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Tristan & Isolde
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation


8.4

based on 30 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 29 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexuality

Starring James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David O'Hara, Henry Cavill, JB Blanc, and Jamie King

This longtime dream project of executive producer Ridley Scott explores the medieval legend of a princess and warrior's love affair, which threatens to tear apart an uneasy peace between England and Ireland. A tale of epic battles, royal intrigue and a timeless, star-crossed passion. (20th Century Fox)

GENRE(S):	Drama \| Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Dean Georgaris
DIRECTED BY:	Kevin Reynolds
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: April 25, 2006 Theatrical: January 13, 2006
RUNNING TIME:	125 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	UK / USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

By removing elements of magic and operatic excess from the story, the brothers Scott focus on what is, underneath, a story as tragic (and less contrived) as the one cited in the ads, "Romeo and Juliet."

Premiere Jessica Letkemann

Tristan & Isolde isn't a ground-breaking film in any way, but even though the story is familiar and even if you don't like romances, good casting, an able director, and notable cinematography draw you in to the fairy tale feeling of long ago and far away. Pass the popcorn.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

There's something beautiful about a well-made tragic love story. It may not be as uplifting as one with a happy ending, but it's more cathartic.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

This "Tristan" has its slightly silly moments, but rather like those fondly remembered epics of Hollywood past, its energy and entertainment value carry the day.

Variety Joe Leydon

This understated period drama may lack sufficient star power and emotional wallop to score breakthrough success with mainstream auds during its domestic theatrical run, but pic could find a warmer response in the same international markets where "Kingdom of Heaven" redeemed itself last year.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Working with an explanatory script by Dean Georgaris, Reynolds is much more confident in scenes of realistic battle, or even muddy marketplace dailiness, than he is with scenes of desire.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

Deadly serious, straightforward and surprisingly entertaining tragedy.

TV Guide Ken Fox

Director Kevin Reynolds isn't so much inspired as determined to tell it with period accuracy, without bothering to be historically accurate.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Franco, the hollow-cheeked, pouty-lipped actor best known as Spider-Man's nemesis Harry Osborn, plays Tristan like a biker boy with a broadsword.

USA Today Claudia Puig

James Franco is a gorgeous, smoldering lover in Tristan & Isolde, but you can't help being reminded of Ben Stiller's "Zoolander" character.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Director Kevin Reynolds strikes a good balance between action and romance in this version of the medieval legend, but his leading man is upstaged by the supporting cast.

The New York Times Manohla Dargis

Just as there is something undeniably pleasant about an entertainment like Tristan & Isolde that delivers exactly what it promises, no less, no more.

LA Weekly Scott Foundas

The film's one indisputably great performance comes from Sewell, whose Marke is no mere cuckold, but a good, honorable man caught up in circumstances beyond his ken, and ultimately this Tristan & Isolde's most tragic figure.

Empire Will Lawrence

It is a noble aim, and Reynolds drenches his movie in earthy, muddy tones.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

As it progresses it becomes a sloppy mix of modern and antique, and the limits of its lead actors and its script become evident.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

With Tristan & Isolde, the core must be a passion that enlarges two outsize characters and seems as momentous as the rise and fall of a kingdom. Too bad this film's Achilles' heel is its heart.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

When it comes to retelling the tale of Tristan and Isolde, give us a movie that makes love. Or even a movie that makes war. Anything, just anything, but a movie that makes nice.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Winda Benedetti

How strange it is to see a film that's supposed to be all about the burning passion and unquenchable exhilaration of true love, and yet is rather passionless and unexhilarating.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

It's that rare movie that had me wishing I was at the opera.

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

A feeble medieval epic with a lackluster romance at its center.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

If I had to sum up Tristan & Isolde for a term paper, I'd say it's like "Braveheart" without the face paint, "Shrek," except the Lord Farquaad character is a sweetheart, and "Freaks and Geeks" because James Franco is so hot, even in Orlando Bloom-y ringlets.

Chicago Tribune Allison Benedikt

Mindless, predictable and mildly entertaining.

Dallas Observer Bill Gallo

In the end, the filmmakers strike a bad bargain between action and myth: In their obvious attempt to shoo everyone into the tent--romantic and roughneck alike--they don't serve either end of the spectrum very well.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

Moves so sluggishly that someone must have been dosing the cast and crew with Nyquil.

New York Post Kyle Smith

Tristan & Isolde makes sacking and pillaging about as exciting as the line at the post office.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Franco can be exhilarating in movies -- tremulous, unhinged, a little wild. Here his jaw never stops quivering and his eyes stay welled up, advertising a breakdown that never comes. Not that Myles has a presence a man would fall apart over. She's too professional to drive anybody crazy.

Film Threat Michael Ferraro

Takes an unimaginative love story and stretches it as far as possible in an attempt to make it epically grand. Instead, the end result plays out like a George Lucas film without spaceships and lightsabers.

Village Voice Peter L'Official

Myles deserves better, but acquits herself as admirably as one can mired in medieval muck.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Everything connected with the lovers, who are the point of the movie, is either ordinary or unwittingly funny, and the laughs come early.

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

Screenwriter Dean Georgaris gets a hell of a pass here – the story is canon, and, in terms of emotional wallop, does all the heavy lifting for him – but he still manages to gunk up the works with dialogue that is dull-witted at best and outright howling at its worst.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 29 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Michal F. gave it a10:
Wonderful music, great history, very good acting, I'm in love with this movie.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
Aside form James Franco's Mr.-Potato-Head portrayal of Tristan, this movie is a gem. It's beautiful to watch and the supporting cast is strong. It wasn't as predictable as I feared and the ending, albeit tragic, was a relief. The fight scenes were great.

Pat C. gave it a6:
Slow-starting but eventually compelling story of two lovers whose estrangement sows the seeds of the British Empire. Place the blame for the continuing trouble between the English and Irish squarely where it belongs, on the Romans.

Sean R. gave it a6:
What a great movie! What terrible acting! James Franco shouldn't get a part in a elementary school production of Snow White let alone a well made movie! Whether he was fighting, having sex, or at a party his face never changed expression! Apart from that somewhat major detail the movie was very good.

Chad S. gave it a7:
Halfway through "Tristan & Isolde", Rufus Sewell started to remind me of David Byrne with a bigger head(not suit), and then late in the film, Lord Marke tells someone to "take [Isolde] to the river," which is a can't-be-a-coincidence reference to the Heads' cover of the Al Green classic. Apart from looking like Byrne, Sewell, as the cuckoled king, also makes James Franco and Sophia Myles look more seasoned. Franco, in particular, should've aimed higher than Patrick Swayze in "Ghost" as his acting role model. Like the crooner of "She's Like the Wind", Franco emotes like his dog died. It's Sewell who makes Isolde seem like a trophy wife. My favorite part of "Tristan & Isolde" is when it turns into a sports movie in the vein of "The Karate Kid".

Robert gave it a7:
good entertainment, period drama is entertaining, great to see mythic tale translated to big screen.

Linda S. gave it a10:
It was awesome. James Franco was hot. My heart was at the bottom of my stomach when I left the movie because I was so sad. Also, I believe that the younger crowd will enjoy this more. That's why the user ratings for the movie is usually higher than the critic's ratings.

Tristan & Isolde Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Tristan & Isolde
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation