The New World (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

For my second Terrence Malick film (and there aren't too many), I have chosen THE NEW WORLD. It's basically the story of Pocahontas, starting from the settlement of Jamestown when she met John Smith to her later life when she married John Rolfe and moved to England. Of course, being that this is Terrence Malick, the minutiae of historical details aren't really adhered to and the story is told in rather broad strokes, making sure to hit all of the important historical moments but generally being a slower and more contemplative meditation on the themes that its director is interested in. While I was perfectly fine with the abstract story in THE TREE OF LIFE, I felt that it didn't quite work as well here. Still, Malick has crafted a stunningly beautiful film that explores themes of discovery, conflict, the search for happiness, and making the most out of difficult situations. What I thought worked very well was a restrained use of voiceover that served as internal monologues. Absent a lot of dialogue, this provided an essential window into the various characters. I also loved the numerous shots of natural beauty which were expertly captured by Malick's frequent cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezski. As far as acting is concerned, everyone gave a really good performance, although the cast was subordinate to the imagery. The score was also excellent, and in particular I liked the simple piano theme that played when John Smith and Pocahontas were onscreen together. However, despite all of this really positive stuff I do think that the film dragged a bit in places and I found my mind wandering somewhat. I suppose it would have helped if this wasn't a story based in historical fact. That way I wouldn't have had expectations about how it should have been presented. Honestly, I would have a preferred a more straightforward telling, but what I got wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination. Overall, this is a technically superb film that has some interesting observations on life, but it did subvert my expectations a little bit.

After my second viewing of TNW, this time the extended version, all I wanted to do was play in the woods. I wanted to turn cartwheels and run around on the grass and get all muddy. Or stand high in a tree and gaze into the distance. I now find myself looking at trees, birds, and seeking things like beauty, a more gratifying vision, a deeper awakening. Yes, friends, there were historical liberties taken here, concessions to contemporary tastes evoked in a sappy, sentimental, silly little love storyline the historical truth of which could easily be disproven by those of a rational mind. Such discriminating folk may resent having to watch a couple of beautiful people "scuttle about" in the forest to the hauntings of Mozart's 23rd piano concerto for nigh 3 hours. But for those of us who choose not to be so rational, perhaps we like being non-rational, what a glorious cinematographic ride it was; blessed with a 37 additional magnificent minutes more than the theatrical version.Pocahontas was played by the blissful Q'Orianka Kilcher so comely that it makes the heart ache. Her face blazes like Malick's beloved fire imagery clearer than his unrelenting blue skies. Her feverishly adorning form flows visceral through the landscape like a gazelle in slow motion, like the birds, the rippling water, and the animals in the forest, which, thanks to Mr. Malick's artistic eye, inhabit the film with her. She embodies "form and proportion" to delight the senses and radiates "wit and spirit", so astonishing was she that she "surprised" the sun whenever she came into his presence. Many torments visited upon her during the story all faced with a grace so touching and generosity so uplifting that her promise to herself to find "joy in all she sees" could be a mantra for anyone. A valid question could be how did Mr. Malick draw such a performance?Mr. Malick definitely has something to say and he says it his own way in his own time. We can second guess his choices with every frame. His motives were no doubt artistic and anything worthy of such distinction is entitled to remove us from servile convention and to make us stretch and flex our imaginative muscles. I don't think he made any of his choices lightly but made his decisions resolutely founded upon a clear vision of the story he wanted to tell and the ideas and images he wanted to show us and affect us to think about. It is lamentable that he averages making a movie every seventeen years.Mr. Malick's idea of a "special" effect is the natural light at dusk and dawn, God speaking through birdsong, a tear on the cheek reflected in firelight, fire itself, sunlight reflected through trees, birds in flight, deep blue skies, a water snake, a close up of the human ear. No obligatory explosions, no fake lighting or sets, no blue screens here, no over rehearsed acting but telling the story much through improvised movement and expression frequently, from what I understand, filmed when the actors didn't know he had the camera running. No excess, not a trace.The dialogue is spare and poetic where thoughts sotto voce mingle with what is spoken aloud. When Pocahontas spoke the last time with her uncle in the English gardens, we have the rare privilege of experiencing a conversation in the Algonquin language which articulated a surreal, musical atmosphere. Her last words to Smith, this time in English, fell touchingly like loving teardrops: "Did you find your Indie's, John?" Smith's Reply: "I may have sailed right past them." Their time together in the Virginia woodlands was dreamlike and when recalled in those last few moments they spent together, language wasn't enough to give expression to their memories, across the expanse of time. To recreate such moments, and achieve such an affect through some indescribable medium, where all of the elements of film converge, is why we need people like Terrence Malick.This work is an elegy, one for Pocahontas and the way of life that that for her was decimated. The final few images gently reveal what was lost in her passing; an empty family bed, an Indian spirit guide, a gravestone, a joyous final cartwheel across the grass(in dreams, in death, or real?) accompanied by a soundtrack laced with Wagnerian flourishes. The final image is a visual symphony of river rapids wherein suddenly the music ends and we are left with pure sound; water rolling over rocks for a few suspended moments. This is the music that we lost, the natural music that symbolically died; Pocahontas, our "little wanton," our "playful one" and the way of life she lost, her vanished wildness. "All things die".Poetry is not for everyone nor is classical music. If modern film making had a parallel to the more elevated, less commercial, art forms that aren't as accessible to the modern, for profit tastes, this would be it or at least its beginnings. All honor to you.

Excelente vendedor. Excelente artículo. Todo perfecto.

I did adore this mini series ! I recommend it !

内容は良くも悪くもテレンス・マリック。あまりにも詩的過ぎて、おそらく大半の人が途中でダレて飽きるでしょう(苦笑)評価はあくまでもソフトとしてです。画質・音質は言うまでもなく最高ですが、このソフトにはなんと劇場公開版135分　ファースト・カット版150分　Extended Cut 172分の３バージョン収録！勿論特典映像満載の３枚組俺が買った出品者からは3,493円で買えたのですが、プレミア化したのか価格が高騰してますね(;^_^A作品そのものとしては特別好きではないですが、俺は最初からコレクションとして割り切って購入しました。日本ではまず手に入らないだろうから。因みに俺はまだExtended Cut 172分のバージョンしか観ていません(^^;)

Coincidiendo con la reseña anterior quiero añadir que esta historia épica, pero de un tipo diferente al que tal vez muchos están acostumbrados, es un verdadero espectáculo. Es lenta y majestuosa con una fotografía estupenda y un audio cuidado y preciosista.El plato fuerte de los extras es el excelente documental "Making The New World" en HD con 81:35 de duración que se puede ver en segmentos o todo completo. Un gran making of en que hablan casi todos los implicados y se calla un poco Terence Malick, el esquivo director. Trailers de propina.Añadir que sólo cuenta con audio Dolby TrueHD 5.1 y subs en inglés, aunque mucho mucho dialogo no hay. Ya que New Line no se digna editarla en mejores condiciones yo diría que no existe mejor edición hoy día.

Como digo en el título, gracias a Amazon, es posible disfrutar de una MAGNIFICA película, que de otro modo, sería imposible (hablando del BD disc).La edición es magnífica;El audio es alucinante, los pajaros y crujidos de los árboles, se escuchan con una nitidez pasmosa.La imagen también es estupenda, una definición y saturación de colores preciosa.El audio es en Inglés, como digo, de calidad sublime.Los subtítulos, son la pega, solo en inglés y para sordos. Se agradecería al menos en spanish, pero como decía en el principio de la opinión, ya es suficiente, poder disfrutar de esta peli en HD.Si el idioma no es un problema, compra recomendada 100%.