Tristan & Isolde you on a lame concept
Posted by Ryan on September 29th, 2006
Last night we finally watched Tristan and Isolde, a movie that I had mildly wanted to see for a long time but never had the motivation to rent when presented with more flashy Hollywood titles. In my review I have several positive comments and one negative one. (Guess which one I’m going to explore in this post. Why? Because I am daring and controversial that’s why.)
Positive points:
1. The actress who plays our heroine, Isolde, is absolutely smoking hot (see: picture above). This made for a much more enjoyable viewing experience.
2. The movie was able to convey that cold, dark gritty feeling that is often romanticized away in Hollywood Medieval films like “First Knight” and “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves”.
3. There was, for me, the perfect balance between sappy romance, wicked fight scenes and good old-fashioned betrayal/espionage. Tristan is no dainty Romeo but rather a noble, skilled and aggressive warrior who finds himself trapped in a cruel triangle that forces a conflict between the love of his life and his duty as a son and as a knight.
Negative point:
My critique isn’t actually of the movie but of the commentary we heard when we watched the DVD extras, specifically “The making of…”. The director and the screenwriter are discussing the ending of the movie. Although I will not say specifically what happens, suffice it to say that the story is a tragedy in the vein of Romeo & Juliet, but with a slightly different tragic ending.
These two men were extolling the virtues of the script and saying that audiences are tired of Hollywood happy endings because they are not true to reality. The director felt that ending on a tragic note was far more realistic and was a refreshing departure from the standard.
To that I say hogwash and poppycock!
Here’s the thing, I happen to be of the opinion that believing tragedy=reality is merely a reflection of your outlook on life and not a reflection of life as it really is. Let me give you an example:
“Perhaps the times are dark. There have been dark days in every nation. I should like to repeat the words of Winston Churchill spoken exactly thirty-three years ago today. Bombs were then dropping on London. The German juggernaut had overrun Austria, Czechoslovakia, France, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Russia. All of Europe was in the dread grasp of tyranny, and England was to be next. In that dangerous time, when the hearts of many were failing, this great Englishman said:
Do not let us speak of darker days; let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days–the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race. [Address at Harrow School, 29 October 1941]”
President Gordon B. Hinckley
The story of Tristan and Isolde certainly was tragic to the characters. Much was lost but during their story much was also gained that they never seemed to notice because they were so wrapped up in their mounting misery (a truth that is pointed out to Tristan in a climactic confrontation between betrayer and betrayee). The story ends rather abruptly and shrouded in mystery. This was designed to add to the melancholy nature of the movie but I actually found it refreshing as I filled in the blanks with my own happy alternatives about what fate might have held for the characters.
My point is, tragedy is only a “reflection of reality” (as the director and screenwriter put it) if that’s how you choose to perceive reality. I know people whose life, if you take their word for it, is one never-ending tragedy. I also know people who have faced some pretty hefty obstacles in their life and have simply used it as a stepping stone to greater fulfillment.
Tragedy strikes all of us - whether on a macro-scale like September 11th or on a micro scale like Adam Greenwood and the heart-wrenching story of Betsey and her short time on earth. Don’t let it get to you. Tragedy is not reality; things will end happily if we keep our eye on the Son. I’ve got a modern-day prophet who will back me up on that
That is a good lesson. Happy is the person who learns and applies it.
Also, you must be very secure in your marriage to publicly admit that the actress in the movie was ‘hot’. If my wife found out that I said that I would have some ’splainin’ to do!
Comment # 1 left by Eric Nielson on September 29th, 2006
Also, you must be very secure in your marriage to publicly admit that the actress in the movie was ‘hot’.
Fear not, she started the whole thing by saying that Tristan was good looking. Besides, She knows that if I see a Picasso, I admire it, but I don’t take it off the wall.
Comment # 2 left by Ryan on September 29th, 2006
I, too, loved this movie for reason #1. It’s also why I even bothered watching ‘Elektra’. Stupid movie, but hey, hot actress.
Comment # 3 left by Connor Boyack on September 29th, 2006
“if that’s how you choose to perceive reality” Even though I’d argue for hours on how reality is reality no matter how you percieve it, I agree with the sentiment. The wonder of art lies within its interpretation.
Comment # 4 left by Okie on September 29th, 2006
In that dangerous time, when the hearts of many were failing . . . .
Failing indeed!
Comment # 5 left by Wade on September 29th, 2006
Besides, She knows that if I see a Picasso, I admire it, but I don’t take it off the wall.
CLASSIC! That one goes in the BoJ hall of fame!
Comment # 6 left by Wade on September 29th, 2006
even though I’d argue for hours on how reality is reality no matter how you percieve it
I agree in the external sense, but we all have our internal reality don’t we? It doesn’t really matter what “reality” is. The only thing that really matters is your perception of it.
For example: If the reality of our existence is that our bodies are in a deep coma and really being subjected to all sorts of horrible experiments, I don’t really care as long as I maintain my current perception of reality.
Comment # 7 left by Ryan on September 29th, 2006
I don’t really care as long as I maintain my current perception of reality.
Really? Are you saying you’re eternally happy with your current perception? Because maintaining the current reality I don’t think is what God has in mind.
Comment # 8 left by Wade on September 29th, 2006
Are you saying you’re eternally happy with your current perception?
No, you little word-twister. I was using the example of horrible experiments in the context of my discussion with Okie about perceptions of reality. I don’t think we will ever have an accurate perception of reality during this earth-life because our minds are too finite to handle it. So you can just toss that pipe dream out the window
What I was saying is that within our spheres we can choose how we want to perceive reality.
We can view the world as harsh and unforgiving and cruel and be totally justified in that opinion.
We can also choose to see the world as totally neutral and mechanical - things happen that are neither positive or negative.
We can choose to see everything as a blessing. Got Leukemia? Well at least you don’t have to buy shampoo anymore so that’s nice. Dog died? Now you get to have a new dog and build a new fulifilling pet/owner relationship.
Personally I tend to go down the Pollyanna route. The director of Tristan and Isolde would have me perceive instead that reality is more often tragic and so movies which reflect tragedy and grief are more realistic.
Comment # 9 left by Ryan on September 29th, 2006
Yeah, I get what you were saying in general about the movie writers, but I still don’t necessarily agree with your stance about our perceptions not being “real”.
Granted, I don’t think my perceptions are completely real, but truth is eternal reality; so if we can’t have at least some reality, we are totally lost. What I’m saying is that if we are in comas and being experimented with, I would actually like to know because I think it would be liberating and lead to happiness.
Ryan, just face it: the Matrix has you!
Comment # 10 left by Wade on September 29th, 2006
Yeah, I equate reality to truth. So in my little convoluted mind there is only one reality (big picture) and my existense in it (my picture). My part is what I get lost in it however. -
Comment # 11 left by Okie on September 30th, 2006