'Tristan & Isolde' (PG-13) (out of four)

"Tristan & Isolde" is another "Romeo and Juliet"-style tale wrapped up in the cloak and mist of the Middle Ages.

The legendary romance of Tristan and Isolde actually predates the Camelot story and down through the years many authors have put their own spin on the story, but from what I have researched, the most recent movie, produced by Ridley Scott, completely changes the dynamic of the characters.

In Scott's version, the many tribes of Britain are divided and are no match for the Irish, who keep them hungry and isolated with heavy taxation and constant raids.

The tribes of Britain form a secret enclave and forge a treaty so they can break the bounds of the tyrannical Irish. But just as the details are about to be hammered out, an Irish contingent storms in, killing almost everyone in sight and burning the village to the ground.

Among the few survivors is a young boy named Tristan (played as a man by James Franco), who has watched his father and mother be slaughtered. Lord Marke (Rufus Sewell), his uncle and the man who was to be named king of the united Britain, narrowly saves Tristan's life and takes in the orphan.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, a young girl named Isolde (played as a woman by Sophia Myles) is mourning the death of her mother, the queen. Isolde knows that her life will never be the same now that she is completely under the thumb of her domineering and cruel father, King Donnchadh (David O'Hara).

As a young woman, Isolde is willful and sneaks off to caves to create healing potions and gaze wistfully across the ocean, wondering what her life holds in store.

Tristan grows up to be a quiet, pensive young man, who is an intense warrior. After a particularly brutal battle with the Irish, Tristan's battered body ends up in the healing arms of Isolde, and before he even knows who she is, they have fallen in love. But, she is promised to another man and their countries are sworn enemies.

Overall, "Tristan & Isolde" just didn't work for me, although it had many fine elements.

Its emphasis on lengthy battles leaves little time for character development of the secondary characters. Lord Marke was the one exception because he was exceptionally played by Sewell. However, the Irish king is portrayed as a stock character who is cruel and unloving to his daughter. She is used as a pawn instead of as his precious child.

Franco and Myles as the leads are lovely and fulfill their romantic roles very well. Franco is dashing and handsome. Myles is your standard lovely princess, but projects an intelligence and fire that show us why she enchants Tristan.

If you enjoyed the field battle scenes of movies like "Gladiator," you will probably have a good time at "Tristan & Isolde." But, for my tastes, the battles wear thin and tend to get boring.

Also, if you are a fan of Richard Wagner's opera version of the story, you might be annoyed by the differences in the storyline.

"Tristan & Isolde" could have been a terrific epic romance, but drops its spears and is just an ordinary medieval action flick.