"None."
"And after me?"
"None."
Tristan & Isolde (2006) 125 min"And after me?"
"None."
When I saw the previews for this film I had my doubts...they said it was the precursor to Romeo & Juliet, thus it would be crap (since filmmakers don't seem to understand the play...or cast it well, but I digress), but I was wrong.
Tristan (Franco) is English. As a child he lost his father when the Irish raided their village, and he (like many of his friends) HATES the Irish. He was raised by Lord Marke (Sewell) an English ruler. Marke treated Tristan as his own son, causing a deep jealous with his nephew Merlot (Cavill), although the boys are best friends. Together they are trying to unite England and repel the Irish. After a battle with the Irish Tristan is believed dead (he was poisoned...and is still, barely, alive), and is placed in a boat to float to a watery grave. He is found by Isolde (Myles) the daughter of the Irish king. She nurses him back to healthy and, predictably, they fall in love.
After regaining his strength (and the Irish learn he is in the area) he returns to his friends although not forgetting Isolde (who he believes is a peasant girl). The Irish king holds a tournament offering his daughter's hand in marriage to the winner, and Tristan vows to win her for Lord Marke (a marriage that would unite the two countries and prevent a war).
The nice thing about this film is that it doesn't make the characters into cliches. Tristan and Isolde genuinely love each other, but cannot be together. They are not completely wrapped up in themselves and know that their love, if they continue to see each other, would mean the destruction of peace...and of Lord Marke. So they try to not love each other...which is easier said than done. Unknown to the lovers, they are battling a group of determined Irish (and a few bitter English lords), led by Isolde's father King Donnchadh (O'Hara), who want nothing more than to destroy Lord Marke. It's pretty intense and you will go through a range of emotions.
Rent it once: yes, it is a romance, but it isn't one of those cheesy craptastic romances...it has a little depth to it (and James Franco keeps your attention)
--: it's not perfect
Tristan (Franco) is English. As a child he lost his father when the Irish raided their village, and he (like many of his friends) HATES the Irish. He was raised by Lord Marke (Sewell) an English ruler. Marke treated Tristan as his own son, causing a deep jealous with his nephew Merlot (Cavill), although the boys are best friends. Together they are trying to unite England and repel the Irish. After a battle with the Irish Tristan is believed dead (he was poisoned...and is still, barely, alive), and is placed in a boat to float to a watery grave. He is found by Isolde (Myles) the daughter of the Irish king. She nurses him back to healthy and, predictably, they fall in love.
After regaining his strength (and the Irish learn he is in the area) he returns to his friends although not forgetting Isolde (who he believes is a peasant girl). The Irish king holds a tournament offering his daughter's hand in marriage to the winner, and Tristan vows to win her for Lord Marke (a marriage that would unite the two countries and prevent a war).
The nice thing about this film is that it doesn't make the characters into cliches. Tristan and Isolde genuinely love each other, but cannot be together. They are not completely wrapped up in themselves and know that their love, if they continue to see each other, would mean the destruction of peace...and of Lord Marke. So they try to not love each other...which is easier said than done. Unknown to the lovers, they are battling a group of determined Irish (and a few bitter English lords), led by Isolde's father King Donnchadh (O'Hara), who want nothing more than to destroy Lord Marke. It's pretty intense and you will go through a range of emotions.
Rent it once: yes, it is a romance, but it isn't one of those cheesy craptastic romances...it has a little depth to it (and James Franco keeps your attention)
--: it's not perfect
Rating: PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexuality.
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Starring: James Franco as Tristan
Sophia Myles as Isolde
Rufus Sewell as Lord Marke
David O'Hara as King Donnchadh
Henry Cavill as Merlot
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