Restraint and a regard for authenticity are not qualities that you'd normally attribute to Kevin Reynolds, the director of larger-than-life Hollywood offerings Waterworld and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. However, his stylistic excesses are mostly absent here, to the benefit of this old-fashioned, handsomely mounted version of the enduring Alexandre Dumas adventure. Jim Caviezel plays sailor Edmond Dantès, who, through his own youthful naivety and the devious scheming of his best friend Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce), is thrown into a desolate island prison. But after 13 years of incarceration, he escapes, adopts a dashing new identity and proceeds to exact his revenge. Caviezel is both credible and sympathetic, while Pearce's sneering rogue avoids falling into caricature. Regrettably, after the engrossing prison section - featuring an excellent Richard Harris as the young captive's elderly mentor - Edmond's vengeful machinations become rather unfocused and lack dramatic fire. However, despite this, the film still maintains audience interest to the end, thanks to fine central performances and some classy production values.

Edmond Dantés's life and plans to marry the beautiful Mercedes are shattered when his best friend, Fernand, deceives him. After spending 13 miserable years in prison, Dantés escapes with the help of a fellow inmate and plots his revenge, cleverly insinuating himself into the French nobility.