Rating: 
Summary: Buckle your swashes....
Review: The movie began at 7:30 PM. When the credits began to roll I was suprised to find that it was 2 hours and 20 minutes later. While I had never read the novel by Dumas nor seen an earlier version, I was pleased with this adaptation. James Caviezel played the part of the count so well. In the beginning his innocence could so plainly be read on his face. He was able to express the honesty and purety of spirit of Edmond so well that after his escape from prison, even after he was clean shaven, it was almost as if it were another actor playing the revenge driven count. Guy Pearce, as the nemesis of Edmond, was so morally bankrupt and without any redeeming feature that you delight in his ultimate downfall. At no point did the film lag in the process of telling the story. Each setback that Edmond/the count experienced is further used to fuel his anger and thirst for revenge. In my mind this is the only thing that stops this from being a truly great movie. There was no true pathos and as a viewer you do not get a full range of human emotion. This movie and story is all about revenge and this desire drives him until the end of the movie. The cinematography, costume and orchestration only add to the story and at no point distract from it. I would send my friend to see it.
Rating:
Summary: Started slow....then took off!!
Review: I have to admit that I was really hoping that this movie would be great based on the trailers. After the first 10 minutes, I was very much on the fence. Some of the scenes they used to set up the plot were unconvincing. But then, both the script and the action sequences really took off, and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen! It was a very clever script, and while I found it interesting that the "French" characters all had British accents (standard Hollywood, I guess), you don't have time to focus on those sorts of details. I did not give it 5 stars because I was disappointed in the way the plot was set up. I just didn't buy the fact that one friend would betray another over a petty little incident (you have to see the movie to know what it was!). Outside of that, a great flick!
Rating: 
Summary: Ultimate Vengance
Review: The frst time I read the book I was shokingly impressed . When I heard they were going to make a movie I was really pumped . I wasn't sure the movie would do justice to the book but it was even better played out then on paper.
Rating:
Summary: BREATHTAKING...THEY JUST DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THIS ANYMORE
Review: Like the previous reviewer, I too was fortunate enough to catch this last Tuesday at a sneak preview in NY. This was simply magnificent in every possible way. The acting, script, cinematography were stunning. I just want to say something: Todays moviegoers want mass market drivel. This is art. But at the same time it's an exciting, action-packed, plot AND character driven story during which any viewer with a heart and a soul will be on the edge of his or her seat. JIM CAVAZIEL, if there is justice in this world, will become a HUGE A-list leading man as a result of his BRILLIANT performance. No other actor out there could have played the Count in this movie; he was made for this, his role of a lifetime, and he deserves an OSCAR FOR IT. Guy Pearce, so sexy and sympathetic in his previous roles, is so believable as a villain in this movie, that one walks out of the theatre despising his fictional self - sorry Guy this just means that you are a GREAT ACTOR - and big things are waiting for him as well - all actors in this movie are extremely talented and are irreplaceable.
PLEASE GO SEE THIS MOVIE, ONE AND ALL - ITS OSCAR CALIBER,CLASSIC STUFF**DO NOT BE DISCONCERTED BY THE FACT THAT YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THE STORY - IT'S A NEW, MODERN, ORIGINAL TWIST - IT'S EVEN GOT SOME COMEDY - A MUST - SEE!!!!!AND I'VE SEEN EM ALL........I WILL PAY TO SEE IT AGAIN. AS ABOVE, AN AUDIENCE FULL OF MANY JADED PROFESSIONAL MOVIE CRITICS GAVE IT A STANDING OVATION AT CLOSING CREDITS...
Rating:
Summary: The Count reigns down revenge
Review: Not since Mask Of Zorro have we had an old fashioned revenge movie that played on classic cinema rather than tendency of movies today to be loud and bloody. I was fortunate to see this movie with a sneak preview audience. James Caviezel is fantastic in the role of the Count. He is very believeable as a simple, humble man in the beginning and then the torn, angry, revenge seeking Count later on. The movie has many similar elements to the aforementioned Mask Of Zorro, but has enough of its own identity for you to note the similarities, but not be distracted by them. The beautiful actress Dagmara Domincyzk plays the love interest. There are many closeups of her face and she is stunningly beautiful and convincing. Guy Pearce is a more than able bad guy, successfully creating a character that you come to despise thoroughly by the end. The audience that I viewed this with absolutely loved it. There are sprinkles of light comedic lines throughout the film and the audience was delighted with them all. The scenes where the Count is exacting his revenge registered the loudest response from the audience, as many were very vocal in their approval of the revenge being dished out. It had been a while since I viewed a movie where the audience broke into a loud ovation at the end. This one received such an ovation and I concur.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat entertaining, but...
