Set in 18th century Marseilles, "The Count of Monte Cristo" is a tale of swashbuckling heroism and revenge. Based on Alexandre Dumas' novel of the same name, it's about the life of Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel). Dantes is the epitome of the handsome, innocent and morally good hero. Naturally, he has the undying love of the gorgeous Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). His perfect life infuriates his best friend from childhood, Fernand de Mondego (Guy Pearce). The wealthy Mondego is fiercely jealous of his working class friend and plots a series of betrayals. In an intricate situation involving the wily Napoleon and a corrupt prosecutor, Dantes is falsely charged with treachery and is carted off to the dismal prison Château d'If. He spends over a decade in his cell, until one day a fellow prisoner named Abbe Faria (Richard Harris) emerges from a tunnel he has been digging, thinking he has found freedom. With the help of Faria as his teacher, Dantes escapes the prison and finds a hidden fortune. Thus, he is able to reinvent his identity as the Count of Monte Cristo and wields the power to wreak havoc on those responsible for ruining his life.

Director Kevin Reynolds has redeemed his career (think "Waterworld") with this one. A combination of action and romance, the movie's strongest point lies in the believable character development. The three main characters, Dantes, Mondego and Mercedes, each have straightforward motives. Such simplicity makes the movie light fare. Reynolds was fortunate enough to direct a stellar cast, who somehow injected life into a passable screenplay.

Caviezel superbly portrays the wronged Dantes. Although the script doesn't provide profound speaking lines for his character, Caviezel's mastery of facial expressions reflects the emotional intensity of being betrayed. Dantes' obvious emotions make it easier to sympathize with his plight and pain.

Pearce is the quintessential villain whom everyone loves to hate. He is unsatisfied with the many blessings life has given him, such as wealth, looks and a promising future; he always covets more. He chronically wears a sour expression, arrogantly sniggering at everyone. His character, Mondego, visually disintegrates throughout the movie. By the end, Mondego physically shakes with anger, and his yellow teeth show a previously nonexistent unkemptness. Mondego's villainy is all the more apparent due to its stark contrast with Dantes' innocence.

Dominczyk's task of portraying Mercedes, the only female role of importance, is much easier than the two male roles. Mercedes is a one-dimensional character whose primary function is to sit and look pretty and, at times, act distressed. She has the same youthful air at the beginning of the movie as the end, although almost two decades have elapsed. Her motivation is to be with Dantes, the love of her life. When he is imprisoned, she tries to move on with her life. The movie doesn't spend enough time on how her love for Dantes resulted in his betrayal and imprisonment.

Despite some thrilling action scenes, "The Count of Monte Cristo" is far from suspenseful. It adheres closely to the plot in the book, with minor divergences. In the book, Mercedes cheats on Dantes, but in the movie she remains faithful. Also, the movie shifts the emphasis away from the humorous, choosing to emphasize the dramatic event of Dantes' life. The only source of comic relief is through Jacopo, an ex-pirate who becomes Dantes' right hand man after his escape from prison. Jacopo (Luis Guzman) offers witty comments in his Hispanic accent and seems somewhat misplaced in high French society.

This incongruity is refreshing to an otherwise serious film. "The Count of Monte Cristo" is a feel-good action movie with dazzling cinematography, all under two hours.