Tristan and Isolde (2006)

 "Every look he gives you, I get sicker and sicker. "
Isolde-If things were different, if we lived in a world without duty, would you be with me?
Tristan-That world does not exist.
Isolde-I'll pretend it's you...
This movie had be captured from the very beginning. I do not at all agree with reviews I have read about it not being a good love story and it making you roll your eyes. It was very good, good actors, good story. I would actually prefer this over a number of love stories, it's in my top 3 of them. And I have also read that it's not believable that they fell in love in just a few days, but what about Romeo and Juliet?..that was basically love at first sight. I am one of the most romantic saps you will ever meet and I am very judgemental about love stories. To me, along with Pride and Prejudice and Romeo and Juliet, this is one of the best love stories ever told. April 4, 2008

 5 stars for bucking the trend
There was no way on God's green earth this film was going to be a great comercial success - not in the UK, and sure as Hell not in the USA. But don't let that put you off. It's quite beautifully filmed, very easy on the eye, and the script, which can get a little embarrassing with these films, is not bad at all.

Rufus Sewell is good as the sensitive and forgiving warlord, Marke - he should get more roles like this. James Franco is a little underplayed (though still watchable) as Marke's trusted ward, Tristan, and Sophia Myles makes a good, believable Irish princess, Isolde. If I've a criticism, it would be that Bronagh Gallagher, as the faithful Bragnae, could have had a larger part. The Arthurian theme is obvious, though the heartache and infidelity is played out without cynicism. The purists may complain that the essence, et al, is not true - but it never stopped Mel Gibson, did it?

What I really like about this film - and what I believe ensured it would never make the big leagues - was that it was brave (or naive) enough to buck a certain solid gold maxim - Irish/rest of the world = good/opressed - English/British = bad/opressors. It should get five stars for that alone. I enjoyed it.

Yours

Baby Cromwell





March 19, 2008

 Tristan and Isolde
This movie purports to have "epic battles, political intrigue and forbidden passion." That sounds like something for everyone, right? Not quite. The epic battles are two dozen men cutting each other to pieces, the political intrigue is a room full men who all want to be king, and the forbidden passion is two people who can't control their hormones despite the many lives that depend on it.

Right away I was confused by the set-up. Tristan is "killed" in a battle. (I know there wasn't a doctor, but if Isolde knew he was still alive at a slight touch, how did everyone else miss it?) After the battle, the losers are sent back to Ireland and Tristan is floated out to sea on a funeral boat. Somehow, the floating boat makes it to shore first and Isolde nurses him back to health before the Irish return. This is when we are supposed to believe they have fallen in love. This appears to be no more than two or three days. Tristan has been fighting for the unification of these tribes his entire life and a pretty girl makes him think of nothing else. I am very romantic. I love a good love story as much as anyone. This was not a good love story. You will be rolling your eyes one minute and shielding them from gore the next.
March 9, 2008

 Surprisingly refreshing and entertaining...
I remember when `Tristan + Isolde' was released in the theaters. My wife was begging me to take her but all I could see was `James Franco' and that to me was enough warning to stay far away. The other day though, against my will, my wife rented this film and forced me to watch it with her. I was blown away with how much I actually enjoyed this movie. It has just about everything you need in a movie of this nature. It has romance, sensuality, warfare, action and plenty of drama. What I didn't expect but received in spades was gorgeous imagery, from the cinematography to the authentic garments `Tristan + Isolde is, above all else, a feast for the eyes.

The film follows turmoil between Britain and Ireland. Ireland's king Donnchadh is relentless in his devastation of Britain, so much so that the English lords and barons are attempting to form an alliance in order to rise up against Donnchadh. In the films opening sequence though, the Irish invade the Castle Tantallion and slaughter all but a few English. This act leaves a young Tristan an orphan and Lord Marke a widower. Marke takes Tristan under his wing and grooms him to be a great warrior for Britain. In a harrowing battle sequence all seems lost when Tristan is presumed dead and sent out to sea, receiving a service worthy of a King. Tristan is not dead though and winds up washing onto the Irish shore to be found by Donnchadh's beautiful daughter Isolde. Isolde keeps her find a secret from her father and nurses Tristan back to health. She also happens to keep her identity a secret from Tristan, an act that proves to be disastrous, especially when love begins to blossom.

Tristan returns home to his people and quickly offers his services in a tournament being held by Donnchadh where the barons of Britain will battle one another for the King's daughters hand in marriage. The winner will not only marry the beautiful Isolde but he will also secure a truce between Britain and Ireland (a truce that proves to be more like a ruse). Because of all that Marke has done for Tristan in the past he offers to win Marke a wife, unaware that the wife he will be winning is the one his heart truly desires.

The film then follows the torrid affair between Tristan and Isolde, a love affair that brings a nation to its knees. To avoid telling you the WHOLE story I'm going to stop here and let you find out the rest on your own.

The tail of Tristan and Isolde, based off of the 19th century opera written by Richard Wagner, has been told and retold and has cemented itself in pop culture. Sure, the names Tristan and Isolde may not be familiar to us, but the names Romeo and Juliet are, as are Guinevere and Lancelot. It's obvious that many of the `tragic' or `forbidden' love stories that populate theaters today are spawn of this particular love story.

As far as the acting is concerned, there are a few standouts and a few disappointments. The first standout is the beautiful Sophia Myles (who looks remarkably like a young Kate Winslet to me). Sophia is not a standout in looks alone though for her performance as the lovelorn Isolde is one of the most heartfelt and convincing in the film. Second to her would be Rufus Sewell who plays Lord Marke. He shows a remarkable amount of sincerity and passion, emotions I had not seen in him in his previous performances. My one disappointment was James Franco, and I don't know if I can honestly call it a disappointment since I knew I wasn't going to be fond of his performance. He doesn't have much emotional range and so he comes off stiff and unbelievable as a lover. His action scenes were savage and well done, but when it came to delivering real emotion he failed in my eyes. I wish they had found a young actor who could have handled that side of Tristan, for we know they are out there. I found myself wishing that someone like Ryan Gosling had taken the role.

That small complaint aside I truly feel that `Tristan + Isolde' is a solid film that delivers magnificently, especially when you walk in expecting nothing. I was astounded at the quality of the film making as well. Nothing looks cheap, as it very well could have. Let's be frank here, no one expected `Tristan + Isolde' to reach any demographic higher than teens so no one was expecting this to take any Oscar type awards. When that is the case often times the budget is low and thus the sets and the costumes and the pure quality of the film is low but in this case the sets are spectacular, the costumes are radiant and the quality of the film is beautiful; truly top notch. So, with that said, I highly recommend this to anyone who loves this type of film. Any fan of period epics with action, romance and drama will surely find much to enjoy within `Tristan + Isolde'. March 7, 2008

 A good movie
I have to admit I loved this movie. A love story yes but also a movie filled with action. James Franco is great as the heart stricken Tristan. He is able to do something that not many actors today can do. He acts well with his eyes. I'll explain. You feel his pain without him saying much. Robert Deniro comes to mind (Sleepers)as an example. You really feel a chemistry between Tristan and Isolde because of their acting skills. Will James Franco ever be as big as say Leo Decaprio or Matt Damon? Probably not but this is his moment to shine. Enjoy. January 26, 2008

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