In this highly entertaining, beautifully photographed rekindling of the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas, director Kevin Reynolds choreographs a fantastic adventure replete with breathtaking scenery, fiery swashbuckling battles, lavish costumes, and, above all else, sweet revenge. In 19th-century Marseille, Edmond Dantès (Jim Caviezel) is the optimistic but uneducated son of a sea captain. He cherishes his friendship with the son of a count, Mondego (Guy Pearce), and is deeply in love with his fiancée, Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). Young Dantès is so innocent and naive that it is positively shocking when Mondego turns on him, accusing him of treason, and having him sentenced to life in the dreary dungeon of Chateau D'If. Years of isolation and torture nearly defeat the revenge-thirsty Dantès, but with the help of invaluable lessons from the Abbé Faria (Richard Harris), his luck slowly changes. An incredible prison break starts Dantès on his way to a new life, and from there Reynolds' COUNT truly takes off. Battles with pirates lead to hunts for sunken ocean treasure, and soon Dantes is living in Marseille as the transformed, newly rich, self-proclaimed Count of Monte Cristo. Installed in a ritzy chateau, he slowly unfurls his excrutiatingly careful plans to exact his revenge on Mondego and all those who ever wronged him.

Theatrical release: January 25, 2002

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio:
THX Certified Audio
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary - 1. Kevin Reynolds - Director
Making-of - 1. THE NAPOLEONIC WORLD
Featurette - 1. THE CLASH OF STEEL
2. EN GARDE
3. SWORD CINEMATOGRAPHY: THE FINAL DUEL
Documentary - 1. THE PEN
2. ADAPTING A CLASSIC
Trailers
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Soud Design Player
Interactive Menus

Distributor Notes: The Count Of Monte Cristo

Jim Caviezel (HIGH CRIMES) and Guy Pearce (THE TIME MACHINE) give sizzling performances in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO -- the greatest tale of betrayal, adventure, and revenge the world has ever known. When the dashing and guileless Edmond Dantes (Caviezel) is betrayed by his best friend (Pearce) and wrongly imprisoned, he becomes consumed by thoughts of vengeance. After a miraculous escape, he transforms himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo, insinuates himself into the French nobility, and puts his cunning plan of revenge in action. This swashbuckling thriller will have you sitting on the edge of your seat until the last ounce of revenge is exacted.

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Jim Caviezel: Actor
Guy Pearce: Actor/"...Priscilla..."
Dagmara Dominczyk: Actor, COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2001)
James Frain: Actor
Luis Guzmán: Puerto Rican actor, BOOGIE NIGHTS
Richard Harris: Irish actor, THIS SPORTING LIFE/GLADIATOR
Helen McCrory: Actress - Anna Karenina
Michael Wincott: British Supporting Actor
Albie Woodington: Actor, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2001)

Kevin Reynolds: American Director/Screenwriter

Gary Barber: Executive Producer
Roger Birnbaum: Producer/Executive
Chris Brigham: executive producer
Jonathan Glickman: Producer

Jay Wolpert: Screenwriter, COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2001)

Edward Shearmur: 

"...The period details are meticulous....[The director] is well served by his hardworking cast....Hard to resist..."
"...Opulently produced and superbly acted....Caviezel embodies the transformation of his character completely..."
"...Handsomely mounted....[The] costumes and furnishings are scrupulously detailed and give off a sense of authenticity..."
"...Caviezel's quiet intensity and now trademark haunted eyes means it's him you'll be watching....Very enjoyable..."
"...A lavishly mounted and appealingly old-fashioned swashbuckler....The pic boasts a compelling human element to complement lively storytelling and sporadic action highlights..."
"...It's the kind of adventure picture the studios churned out in the Golden Age -- so traditional it almost feels new..."
"...Caviezel makes a good fall guy..."