This story is adapted from the book of the same name by Alexandre Dumas (14 movies, 3 TV movies and 3 TV mini-series, including the excellent French mini-series screened on the ABC). So, I found myself constantly comparing this film with the mini-series, thinking it'd have to be good to match that.
While containing more detail of the circumstances leading up to Dant((egrave))s's unjust arrest and incarceration than the longer mini-series, the film moves along at a cracking pace. Swashbuckling more than the mini-series (which concentrates more on meting out cold revenge), it is colourful and well photographed, and all in all does not do too bad a job, entertaining us along the way. The final swordplay had no part in the mini-series, but is a logical closure to the story as told in this version. Our own Guy Pearce hams it up as the principal villain - minus the thin black moustache - and Caviezel does a workmanlike job of the wronged but ultimately triumphant hero Edmond Dant((egrave))s