"The Count of Monte Cristo"...Justice or Revenge???

It’s about that time of year when I have a “longing” to re-read one of my favorite books which is “The Count of Monte Cristo” by A. Dumas. Whenever I get into a discussion about this book with someone else who has read it, we can never seem to agree on Edmund Dantes’ motives in the story. I feel it is his hope for justice that he exacts his revenge on his enemies and many others feel it is purely for revenge, his own revenge. Let me put my argument to you and if you have read it and have an opinion, please feel free to comment.

A brief recap of the story:

Out of jealousy, Edmund Dantes is falsely accused and imprisoned by four men, for 14 years. He eventually escapes, finds a tremendous treasure that he learned about in prison from a friend who died there. He then comes back to France with a new identity, the Count of Monte Cristo. He begins to exact his “justice” to those who wrongly imprisoned him. BUT, and this is my argument, the justice he serves them is based upon crimes these same men did to other innocent people, not the crimes they did to Edmund Dantes. And for those reasons I don’t feel you could say he came back to get revenge.

Am I wrong?

Here are the 4 men in question:
Danglars
Fernand Mondego
Caderousse
Gerard de Villefort

James Cavieizel is the best looking Count ever!!!(2002 version)

The first three named are the men who, because of jealousy for different reasons, wrote a letter to the authorities that Edmund had committed treason and that he supported Napoleon Bonaparte. When he was arrested, de Villefort (a power hungry politician)knew he was innocent but had him locked up to keep his family name out of the scandal as his father WAS Bonapartist sympathizer.

Robert Donat was pretty good but the story was changed too much (1934 version)

Just writing about it gets me excited to read it again. It really is an amazing book, and I haven’t heard that argument that can make me change my mind about Edmund Dantes.
A couple of other gripes I have concerning this book. First, I say the ending is perfect and that he ends up with the right woman (I don’t want to say more as it could ruin it for those who haven’t read it yet).
Second gripe: of all the movie and television productions of this book, and there have been many, not one has followed the book exactly. I think it is amazing that with a classic novel that is PERFECT, screenwriters think they can do a better job of writing the story so they change it.

This was the worst adaptation ever! The only thing that hadn't been changed was the title! (1998-sub-titled)

My plea is to BBC.

PLEASE MAKE THIS BOOK INTO A MOVIE!! You are the only ones that will stick to the book and get it right!