Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1732 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-01-01
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Luscious cinematography and even more luscious stars make Tristan & Isolde a feast for the eyes. Adapted from the medieval love story, the movie begins with with young Tristan (played as a child by Thomas Sangster, Love Actually) as he sees his parents killed by the tyrannical Irish, who ruled over a fractured Britain after the Roman occupation. Taken in by Marke (Rufus Sewell, Dark City), who rules one of the British tribes, Tristan (James Franco, Spider-Man) grows up to be a young prince and a mighty warrior--and when he's believed slain in battle, he's given a royal funeral, which sends him out sea in a burning boat. But the fire goes out and Tristan washes ashore on Ireland, where Isolde (Sophia Myles, Art School Confidential), the daughter of the Irish king, nurses him back to health. Being a lovely pair of young folk bursting with hormones, they fall madly in love... and set in motion a tragic tale that's lasted for centuries in many variations. Some reviewers have criticised Tristan & Isolde for deviating from the most common classical version, but the movie's storyline--though certainly altered to appeal to modern audiences--is fairly strong. Myles and especially Sewell turn in strong performances; Franco, however, though surprisingly persuasive as a warrior, never burns as a lover. Nonetheless, the loving shots of Franco's muscular physique will make this a must-have for his fans. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

simply blown away
I cannot express just how much I loved this movie! The epic backdrop of scenes from the Irish coast and the Czech Republic (presented as England in the movie!) simply took my breath away! James Franco as Tristan of course steals the show with his portrayal of a man torn between honour, duty, and his one true love. Rufus Sewell as Lord Marke was as brilliant as I always expect him to be and Sophia Myles as Isolde was absolutely stunning! This is one of the true greats up there with Gladiator and should have received a much better response than it did! A timeless classic that you'll never forget

An Engaging Tale . . .
. . beautifully told in this visually stunning screenplay. Why was it not better known at the box office? My only conclusion is that unlike most left-liberal sponsored post-modern films the Irish are portrayed as the villains of the piece and the English as the heroes! That must have jarred with US audiences & the Notting Hill set! Set in the dark ages the film follows the adventures of English warrior Tristan who finds himself at the mercy of Irish princess Isolde. In hiding the pair fall in love but are soon torn apart by their warring peoples and by a code of loyalty and honour that is now all but forgotten. Rufus Sewell is simply superb as the sad but compassionate war leader Marke. The scenes of physical love are tender and sensitively recreated. The battle scenes are stunning. A grey, windswept pall hangs over the whole film to remind us that this is the dark ages but it does not detract from the lovingly filmed beauty of a nature free from motorways, housing estates and power lines. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweeping, adventurous, romantic legend so reminiscent of Lancelot & Guinevere. Recommended.

Duty? Honor? Love?
A romance/somewhat action flick. Tristan and Isolde share there story, proving that they have a shot, at the greatest lovers in history title.
James Franco ( Tristan ) gives a strong performance throughout, as we follow him trying to deal with his feelings for Isolde, played beautifully by Sophia Myles. Learning they can never be together, they don't take it lying down and steal as many moments as they can together. Surely this can't have a good ending? Then again what good love stories do? Having never heard of the story before this, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it really is worth a look!