The Irish Empire

Director: Dearbhla Walsh, Alan Gilsenan, David Roberts (IX)
Studio: Winstar
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The five-part series Irish Empire, first broadcast on BBC Ireland in 1999, offers a compelling, contemporary historical perspective on the events, people, and influences that shaped the identity of Irish culture as it expanded throughout the world. The focus is not on Ireland as a country but the Irish as a global community--an "empire" formed by the emigration of millions of Irish natives, with pockets of culture all over the world and majority populations concentrated in England, America, and Australia. Wide-ranging in scope (despite an occasionally nagging lack of narrative cohesion), the series chronicles the expansion of Irish culture as a bona fide diaspora, grander in scale than that of almost any other ethnic group. This expansion began in the 15th and 16th centuries, intensified with the great famine of the 19th century, and continues to this day as many native Irish seek opportunities they could never find at home.

Amazon.com

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 criticized 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

Description

From executive producer Ridley Scott (Gladiator) 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 nationand defeat 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. In the spirit of Braveheart and A Knight?s Tale, TRISTAN+ ISOLDE is a rousing tale of trust and treachery that will leave you breathless!

Customer Reviews:

wonderful love story.......2007-06-19

I had never heard of Tristan and Isolde before watching this movie. After watching this movie, it reminded me somewhat of Romeo and Juliet.

Tristan, a Brit, and Isolde fall in love when Isolde brings him back to health. (At her maid's urging, Isolde doesn't tell Tristan her real name. Instead, she uses her maid's name.) However, Isolde's father, the Irish king, hears about an enemy on land and goes in search for him. Isolde manages to help Tristan escape. The king never knows who it was.

In an attempt to cause divisions among the Brits, Isolde's father has proposed an tournament. The winner of the tournament will get his daughter in marriage. Tristan volunteers to join the tournament to win the daughter for his king.

Of course, Tristan and Isolde realizes they're trapped with their duties when Tristan wins and discovers who the bride is. Despite their duties, they find other ways to express their love. As love progresses, they become bolder. However, these bold displays of love soon catches the attention of others. The other people decide to expose their affair to the king.

Love, forbidden or not, will not be deterred.

What can I say? Wonderful cast. Wonderful and romantic sceneries. Wonderful story. The only thing that I wasn't satisfied was the development of tension/jealousy between Tristan and his fellow comrades. It was sort of sudden. Other than that, simply wonderful.

romanticly sweet.......2007-05-23

this was such a good movie, not exact to the myth of the lovers.... but a really romantic story that was so close

Tristan and Isolde not your typical chick flick.......2007-03-31

Tristan and Isolde came before there was a Romeo and Juliet. And I can see perhaps why they are less talked about. The movie is not the best chick flick but not the worst. There is a lot of war and you have to keep track of the characters.
I feel like there isn't enough character development. I found Melot more admirable than the character of Tristan. Tristan tries to be selfless but ends up becoming selfish as he pursues Isolde regardless of the fact that she is now married to the man who took him in. Both characters choose deception to be together knowing that peace in Ireland depends on the said marriage.
The actions and decisions chosen by the characters cannot be undone and I think that is what leads to their downfall. I rented this in the hopes that watching this may make me shed a few tears but would otherwise be an enjoyable experience. This movie itself is not all that bad just know what you are getting into.

The Lovelorns........2007-03-25

Tristan and Isolde was quite beautiful to watch. The love story between the two is intense and heartbreaking. The stars of the film, James Franco and Sophia Mlyes did a wonderful job as the star-crossed lovers. This story screams Romeo and Juilet but this movie does have a mind of its own. Isolde is forced to marry Tristan's primary guardian and of course Isolde sneaks out in the middle of the night to join Tristan for a mid-night romp, a snitch notices their closeness during the day and tells Isolde's husband. As you can expect tradegy befalls one of them but still this movie is so much better than i thought it would be, I recommend checking this love story for all ages out.

The First Love Story in the West Outshines Romeo and Juliet.......2007-03-23

Tristan and Isolde were the first real lovers of romance and intrigue in Western literary history. While Romeo and Juliet are the most famous romantic tragedy ... Tristan and Isolde outshine it. This movie illustrates how they set the tone of love and drama through literature ever since. Tristan & Isolde (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Tristan and Isolde (Full Screen Edition)

Average customer rating:

Tristan and Isolde (Full Screen Edition)
Starring: James Franco , Sophia Myles , Rufus Sewell , David O'Hara , and Mark Strong (II)
Director: Kevin Reynolds
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Period Piece | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

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ASIN: B000EPFCP4
Release Date: 2006-04-25

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Description

Average customer rating:

The Irish Empire
Director: Alan Gilsenan , Dearbhla Walsh , and David Roberts (IX)
Manufacturer: Winstar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Documentary | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Out of Ireland
In Search of Ancient Ireland (Includes Over Ireland)
The Celts - Rich Traditions & Ancient Myths
Bloody Sunday
Michael Collins

ASIN: B000056MMX
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Amazon.com

The five-part series Irish Empire, first broadcast on BBC Ireland in 1999, offers a compelling, contemporary historical perspective on the events, people, and influences that shaped the identity of Irish culture as it expanded throughout the world. The focus is not on Ireland as a country but the Irish as a global community--an "empire" formed by the emigration of millions of Irish natives, with pockets of culture all over the world and majority populations concentrated in England, America, and Australia. Wide-ranging in scope (despite an occasionally nagging lack of narrative cohesion), the series chronicles the expansion of Irish culture as a bona fide diaspora, grander in scale than that of almost any other ethnic group. This expansion began in the 15th and 16th centuries, intensified with the great famine of the 19th century, and continues to this day as many native Irish seek opportunities they could never find at home.

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