Overall Rating: *****
Tristan & Isolde @ IMDB
Synopsis:
Rome has fallen and the tribes of England are stuggling to form a stable alliance against the brutal Irish King Donnchadh (David O’Hara). Tristan (Thomas Sangster/James Franco), the son of an English baron, finds himself as an orphan after a brutal attack from the Irish prevents the signing of treaty his father drafted. Taken in by the fair-minded Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell), Tristan grows in to a skillful and brave knight. When Tristan is injured in battle, he is taken for dead and is set adrift for a burial at sea. His boat washes up on the shores of Ireland where he is found by the beautiful Isolde (Sophia Myles), Princess of Ireland. As she conceals him from her father, she also nurses Tristan back to health. What follows is a tormented love affiar, which is only complicated when Isolde is married off to Lord Marke in a devious plot to destroy the fragile alliance newly formed among the English tribes.
Before Romeo & Juliet there was …… Tristan & Isolde.
Review:
Ok, I know what all you guys out there are saying: “This guy’s gone soft and started watching chick flicks!” Its true I have seen a few more chick flicks recently than I care to admit. But they’re not all that bad. This one was particularly good. I will admit that I watched this movie mainly because I really like the Gavin Degraw song on the soundtrack. Not exactly the best reason, but when you have a Blockbuster Movie pass, it really doesn’t matter why you want to watch a dvd.
I have to say that, for a movie I originally labeled “chick flick”, this movie had a decent amount of action and violence. There was even a smidgeon of gore (a severed head to be specific). Though the romance is a central component of the plot, there is much more to this story. I’ve never liked Romeo & Juliet. I just didn’t like the fact that these two kids, meet, fall in love, and die for each other in two days. Tristan & Isolde definitely doesn’t follow Shakespear’s idea of star-crossed lovers and also give the audience more plot, like the struggle to unite England and defeat the Irish. After watching it, I think Tristan & Isolde is more Drama/Action than it is “chick flick.”
The acting is pretty good. I liked Rufus Sewell as Marke (I felt bad for his character. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out why.) James Franco and Sophia Myles weren’t bad at all. My one complaint would be the occasional cheesey lines that pop in the movie’s love scenes. Some may think they’re romantic; I think they’re corny.
How many did you love before me?
None.
And after me?
None.
Anyway, I think this is definitely worth the rental. Purchasing it might be questionable. I thought it was a good movie but I wonder about replay value. Overall, definitely worth watching (if nothing else, you can see the Gavin Degraw music video on the dvd.)