The remake is a tricky genre of film. Some would say why do something that has already been done? Others might reply, if it worked once, why not make it again? In any case, Kevin Reynolds' adaptation of \The Count of Monte Cristo"" works.
The story is a classic tale of betrayal, revenge and redemption. The characters of Edmund Dantes and Fernand Mondego, played generically by Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce respectively, are introduced off the coast of Elba, the home of the exiled Napoleon. They are desperate to find help for their deathly ill captain. After a chase from British soldiers they meet Napoleon himself, who grants them safety and medical attention on one condition'Edmund must deliver a letter to a supposed old war buddy of Napoleon's. Eventually the captain dies and they leave Elba to return to their home, Marseilles.
In Marseilles the betrayal begins. Fernand, who is secretly in love with Edmund's fianc??e, tells the authorities of Edmund's dealings in a letter. Unknown to Edmund, the letter contains information concerning the escape of Napoleon. Due to a corrupt prosecutor and Fernand's conspiring, Edmund is sent to the hellish prison of Chateau d'If for treason. At d'If he spends the next four years enduring torture and loneliness, meeting a fellow prisoner, played brilliantly by Richard Harris. For the next 10 years, all the while surreptiously digging toward freedom, Edmund learns everything from sword fighting to economics from the resourceful priest. Eventually Edmund escapes, meets up with sympathetic pirates and follows his dreams of revenge and ultimate redemption.
Not surprisingly, Reynolds, who also directed ""Waterworld,"" makes ""Count"" predictable and corny at points. However, with carefully choreographed sword fights, a spectacular job by Harris as the wise priest in prison and even a small role played by the hilarious Juan Guzman, the owner of the disco in ""Boogie Nights,"" this movie aims to please the audience. Caviezel and Pearce, while not being extremely impressive, are able to carry off their respective roles. ""The Count of Monte Cristo"" is a nothing more than a fun movie, trying to entertain.
