and that warm fuzzy feeling on the inside
Awhile back ago I was sitting in a movie theater with someone and I saw the previews for the movie Tristan & Isolde. My first impression was the remake of romeo and juliet reincarnated and it was another sappy story that can easily be thrown away. I really didn't give it another thought until tonight when I was in the movie store. I had a couple of different movies in my hand that I was debating with. Then I came upon Tristan & Isolde and I picked it up just out of curriousity. For some reason I put all the other movies back and decided to get this one. I really had no idea why I chose it. I had the option of seeing a couple of adventure/action movies or a few comedies but instead I chose an epic/tragedy. At this point most readers are questioning my integrity as a guy. But in all honesty this was a really good movie.
Now that I sit here and kind of ponder about why I rented it I begin to make sense out of it. I can't explain this in any other way but even though movies hardly ever represent reality, I like the ideal that love conquers all and that is what this movie is all about. It is about the power of love for not only the opposite sex but also for our own blood. I love how the plot and moral lines develop as the movie goes on. When they first meet a belief is put out and practiced upon by both. This is mainly displayed in the words of Isolde:
"Love is as strong as death. Why be capable of feelings if we're not to have them? Why long for things if they're not meant to be ours?"
I don't know why I like this but something about that gives you a rush of hope along with goose bumps that if you haven't found someone out there then maybe there is actually someone. As the movie progresses Tristan then takes a stand off sort of view that if he can not have love then he must turn to the only things that he has left duty, honor, etc...
"There are other things to live for; duty, honor. "
Even though this sentance or fragment only contains a few words, in the context of the movie it moves mountains. At this point in the movie I totally indentify with him because at this point in my life I'm sitting here with no one and I've come to a conclusion and realized that I have to live for what I have not what I don't. Flowery things of flamboyent nature are for dreamers. I must try to optimize what I have and serve the purpose for the reason I am here. Then Isolde counteracts with a phrase that is only natural:
"They are not life Tristan. They are shells of life. Love is made by God. Ignore it and you suffer as you cannot imagine."
What is so funny is that this is the exact response I get (except in less flowery words that are none the less dumbed down) from people when ever I tell them of the situation I'm in. That sentence is supposed to instill hope and optimisim in ones core structure but yet he responds back in a sarcastic response that is pleasing only to her.
Then comes my favorite part. In today's world I think that (excuse my lack of a better term) chivalry is totally dead. I mean the type of gentleman activities that I was raised up on is all but gone and we have liberalized America to blame for that (this is a whole'nother article). In fact finding a girl that appreciates that kind of stuff or let alone even recognizes this is another damn impossibility in itself...kind of like mission impossible three (just kidding). But when ever Tristan and Isolde are free to go and leave together with out any punnishment from the king, he makes the ultimate sacrifice which sealed the entire movie as golden for me. Instead of just riding off into the sunset and making babies with Isolde he chose to instead fight for honor, pride, and duty that he owed to his country or manor.
"For all time they will say it was our love, brought down a kingdom. Remember us."
He says this as he pushes the boat with Isolde off in the river and he immediatley dashes back to fight for his kingdom. I won't reveal the rest of the movie but this goes up on my list of movies to be viewed again. Even though after I saw it I'm still in the same miserable position that I was in before, I actually feel better and have a warm fuzzy feeling because of this. How long will this last? Probably long enough for me to go to sleep and then it will be back to the normal loneliness feeling tomorrow morning.
Best Wishes, Josh Price