The New World (2006)

[fizz]

Catch either one of Badlands or Days of heaven. Considering you have a higher tolerance to crap that any one of us here, the worst that could happen is you'd hate them.

[ozzylogic]

I've watched all 3 except Days Of Heaven. Found all pretty good, esp. The New World.

[fizz]

Having watched each of his 4 films at least twice now, its safe to say this - Days of Heaven is his REAL masterpiece and I'm glad to own the remarkable Criterion. It feels complete and satisfying because there is proper story, characters and the beautiful, beautiful imagery.

Everyone here, even those that have found Malick to be obtuse, should give it a go.

[madali]

I think its on my list, since you have told us about it before

[shariqq]

Which to watch: 135-minutes version, or the 150-minute version?

[shariqq]

No, hang on - "The Extended Version" is 172 minutes! That's the one I have. Should I watch this, or another version of the movie?

[fizz]

I've seen all three and frankly, the leaner the better in this case. I recommend the 135 minute version, which is also the cinematic version. Everything else was to please the fans, though the 150 minute version was shown in some festivals. The 172 minute version is strictly for DVD collectors. With Malick, because his films are never conventional, more screen time doesn't necessarily mean more dialogue or back story - just more beautiful visuals.

[shariqq]

Hum.... Dil De Chuke Sanam.... (Bollywood movie) was better, or at least an easier watch.

I'm with Kaytee and Madali on this movie. All over the place and unnecessarily tedious. This when I saw the shortest version of it.

[shariqq]

For those who do not know the bollywood movie, these two are not comparable. They just share some plot points.

[shariqq]

The New World *is* indeed beautifully shot - there were scenes where I would go "wow!", but as I read in some post on this forum earlier: a movie is a movie, not a painting. And in this case, neither is it a nature documentary.

The movie is a retelling of the Pocahontas tale, a native american girl who falls in love with an English captain from a colonizing crew. Captain Smith and Pocahontas risk themselves and their tribes in an effort to be with, and not be with each other, for the sake of each others love.

The movie initially focuses on Capt Smith, his voice overs telling us his thoughts. We see him taken captive by the natives, and feel him falling in love with Pocahontas. Half-way into the movie, the character leaves the scene, and we don't see him until near the end (rightly so), but the character that we were made to understand and identify with is, by end, treated like an extra - we have no idea what his thoughts are and what he is going through in the finale. Disjointed.

The native girl, she's never really called Pocahontas within the movie, didn't it seem odd that she spoke cultured English with the twang so easily? One moment, she's saying "sky", "Lips", etc. And soon later, she's speaking in full sentences with correct grammar - like she was brought up on the language. I found it cool when it was done in 13th Warrior, but here, for a movie that tries to be as authentic as possible, it was decidedly fake.

Eventually, the reason the movie doesn't work for me is because even if it is about much more than just the surface story, at least the surface story should work. Days Of heaven and Thin Red Line are captivating movies where I would stare at the screen, lost in the world that Malick created, among his characters that live and breathe that world. I felt, more than understood, what was unfolding on-screen, and after the movie, reflected on how the movie just took me, what it showed, what it was really about. The New World didn't have any of that "magic". Especially after a masterpiece like Thin Red Line, appreciating this movie is that much more difficult.

My Rating --> 2 of 5