Review: My objection to this movie was not that it had utterly nothing in common with Dumas' novel but for its name and that of its main character. As I'm sure anyone who's ever heard of this movie knows...Hollywood has once agian taken liberties and distorted a classic story into something else. I've gotten used to that by now. In any case, I still did not like the movie. After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that James Caviezal is really not a particularly good actor. He plays every role the same...with a sort of bewildered determination that gets very old...after about thirty seconds. There are some difficult lines in that movie, and James Caviezal makes them sound forced. Not good for a movie that has already been forced enough. Caviezal is certainly something to look at, so for a while his bad acting slips past one's guard, but in the end, nothing can hide badly delivered lines. It's a pity really, because had that role been better casted it would have greatly improved the movie. The secondary characters were wonderful. Guy Peirce, as always, did a spectacularly oily job as Ferdenand, the chief villain and Mercedes' son looked so much like James Caviezal that it made her revelation to her husband at the end of the movie a touch redundant. Richard Harris was wonderful as the priest and Michal Wincott had a humoursly sadistic little part as the prison warden. Too bad Caviezal couldn't hold up to the rest of the cast. Oh yes, and one other thing...if you're going to chande every thing but the names of the characters...the least you could to is pronounce the names right. It's FRENCH people!! The name Dantes is pronounced Dante!! Please...I was wincing every time they said his name. If they insist on butchering the book...can they not at least get the names rightf? On the upside, it was beautifully filmed and the costumes were lovelly. As I have said, the supporting cast was excellant (although Mercedes looked a bit to much like Dantes for my taste)and it was because of them that I enjoyed the movie. It is traditional cookie-cutter Hollywood with very bad bad-guys and very good good-guys, revenge, love...oh yeah and they had to toss in a bit of religion, annoying, but not overbearing...if you want to be entertained, the movie will do so...if you want a good movie...look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Well Crafted
Review: Well crafted story telling and fine performances make this an enjoyable film adaptation of a classic work. An outstanding production and well worth a viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Good Adaption of a Classic Story
Review: I read Dumas' book, though an abridged version, and really enjoyed the pace of his story. So when I had to stay over at my uncle's house for the weekend, I got a chance to view this movie adaption from his movie library. After first choosing a Guy Pearce movie called "Memento", which had something to do with memory loss, I turned that movie off after 20 minutes, when I got too confused with it. To my surprise, Pearce is also in the The Count of Monte Cristo. I first saw Pearce in the superb L.A Confidential. Pearce is an impressive actor, even after the "what's the plot" story of Memento. Pearce plays the chief villain in the movie, Fernand, jealous of Edmond Dantes played by Jim Caviezel. Dumas' classic story of wealth and revenge is unforgettable. Caviezel is very good as Edmond Dantes, the wrongly accused scapegoat of the Assistant Prosecutor, Villefort. The scene in which he is imprisoned and whipped with full beard, long hair made me wonder if Mel Gibson chose Caviezel to play Christ after viewing this scene. It reminded me of the crucifix scene of Gibson's "Passion" film. Dantes (Caviezel) is aided by an imprisoned priest played by an unrecognizable Richard Harris. The priest helps Dantes by helping him learn to read and improve his dexterity in dueling. The priest's death however helps Dantes the most, for Dantes uses the body bag meant for the priest to make his escape and find the treasure that will make him the Count of Monte Cristo. Once he becomes the Count, he exacts revenge (the fun part of the movie) on those who wronged him. I suggest reading the book first, because you'll be imagining the actions taking place as you read Dumas' words. For the most part the movie stays the course of Dumas' plot, with some additional scenes and dialogue for drama's sake. This costume piece is also helped by nice scenery and good acting all around. Don't know how well it did at the box office, because most moviegoers stay away form literary adaptations, but it's well worth the rental, or buy it on VHS/DV like my uncle did.
Rating:
Summary: Swashbuckling, Romantic....
Review: "The Count of Monte Cristo" is a swashbuckling tale of love and betrayal, isolation and liberation, revenge and justice.
This captivating story pulls you back deep into the heart of Napoleonic France, where duels are an everyday occurrence and romance and intrigue abound. James Caviezel portrays young Edmund Dantes, a sailor who is betrayed by his best friend, Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce), a wealthy son of a count. Dantes is convicted of treason, even though he is innocent, and is thrown into a dank cell at France's worst prison, Chateau d'If. Left in solitary confinement for years, the only time he comes in contact with other humans is when the ward of Chateau d'If comes in to give Dantes a beating every year on the anniversary of his imprisonment. Isolated and despondent, Dantes slowly loses his faith in God. The hope of freedom from his unjust imprisonment is gone. He has no room left in his heart for anything but hate and despair. Meanwhile, Abbe Faria (Richard Harris), a priest and fellow inmate at Chateau d'If, is digging a tunnel in hopes of using it to escape. Fortunately for Dantes, Faria digs in the wrong direction, leading him right into Dantes' cell. In exchange for Dantes' help digging a new tunnel, Faria teaches Dantes how to read and write, economics and mathematics, fencing and knife-fighting and even more subjects and skills. Faria showed Dantes how to make his adversities work in his favor. Before Dantes' daring escape from Chateau d'If, Faria gives him a treasure map. Dantes enters the prison as an uneducated sailor, and escapes as a wise, educated and confident man. He locates the treasure on the island of Monte Cristo, and uses his newfound wealth to help him assume a new identity, the dashing Count of Monte Cristo. Dantes, using his new identity, is determined to wreak revenge on everyone who betrayed him. Throwing opulent parties for Parisian society, he awes them with his wealth and splendor, all the while setting traps for his enemies, especially the smarmy Mondego. This film combines everything needed for the perfect movie -- romance, adventure, intrigue and even a little comic relief sprinkled throughout the movie. However, fans of the book beware: As usual, with any movie, parts of the story have been changed, added to or deleted.
Rating:
Summary: Good but not great
Review: Because I read the Count of Monte Cristo in it's entirety three times in high school I was disappointed with the liberties the director has taken in this cinematic version of the film. It starts out fine but about 1/5th of the way into the movie it begins to depart dramatically from the book. I guess if you have never read the book the movie might be ok but I was so hoping to see the whole story of the Count of Monte Cristo told in all it's glory in the DVD. The story line is based loosely on the story as written by Alexandre Dumas but it departs in very significant ways from the book so much so that by the end it doesn't resemble the book at all.
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