Tristan + Isolde (2006)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Kevin Reynolds

Writer (WGA):

Dean Georgaris (written by)

Release Date:

13 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Before Romeo & Juliet, there was...

Plot:

An affair between the second in line to Britain's throne (Franco) and the princess of the feuding Irish (Myles) spells doom for the young lovers.

Plot Keywords:

Princess | Boat | King | Throne | Ireland

Cast

James Franco	...	Tristan
Sophia Myles	...	Isolde
Rufus Sewell	...	Marke
David O'Hara	...	Donnchadh (as David Patrick O'Hara)
Mark Strong	...	Wictred
Henry Cavill	...	Melot
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Bragnae
Ronan Vibert	...	Bodkin
Lucy Russell	...	Edyth
JB Blanc	...	Leon
Graham Mullins	...	Morholt
Leo Gregory	...	Simon
Dexter Fletcher	...	Orick
Richard Dillane	...	Aragon
Hans Martin Stier	...	Kurseval (as Hans Martin-Stier)

Also Known As:

Tristan & Isolde (USA) (promotional title)
Tristan a Isolda (Czech Republic)
Tristan and Isolde (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:125 min

Country:

Germany | Czech Republic | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | Brazil:14 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Iceland:14 | Philippines:R-13 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U

Filming Locations:

Glissaun Beach, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland

Company:

ApolloProMedia GmbH & Co. 1. Filmproduktion KG (I)

Trivia:

Originally Ridley Scott was going to direct the film in the late-'70s, right after his debut film The Duellists (1977). He put the film aside to direct Alien (1979).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The map in the movie shows Dunluce Castle as being further south than Bangor. Dunluce is actually significantly further North than Bangor.

Quotes:

Lord Marke: Do you find no comfort in your home, these stearn walls that you helped build?
Tristan: I find these walls a prison.
Lord Marke: Why?
Tristan: Everything I wanted seems meaningless.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-01-21)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

We Belong Together

Tragic Lovestory with plenty of Action

Tristan and Isolde is one of the most enjoyable films I've seen this year. I saw it in a preview screening without knowing anything about the film or the myth. I expected a mediocre romance, only hoping that it would be set in an interesting medieval setting and that my girlfriend would enjoy it. Well it is a story of love, but also so much more. The film has a dark undertone to it and every character is torn between hard choices of power, loyalty, friendship and in Tristan's case, love. There is plenty of both tragedy and love and although very dramatic I never felt it was being too sentimental. The battle scenes are very well done. Although realism is sometimes sacrificed for dramatic impact, this works very well for the film. Most importantly there are no invulnerable heroes. Everyone is in immediate danger of mutilation and death, making the fight scenes more intense. The casting of Tristan, Isolde and Lord Marke is perfect and most of the supporting cast do an equally great job. The absence of any Hollywood superstars makes the film all that much better. Enjoy.