The New World

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The New World

51% Liked It
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The New World

August Schellenberg, Christian Bale, Christopher Plummer, Colin Farrell, Michael Greyeyes

This epic adventure is set amid the encounter of European and Native American cultures during the founding of the Jamestown Settlement in 1607. Inspired by the legend of John Smith and Pocahontas, thi...( read more  read more... )s story is a sweeping exploration of love, loss and discovery -- both a celebration and an elegy of the America that was… and the America that was yet to come. Against a historically accurate Virginia backdrop, two strong-willed characters -- a passionate and noble young native woman and an ambitious soldier of fortune - are torn between the undeniable requirements of their civic duty and the inescapable demands of the human heart.

Id: 10893862

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The New World Recent Reviews
  • JennifairyW
    November 21, 2009
    JennifairyW
    "Love...shall we deny it when it visits us...shall we not take what we are given."


    I can see the line of divide between people who are either going to hate this or love it, there seems to be no middle ground.

    Throughout the film, namely the opening scene, the combina...( read more)tion of music, sound effects and visuals, blend together seamlessly to paint an incredibly beautiful picture. The way the scenes move from one to the next and most of the dialogue being voice over, spoken almost in a whisper with a somber tone, gives the film a dreamlike (almost hallucinatory) quality and pace, which is no doubt what lulled most viewers to sleep. I can't defend the films length, as you do feel every minute, it strolls along but i was one of those few people who did enjoy every moment. I don't think poeple who didn't like this are "stupid" or "didn't get it", it's just different from 99.9% of films out there and clearly not made for everyone (in particular the more mainstream audiences as it's not typically "Hollywoodized").

    In my opinion all actor's performances are impressive and sincere, as each fully become their characters. Chemistry is good between all and no one steals the spot light fom another. This film just goes to show that dialogue isn't everything and is not what creates a brilliant performance. I was amazed at how much of the story and emotion was portrayed in silence, by body language, an expression, a look or a touch. The relationship between Pocahontas (Kilcher) and Smith (Farrell) is beautiful to watch develop, her innocence and spiritual nature seem to counter his physicality and wild personality, as they meet each other with curiosity and wonder, as if they are both meeting another human being for the first time. Their deep emotions (love and sorrow to name a few) echo through the entire film with the actor's strong performances, so much so that when we meet Rolfe (Bale) later in the film we feel somewhat resentful at his advances towards Pocahontas, as our hearts still lie with her and Smith, despite the fact they are both honorable men.

    I felt the authenticity of the Indian villages, clothes, rituals, language and behaviour were superior to any adaption of this story I've ever seen. As is the age gap between Smith and Pocahontas, Kilcher being only 14 at the time and Farrell 29. Malick also shows (fairly) the barbaric and peaceful sides of both tribes (Indians and English) unlike anything I have seen before. Definately the most beautiful, poetic and soulful version of this story I have ever seen. It's clear that Malick loved making this, he made it more for himself I think and despite it's criticism I'm glad he did ♥


    "They are gentle, loving, faithful, lacking in all guile and trickery. The words denoting lying, deceit, greed, envy, slander, and forgiveness have never been heard. They have no jealousy, no sense of possesion. Real, what I thought a dream."
  • 76Majikat
    February 17, 2009
    76Majikat
    Quite a beautiful film, both in storyline and scenery. The film (although narrated in parts) was left rather a lot to visual explanation, rather than dialogue, which worked well (especially as I wasn?t particularly blown away by Colin Farrell?s accent).

    I would have enjoyed a...( read more) deeper look into the Native American culture (a personal fascination), but as this was the story of Pocahontas, the love story was obviously the main reason for this film and of course the Expring.

    An Epic, which I wouldn?t want to repeat watching, but was worth watching the once.
  • bort16
    October 15, 2008
    bort16
    Note: This is a review of the extended version

