 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tristan & Isolde
- Review Date: June 19, 2006
- PG-13
- Genre: Romance
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
The legend of young love going wrong, again.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film includes several fierce medieval battle scenes, featuring swords, mallets, spears, knives, and arrows, and resulting in dead and bloody/wounded bodies. The young lovers appear in various states of undress and throes of passion (kissing, embracing, hiding from authorities); in one scene, two women strip to lie next to the naked, just washed-ashore Tristan in order to warm him. The young lovers engage in an adulterous affair after she is married. Characters drink during party scenes.
What's the story?
Orphaned during an Irish raid, Tristan (James Franco) is raised by his uncle, Lord Marke of Cornwall (Rufus Sewell), who tries to unite the British tribes against their would-be Irish conquerors. Wounded during battle, Tristan is believed dead and set adrift on a burning bier. He washes up in Ireland, where he's nursed by the daughter of King Donnchadh (David Patrick O'Hara), the rambunctious Isolde (Sophia Myles). She keeps her own identity secret as they fall in love. When Tristan's compatriots come hunting for him, she sends him off with a kiss and lament that "This cannot be." But as soon as Tristan returns home, Donnchadh decides to give away his daughter to the winner of a contest among the British tribesmen, hoping to divide them in the process. When Tristan wins her for Marke, she's horrified to learn her husband is not Tristan, just as he's horrified to learn she is the princess. After the marriage, Tristan dissolves in depression, until they begin to tryst in secret.
Is it any good?
Focused on loyal knights and proud royals, forbidden passions and tragic fates, TRISTAN & ISOLDE is a disappointingly wan romance. The film shows their love as a series of soft-focus embraces and seductive glances across crowded rooms, like they're teenagers on The O.C. Such soapy structure and conflicting allegiances only make the medieval setting gloomier.
Franco suffers exceedingly: another pretty young actor who has appeared in several films and hasn't yet found a defining role, he's hardly helped by the lack of voltage with Myles. If Tristan is inexplicably addicted to the girl, the effects of his desire are conveniently lacking when he's called on to swash and buckle in defense of Marke. And then, well, it's back to swooning, his dark eyes timeworn emblems of adolescent love gone wrong.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the characters' efforts to balance desire and duty. How do the young people deal with losing parents (Tristan loses both; Isolde's mother is absent), or seek moral ground while living during wartime? How does the film follow the well-known legend that serves as its source?
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AGE
Good Romance
I was pretty impressed with this Hollywood romance. The time period includes violence but overall it was quite clean (swearing, sex etc.) I enjoyed it even though it was sad and I wished for a better ending.
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AGE
Classic romance book turned movie is beautiful!
This movie is beautifully made! It is my favorite romantic movie of all time. Nothing will ever compare to it. Sure it has a few sex scenes, but you only see the sides of Isolde's breasts, and even then her hair is covering them. Obviously if it's set in the middle ages there's going to be bloody sword fighting. Honestly the only part about the fighting that scared me was when a character's hand is cut off at the beginning. James Franco, cast as Tristan, is gorgeous and perfect for this role(Shirtless scenes!!!). His dueling skills are amazing, even as a young boy. Sophia Myles, cast as Isolde, is extremely pretty and I love her voice. She brings so much to the movie. I encourage you to watch this movie just to see what you think. I have a strong feeling you'll fall in love with it (and the song We Belong Together by Gavin DeGraw that's in the movie). Hint hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink! Comments? Questions? Concerns? Email me: ogormanscommonsense at yahoo. :)
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AGE
Best movie I've ever seen in my life <33
i loved it so much, the story was great. it was touching, well written, and the acting was wonderful. it helps that james franco was in it (he is SO cute!!)
i am totally going to preorder this movie. i think it's the best movie i've ever seen in my life.
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AGE
Perfect for teens fourteen and up
WONDERFUL MOVIE!!!!!!
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AGE
A very good movie!!
One of the best movies of the year. While the reviews have been iffy, I thought this movie was extremely good. A classic love story the will never get old. It tells the tale of two people in a love that is forbidden. While there are flaws in the movie, they can easily be overlooked by the wonderfull acting and the beautiful tale. 4 star, wonderfull see!
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AGE
BEST MOVIE EVER
this was sooo sweet, i thought it was better than romeo and juliet, james franco is sooooooooo hot!!I think that is does matter that you know your kids before you let them watch it. But i think it was awesome, i felt horrible watching tristan suffer as he watched her with his king. And when he died i cried. Best movie ever.
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AGE
interesting but dull at the same time
The story thrilled my teenagers to death but I was a little bored by the actual film. It interested me enough to look for other versions of the story but not enough to actually sit still through the whole movie
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AGE
I'm gonna pre-order it!!
I thought this was one of the best movies I've ever seen. I have two younger siblings, and I think this movie is appropraite for ages 12 and up. There are a few scenes of sensuality, and there is some violence, but nothing is overly bad. I think it was a great story, though it is sad... I cried!! Tristan is ADORABLE and the acting is great in this movie! If you haven't seen it yet, SEE IT!!! It will blow you away :)
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Kevin Reynolds |
| Cast: | James Franco, Rufus Sewell, Sophia Myles |
| Genre: | Romance |
| Run time: | 125 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | January 13, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | April 25, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | for intense battle sequences and some sexuality. |
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