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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Since 1996 |
Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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The New World As I sit down to write about The New World, I find myself dealing with two different aspects of this film. There are things to love about the new feature from Terrence Malick and things that will make you wish you had never laid down your hard earned cash for a ticket. But for the moment lets talk about the positive side of The New World. It’s the story of Pocahontas who is played by newcomer, Q'Orianka Kilcher, who captures the heart and soul of her character like few ever have. It’s almost scary the way she transforms herself into the young Indian girl who is forced to give up everything and everyone she has ever known. Kilcher, though only 15, carries herself like a veteran actress; mainly do to her lifelong history of performing and singing with her family. But even as I say that I still think that she has something inside her that makes her more than your normal run of the mill starlet. There is a spirit about her that, like Pocahontas, is strong and dedicated and passionate. If there were one main reason for you to see this film it would be because of her performance. Another element of this film is the writer, director, Terrence Malick. Malick hadn’t donned the director’s hat since 1998’s The Thin Red Line. Many call him brilliant and applaud anything he touches while others think his eccentricity is a little over the top. I fall into the later group in regard to The New World. This is an amazing love story that gets hidden by lengthy scenes of grass and sky and water as music swells and crescendos. The dialogue is sparse and usually relayed in the characters minds as they think about their feelings and emotions rather than discussing them in normal fashion. And this goes on for quite a while. As an artistic piece it is brilliant and beautiful. But it should have taken a back seat to the story line instead of overpowering its evolution. The New World also stars Colin Farrell (John Smith) and Christian Bale (John Rolfe) both of who are involved in the life of young Pocahontas. The acting, what little they were allowed to do, is good and you may feel cheated that you don't get to see their characters play out more. But to give Malick a little credit the scenes between John Smith and Pocahontas are truly beautiful in their innocence, as love blossoms between two strangers. But too much is not a good thing as eventually it begins to look more like an extended perfume commercial instead of a glimpse at two characters discovering the new world of each other. So should you see this movie? Yes. But be ready. Know before you go. This is a lengthy piece. Granted it has been cut by sixteen minutes since I saw the original screening back in December so the pace my seem a little quicker now. And I hope so. I don't want to see this film fail especially since Kilcher gives a performance that deserves recognition and viewing. I am going to give it 4 out of 5 because of its artistic expression and not on the movie as a whole. Plus I think the cutting of the length will make this more enjoyable for moviegoers than the original version I saw.The New World is Rated PG-13 for some intense battle sequences. The Mungle (1/16/06) "Matt is a memeber of the North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) and hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com
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