Fake history, fake passion

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the competing warlords of England are brutally kept in line by the army of Donnchadh, the Irish king.

English Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell) tries to unite the English with the help of Tristan, his most formidable knight ( James Franco). Both fall in love with Sophia Myles's daughter of the Irish monarch, but in order to unite the nations, Lord Marke, now elected King of the English, marries her.

This swishing pre-medieval drama, directed by Kevin Reynolds, looks attractive enough and is certainly superior to the dreadful Arthur. But it's stymied by some injudicious plotting, so that you're not sure who is doing what to whom.

Principally, though, Tristan and Isolde are simply not quite good enough to suggest the undying and tragic love necessary to the plot. Is this why the film, produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, has taken so long to reach us?

Possibly. But it would have taken two brilliant performers to make Dean Georgaris's screenplay zing into our hearts. And there's far too much rum-tum fake history and sword-flailing on the way.

Tristan & Isolde
Cert: 12A