Based on a novel that carries the same name by Alexandre Dumas, the movie follows the poor sailor Edmond Dantés whose friend betray him in an attempt to take his girl from him. Edmond managed to save himself and he is found by a group of sailors. He goes with them in an exciting adventure through which they have managed to find a very expensive treasure. Edmond becomes a rich man and he wants to take revenge.
All in all, it's a pretty good execution of a story that's a lot richer than the ones Hollywood action screenwriters usually come up with on their own.
A rousingly old-fashioned swashbuckler with an abundance of vigorous action and nary a trace of wink-wink irony.
Looking Closer
December 06, 2004
Where Gladiator failed to give an adequate sense of how its hero grew and what he learned during his trials. ... Monte Cristo, on the other hand, takes its time.
