The Count of Monte Cristo
The classic tale of swashbuckling adventure by the senior Alexandre Dumas comes to the screen in its umpteenth incarnation, this time from Kevin Reynolds, directing his first feature in five years. James Caviezel stars as Edmond Dantes, an honest sailor who plans to marry his beautiful lover Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). Edmond doesn't know that his best friend Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce) secretly desires Mercedes for himself and schemes with fallen aristocrat Villefort (James Frain) to frame Edmond for a crime he didn't commit. Sentenced to life on the remote island prison of D'If, Edmond becomes consumed by plans for revenge. Thirteen years pass and he meets a fellow innocent convict, Abbe Faria (Richard Harris), who becomes Edmond's mentor in swordfighting, finance, and escape, confiding that a vast treasure awaits a discoverer on the island of Monte Cristo. Eventually, Edmond is able to get away using Faria's tunnels and makes his way to Monte Cristo, where he retrieves the fortune and uses it to make himself over as the wealthy "Count of Monte Cristo." With the help of a loyal sidekick (Luis Guzman), Edmond insinuates himself into French royalty and sets about getting revenge on Villefort and Fernand, who is now married to Mercedes. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) also stars Michael Wincott and Albie Woodington. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
The Entrepreneurial Message:
Life in business is an absolute adventure. Love, fear, and risk can summarize the path any entrepreneur is going to take. Along the way, people will try to stop you. They are going to try to take what is yours. They will even hurt you in ways you never thought were possible. However, it is only in the darkest of times that a real entrepreneur is born. You must learn from those who are wiser, never stop increasing your skills and value, and always have faith that your opportunity to make things right is just around the corner. That chip on your shoulder may never subside. But, if you listen intently, prepare for the future, and focus on setting your life right, eventually it will all come to fruition.