    Terrence Malick is notorious for a few things. First, his famous 20 year absence from filmmaking. Second, he's always rushing around at the last minute tinkering with his films. The New World was released first in a longer cut which...( read more) was then pulled and reedited by Malick for its wide release. A few people saw it, and claimed that the differences were few. Well, now comes a nearly three hours long cut, billed as the extended edition. Producer Sarah Green hinted that this was Malick's preferred cut, once saying after the film had been released Malick stayed in the editing room and then finally had a 3 hour version he was happy with. Is this that version? Who knows, its likely he would have reedited again after that. Either way, this version is not the version that was first screened, as many had suspected. And while the added material in this version again does not add much to any shift in the dramatic narrative, the changes and extensions are quite substantial.
    For starters, the opening underwater sequence is extended. Some had speculated that it was now up to 12 minutes, but that's not the case. It lasts I would say twice the length as in the theatrical cut. Voice overs are also changed around a fair bit. There are new ones entirely, and the originals seem to have been beefed up in sound and clarity. Malick also makes interesting use of cross cutting a number of voice overs with dialogue on screen, and sometimes with other voice overs. It's quite interesting, and I think a successful move.
    While there are a few extra scenes added in, its mostly just an extension of existing scenes through more material and more exquisite nature edits. There is the addition of a couple new characters. One is a 'mad' Native, who has a lovely montage around Jamestown. I had noticed him in the theatrical cut, and noted his peculiarity, so having it explained here was nice.
    One of my favorite additions to the film is the extension of the mission upriver by Smith to find the Natives city. The music and poetic edits of gorgeous scenery with a clarified voice over is stunning, and reminded me of the tone in Herzog's Aguirre - which was always an influence on the early part of The New World.
    The other major addition into this version is the placement of title cards, breaking the film up into distinctive sections. I really liked this addition, and felt that they really added poignancy to what happens on screen.
    While detractors may insist that adding footage would only slow down an already slow film, I think that the additions actually move the film along better. It has a certain poetic rhythm to it, and flows naturally. The changes in music and scene placement I think heighten the film. It's patience becomes more understandable, where some moments seemed rushed in the original.
    Bottom line is this: If you liked the theatrical cut, you're likely to love this one. Its more of Malick's visual poetry and grace. If you don't like The New World or Malick's style, you'll likely only be less pleased with this. Malick charters to no one's desires but those of his own striving.
    Personally, next time I watch The New World, I will watch this version. It's by no means vastly superior - how could it be? But this is a beautiful and stunning version of the film, and I prefer it.
  • pier007
    September 24, 2008
    pier007
    I have said before that I hate when a film leans over its style rather than the story, but I have to acknowledge the talent behind Terrence Malick. The poetic nature, meticulousness and preciosities of this filmmaker's style tend to be demanding and even burdensome, but what he d...( read more)id here, with the story of Pocahontas, was probably the best way to fully experience everything she and her lover saw, heard, smelt and felt when their worlds clashed.
    A striking elegy, a visual feast.
  • Chiefilms
    September 12, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Malick focuses too much on his exterior shots which hinders the development of the plot, the dialogue is sparse and it often gets interrupted by Malick's obsession with filming random nature shots, they are pretty though.
  • mattman1989
    December 17, 2009
    mattman1989
    The cinematography and attention to detail in this film are stunning and I think it's important to state that before saying anything else. However, relying primarily on images to tell a story can cause a film to drag, especially when the film is two and a half hours long. Visua...( read more)lly, its beautiful; It's attention to detail and historical accuracy is spot on; but unfortunately, for many who watch this film, it's lack of any real plot (or dialogue for that matter) will leave you bored and lost, wondering if the film will ever end. It's for the lack of direction or narrative that I've given it three stars, however, I can't knock the quality of film making. It's an odd one.
  • yogamarc1
    December 12, 2009
    yogamarc1
    An absolute stunning thing of beauty. There are moments in this film that are as good as any ever captured on celluloid. Terrence Malick is a true artist and his film making style is akin to that of a painter and poet. The director's cut is a bit long at almost three hours but...( read more) it is a sumptuously beautiful film worth the time for those looking to dive into it. I would go as far as calling it a masterpiece.
  • amandaolson18
    December 7, 2009
    amandaolson18
    Not what I was expecting but not bad at all.
  • panmac
    November 21, 2009
    panmac
    A prettt good ober all movie of the settle ment on/ near Virgina,americas befor it was founded as such. A Settling peoples ashore from afarr via the great discoverers of the time, sea fairing vessels the made the planet known as we do, today.

    Thus group from 3ngland but no mat...( read more)tter, the story was of the fantastically different peoples of the new, plentyful but harsh- in a limited understanding way, ...world. focasing on the decorated a persecuted macho men surroundong the beautifull princess pocahontas's birth of knowledge, marriage and a brave face in a new land to her when tje times came.

    The dream like insight into her culture was a real directors focal point and took a large amont of the xcummbersome epic timeframe. Introducing love and new ways to understand things, let alone grasp the new worlds ppls point of view to life and communit without 'societies' as they have developed throught the 'demanding' thousands of years and near as many different 'culures', dominated or conqured, to make time as it is, ...forward motion.

    Grand tale of discovery set in the seventeenth century america. A good watch of you have the time.
  • CloudStrife84
    November 17, 2009
    CloudStrife84
    Visually speaking, this film was quite arresting. Story-wise, on the other hand, it regrettably left a lot to desire. Because however beautiful and mesmerizing it may be, I can't overlook the fact that it was almost completely deprived of emotional arcs. There's really not much d...( read more)ialogue or substance to speak of, and Altough it's refereshing that it doesn't follow the typical "north by northwest" paradigm, I couldn't help but be bored by the lack of dramatic energy. The second half almost had me lose interest altogether, which is a shame considering the potential this film had. Another problem is that there is too much monologuing. I know it's meant to convey the characters inner thoughts and feelings, and it did have some poetic qualities to it, but in the end, it only served to weaken the story further. I still liked the film as a whole though, for it's beauty and the relaxing effect it had on me.
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