reynolds

Score: +

The Review: A good entry in the genre, and a good rendition of this many-times filmed Dumas tale. Adventure, danger, intrigue, romance, treachery, despair, sword-fighting, pirates, hidden treasure, revenge -- it's all there -- prepare to buckle your swash! It seems each different version of this plot makes minor "artistic" improvements or revisions, and this one is no exception; but these are only of concern to a purist, and they do not detract from enjoying the moment. And many are these moments: this is the longest Count at over 2h15m.

Newcomer Caviezel does a fantastic job as Edmund Dantes, showing off a broad emotional range. His face is unfamiliar (although, I have it on good authority, quite handsome) even though he has been working up the roles recently from bit parts in The Rock, Thin Red Line and G.I. Jane to major roles in Frequency, Pay It Forward, and Angel Eyes (the latter all from my reviews-in-eclipse period, and, alas, unreviewed).

Filmed in Ireland and Malta, some stunning seascapes and cliffs that remind me of the pinnacles off the Dingle coast.

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