Tristan & Isolde (2006)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Good movie but grossly overrated

A Disappointing Continuation

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

This film explores the best form of love expressed in rescue, loyalty, selflessness, and sacrifice. No surprise Director Kevin Reynolds was drawn to this as he was with Robin Hood and The Count of Monte Cristo. Leading this endeavor is James Franco (Tristan) who is magnificently restrained as he must bear conflicting loyalties and passion that stretch his inner soul like a medieval torture chamber. Likewise, Sophia Myles (Insolde), in a bizarre twist of fate, must navigate an unexpected and unbearable choice of love and loyalty. Without sounding schmaltzy, this really is sacrificial love at its finest presented by a cast a characters and a story line that is magnificently convincing.

James Franco and Sophia Myles played the title characters of Tristan and Isolde. They both do a believable acting job in their doomed romance. James Franco plays a soldier who is wounded and left to die in Ireland. Isolde helps him to recover and return home. When Isolde is married off to Tristan's king, she has no choice but to accept. Still they cannot stop loving each other. The film depicts the mood and feel of the Dark Ages setting. The film depicts life in the dark ages as it was without apology. Death by illness or war is quite common and a part of life. The supporting cast has strong well known stage actors like Mark Strong. Rufus Sewell is perfect as the king whose wife is in love with his lieutenant Tristan. Sewell does a perfect job in playing him.

It was valiant effort to make this movie to acquaint modern audiences with this legendary tale behind the famous opera. Like another famous medieval legend, King Arthur, it's got a frustrating but passionate story or forbidden love. This time it's between an Irish princess and a warrior from England. Yes, they've been fighting since way back then.The main fault is in the casting and acting of the leads. Sophia Myles isn't pretty enough to be the lead. Although not unattractive she is more supporting cast than romantic heroine. She is probably one of the reasons this movie wasn't a big hit. James Franco looks dashing but rather sullen and inexpressive. He doesn't bother to fake an accent much which is good because it might have been a disaster. Supporting cast are better with good performances from Rufus Sewell, Mark Strong and the now rising star Henry Cavill.The battle scenes are confusing with everyone looking alike. Not too violent luckily. Overall worth a watch to see the story brought to life.

Tristan & Isolde is a romantic drama film based on the medieval romantic legend of Tristan and Isolde. It stars James Franco and Sophia Myles in the title role together with Rufus Sewell. The movie was produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, and directed by Kevin Reynolds.After the collapse of the Roman Empire, King Donnchadh of Ireland has become the de facto ruler of England, but one of his underlings, Lord Marke, dreams of uniting British forces with an eye toward self-rule. One of Marke's most valuable allies is Tristan,his protégé, who has become a brave warrior since he was rescued by the lord after his parents were murdered by Irish forces during a battle. While Marke and Tristan dream of banishing Ireland's presence in England, Tristan has a secret he's been hiding from Marke after suffering serious wounds during a hard-fought battle, he was rescued and nursed back to health by Isolde ,King Donnchadh's daughter,and the two fell deeply in love. But the couple were separated after Tristan returned to England, and when Donnchadh attempts to quell the British uprising by staging a tournament among the nation's greatest warriors, an extreme and rather personal surprise is in store for Tristan.The movie was boring.No question about it.Despite of the great visual style and a haunting original music score composed by Anne Dudley,the movie does not achieve the romanticism that it aims for.Also,Franco and Myles does not elevate the drama to a compelling and powerful movie.They manage to make Tristan and Isolde's love story a standard romance found in most dramatic films.But nevertheless,it manages to entertain inspite of the fact that its goal is to be more than just a guilty pleasure film. In other words,it has less to offer especially for movies that features romantic piece periods.