6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
From executive producer Ridley Scott comes a sweeping, action-packed saga of epic battles, political intrigue and forbidden passion, set in a time when the lines between heroism and savagery were etched in fire and carved out with broadswords. After the fall of Rome, visionary warlord Marke (Rufus Sewell) seeks to unite the squabbling English tribes to form one strong nation and defeat the brutal Irish king Donnchadh. But when Lord Marke's greatest and most loyal knight, Tristan (James Franco), falls in love with Isolde (Sophia Myles), a beautiful Irish woman, it threatens to destroy the fragile truce and ignite a war.
Starring: James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, David O'Hara, Mark StrongRomance | 100% |
Melodrama | 20% |
Period | 17% |
Drama | 13% |
Epic | 6% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (256 kbps)
BDInfo & PowerDVD verified. There is no 2nd "DTS" track or any set-up option for it.
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Kevin Reynolds is a director worth defending in the Court of Cinema Elitists. He picked up a bad reputation with his work on 1995’s “Waterworld,” taking heat for his inability to keep an inherently chaotic shoot under control, and there have been a few stinkers during his career, including 1997’s “187.” But Reynolds, when offered a chance to spread his wings, can be a kinetic filmmaker with a terrific sense of action and adventure, marrying matinee derring-do with grittier visuals, finding efforts like 2002’s “The Count of Monte Cristo” and 2012’s “Hatfields & McCoys” enjoying their genres instead of merely participating in them, and there’s 1991’s “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” a wildly entertaining blockbuster that showcased the helmer’s special way with period mayhem and romance, going big but remaining steady. Ingredients for another charging extravaganza are professionally portioned out for 2006’s “Tristan & Isolde,” but the picture has no flavor. Aspiring to be a love story for the ages, the feature is trapped between its mission to treat regional conflict with the severity it deserves and the production’s hope to appeal to teenage viewers, soaping up a love triangle that holds no appeal. Instead of conquering another roughhouse tale of war, Reynolds is lost from the get-go, unable to reach his customary verve with this deathly dull endeavor.
Looking clean and crisp, the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation manages the visual moods of "Tristan & Isolde" quite well. The viewing event is rich with detail, delivering a clear look at production achievements, which explore ornate costuming and wide open locations, and sets are equally textured, retaining their weathered appearance. Close-ups examine facial particulars with care. Colors aren't explosive to begin with, but the feature's gray attitude is preserved, delivering subdued hues that remain natural, with only costuming and greenery permitted to perk things up with brighter elements. Skintones are true. Delineation is comfortable but sometimes threatens solidification. Grain is present. Source is in terrific condition.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix keeps up with period demands, offering a reasonably detailed listening experience that balances between hushed romantic moments and heated action encounters. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, handling accents and emotional outbursts without distortion, showing ideal clarity to enhance performances. Sound effects are varied and subtle, taking on period combat with metallic clanging and juicy wounds. Atmospherics are engaging but don't command surround activity, which is limited but passable. Low-end delivers violent rumbling with charging armies. Scoring is warm and inviting, with detailed instrumentation and placement, accentuating moods when necessary.
While "Tristan & Isolde" generally fumbles its dramatic potential, it's a terrific looking picture. Reynolds and cinematographer Arthur Reinhart make the most of their coastal and castle locations, often aiming for striking lighting arrangements to emphasize character, delivering a decidedly cinematic feature in dire need of a beating heart. Sadly, pretty images are the only true highlights of "Tristan & Isolde," which is far more triumphant with its camera than its writing and acting, transforming what should a searing, tragic love triangle into an artful moviemaking field trip guided by a director who's done a lot better with similar material.
1995
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2011
Warner Archive Collection
1952
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1922
2011
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1938
2019
2012
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Ultimate Collector's Edition
2004
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1955
Limited Edition to 3000
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2014