Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Tristan & Isolde Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 27, 2017

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.

After the fall of Roman control over Britain, various clans are lost without a leader to unite them, turning to Marke (Rufus Sewell) for guidance, a choice that disturbs rival Wictred (Mark Strong). In Marke’s care is Tristan (James Franco), a young orphan who takes to his new family with ease, joining brother Melot (Henry Cavill) as they prepare to battle for control of the land against their mortal enemies, the Irish, lead by Donnchadh (David O’Hara). When Tristan is wounded in war and believed to be dead, his body ends up in enemy territory, discovered and protected by Isolde (Sophia Myles), Donnchadh’s frustrated daughter, who’s dealing with an arranged marriage she doesn’t want. Spending healing time together, Tristan and Isolde fall in love, but their secretive union is ended by political deal-making, with the young woman offered to Marke to unite the kingdom. Caught between love for his adoptive father and a woman who’s invaded his heart, Tristan grows confused, lured into recklessness when Donnchadh returns to his untrustworthy ways.

The romantic legend of “Tristan & Isolde” has been fodder for many stage and screen adaptations, largely perceived a precursor to “Romeo & Juliet,” with the characters sharing a similar sense of confusion when dealing with the primal urges of love. It’s material that requires a special approach to help embrace its sudsy qualities and remain human, but screenwriter Dean Georgaris isn’t able to crack the heartfelt code here. He prefers a game of “Risk” instead, using large portions of the picture to sort through territorial agitations between the British clans and the Irish, securing history before humanity, which launches “Tristan & Isolde” with a pronounced coldness Reynolds is never able to shake. Setting the scene isn’t the problem, but political maneuverings seldom translate to riveting cinema, while the supporting cast is populated with bland actors who bring little to their roles, providing white noise between scenes of intimacy, giving the family saga and eventual love triangle no punch, presence, or commanding resolution. Far too much of the movie just falls flat, going through the motions with hopes that its lead actors will be able to generate enough heat to cover for serious dramatic shortcomings.

“Tristan & Isolde” offers a Franco before he was Franco, and the star’s hesitation to give himself in full to the moment is apparent throughout the endeavor. Franco doesn’t look bored, just switched off, with his thespian limitations highlighted during scenes of conflict, where he has difficultly wielding a sword, and playtime with Myles, conjuring little chemistry with his more animated co-star, keeping sensuality at bay for the duration of the picture. Franco’s bad here, and he hurts the movie with his distance, forcing Reynolds to work overtime to make combat scenes crunch with authority, bending the PG-13 rating as British and Irish bodies are pierced and slashed, a hand is cut off, and there’s a beheading as well, confusing the tone of a feature that also wants viewers to cozy up tight with lovers. Reynolds does reasonably well arranging stunt work and focusing on burly, brawny types, but he can only get so far when most of his cast can’t summon the urgency the tale needs. Smashing between extremes of violence and tenderness, “Tristan & Isolde” never finds an appealing rhythm.

Tristan & Isolde Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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.

Tristan & Isolde Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

Tristan & Isolde Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features executive producer Jim Lemley and co-producer Anne Lai.

• Commentary #2 features screenwriter Dean Georgaris.

• "Love Conquers All" (29:16, SD) is the official "Tristan & Isolde" making of, created during the picture's production and junket event, with cast and crew periodically appearing in full costume. More in-depth than typical featurettes concerning the creation of a movie, "Love Conquers All" covers co-producer Ridley Scott's initial desire to make the film 40 years ago, even planning a sci-fi adaptation to compete with a "Star Wars" obsessed industry. Director Kevin Reynolds discusses the arduous shoot, which visited punishingly cold locations, and Georgaris shares his adaptation process, trying to make the Celtic legend his own. A discussion of budget concerns and an extended look at stunt work is also included.

• "We Belong Together" is a music video from Gavin DeGraw, presented in a full-length version (4:37, SD) and an edited version (2:31, SD).

• 11 TV Spots (4:44 in total, SD) are offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:33, SD) is included.

Tristan & Isolde Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.