The Count of Monte Cristo

This latest big screen adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic 19th century revenge fantasy has such a conspicuously clean Hollywood ending that you can almost see the impatient studio suit perched on the shoulder of director Kevin Reynolds. In fact, given its rewriting to make way for a) a cinematic and action-packed climax, b) a more sympathetic hero and c) comic relief shoehorned into the story, it comes as quite a surprise that The Count of Monte Cristo manages to rise above its literary re-jiggering, buoyed by an unabashed sense of good old-fashioned escapism. Handsomely lanky James Caviezel (Frequency, Angel Eyes) is great as the young sailor from Marseilles, framed for treason by his wealthy, politically connected best friend (played with cartoonish spite by Memento's Guy Pearce. He spends 13 years in prison before escaping, digging up a buried treasure, and reinventing himself as an aristocratic count in order to exact an extravagant retribution. Eloquent dialogue, sumptuous costumes and locations, an exciting score, and an Errol Flynn/Douglas Fairbanks ambiance help make this picture a highbrow guilty pleasure. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Kevin Reynolds; a 34-minute "An Epic Reborn" featurette that consists of four segments on topics such as background on original author Dumas, adapting the story, production design, and battle choreography; four deleted scenes featuring on-camera introduction by director Reynolds and film editor Stephen Semel; a three-minute "En Garde: Multi-Angle Dailies" segment on the final swordfight, and "Layer By Layer: Sound Design," where viewers can pick apart the "Edmond's Escape" scene and hear the separate dialogue, music or sound effects tracks. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a solid swashbuckler.] (R. Blackwelder)