The New World (DVD, 2006)

Once in a blue moon, you finally stumble upon a movie that seems to mesmerize your senses. This one is it. I was only disappointed that I missed this one on the big screen. Too Bad. The majesty of this movie captures you by surprise and makes you start wondering how everything in this new world went so hay-wire.

Never, in a thousand years, would you actually think that this guy would actually show up again tracked by ancestry. However, this is not the case. Tracking a close cousin's lineage has yielded Captain John Smith's name all the way to his records documented from his own death, life, ownership records, wives and such, including records of an native American Indian Princess named Pocahontas. This finding perhaps, somewhat impressed me, regardless of the fact that I'm not directly related to this close cousin.

Thinking back in time to other movies I have already seen that made me feel the same way, I can actually only think of a few. The Science Fiction Thriller named "Blade Runner" was one in which I can always quickly call to mind. The Film, "Ordinary People" was also another. Oliver Stone's "Platoon" was another. "Dances with Wolves" perhaps, but not as powerful as the film we are now reviewing, since we all, actually, feel more love for mankind here, and the struggle more through the eyes of perfection embodied through the pure innocence of our struggling heroin "Pocahontas".

Our film "The New World" literally and graphically, stands on its own and really has nothing to prove to anyone. That's why I liked it so much. This film was regal and trusting. It screamed, "Hey, I don't have to kill you to teach you a lesson". Amazingly enough, I can't remember one or two poor souls that actually got killed in this film. I'll have to hand it to the director and writer. It proves that you don't have to have a great deal of violence and action to tell a story.

A POINTED AND DIVERSE FILM DOES THE FOLLOWING:

Create much needed Tempo.
Develop Film Presence.
Produce a Well Directed Script.
Pause, so that the story is simple and well put.
Deliver Thoughtful Characters. Proud and Brave.
Brandish a quick and easy working dialogue that is simple, yet powerful.

WHAT MAKES THIS FILM TOP-NOTCH?:
The direction is noticeably fantastic.
The cinematography is avante-garde.
The bad editing was left on the cutting room floor.
A Fantastic Soundtrack to boot.
The ending was very unconventional yet unsurprising.

Yes. That's It. A very unconventional film for everyone to enjoy.

Although Colin Farrell played Capt. John Smith surprisingly well, Christian Bale followed with a wonderful balance to employ a wanting of the audience to help Q'Orianka Kitcher (Pocahontas) heal from her hasty loss.

The director's uncanny treatment of the "naturals" demeanor upon first meeting the new arrivals was absolutely astonishing! Here! Here! Cheers! Just Totally Remarkable.

I could obviously go on all day and night but this score should obviously be a 6 out of 5. You automatically have to empty your mind before beginning this film. Firstly, just sit back, relax, and enjoy. If you don't become glued and enchanted with this film, you probably aren't ready to take in the overall message. If you begin to feel it, then the secret is yours and mine alone. Don't tell anyone else about this film.

MUCH THANKS AND IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS DON'T HESITATE TO LET OTHERS KNOW. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER LATEST REVIEWS OF NEW AND OLD ALIKE.

We have spent many summers boating on the Chickahominy and James Rivers and WOW! this movie did not disappoint as the scenery was spectacular. Two summers ago, we stumbled upon the native village that was created as well as the replicas of the ships and the Jamestown fort. It was so exciting to see how they incorporated these sets into the movie. I thought they did a great job.
It was really neat to see many familiar sites where the movie was shot and this made the entire thing better for us. I found it captivating to see how the natives were dipicted and the actress that played Pocahontas was very good. It sort of surprised me, because it was rather slow moving at times, but at the end the tears were flowing. I can't imagine the shock Pocahontas felt as she arrived in London and adapted to her "new world" and it was extremely sad that they left her young son. Unfortunately not many facts are known about her life so there is lots of room for speculation.

TERRENCE MALICK PUTS A TIMELESS SPIN TO ONE OF THE OLDEST TALES OF OUR COUNTRY, THE STORY OF POCAHONTAS. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH LANDS ON A NEW SHORE IN VIRGINA WITH A GROUP OF SETTLERS AND IS IMMEDIATELY GIVEN THE TASK OF COMMUNICATING WITH THE NATIVES. HE DEVELOPS A BOND WITH POCOHONTAS AND A ROMANCE BLOSSOMS, WHICH OF COURSE CAUSE PROFOUND CHANGES IN BOTH CULTURES. COLIN FARRELL IS EXCELLENT AS SMITH, BUT THE REAL FIND HERE IS Q'QRIANKA KILCHER, WHO IMBUES POCOHONTAS WITH INTELLIGENCE AND A HAUNTING SADNESS. THIS IS NOT AN ACTION MOVIE! THE MOVIE IS A LITTLE LONG AND SOME SCENES DO SEEM TO DRAG AND YOU WONDER WHY? IT ALSO JUMPS BACK AND FORTH ALOT AND IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION YOU COULD REALLY GET LOST! BUT THIS IS A LOVE STORY AND A SERENE FILM ABOUT BEAUTY OF NATURE AND THE HOPE OF A NEW LAND! I ENJOYED THIS MOVIE AND THINK THAT IT IS A MUST-HAVE FOR YOUR COLLECTION!!!

As much as I love history, this movie was VERY slow. I am sure that it is probably as close as you get to the accuracy of what life was actually like when Capt. John Smith landed in the new world and Pocahontas was there to save his life. If you read about the real life of these 2 characters it is very unlikely that they had a romance. The movie also failed to let you know how Pocahontas died, just that she became ill. She contracted small pox. Something that the English brought to the New World which killed off many early settlers and Indians. Sad truths come from this movie, the hardship of the early settlers and the killing of innocent Indians to gain land. I am sometimes embarrassed to be a white American, it is movies like this that really make me feel bad about American history and how our country was forged.

I kept putting off watching this movie. I really do not care for the flavor-of-the-week bad boy actor and Colin Farrell had not made very good choices in movie roles IMO. The trailer/previews made it look like another mindless action/adventure movie - wow, was I wrong!

What I expected is probably what others expected, which is why so many people ended up not liking it and it did not seem to make a bigger splash in the theaters.

Yes, this is not a fact-based movie but it makes for a better story. John Smith and a "naturals" princess fall in love but he leaves and she is crushed but moves on. To me it was not "slow" but it does take its time, the scenery is as much a character as the humans are. Dialogue is not needed when Q'Orianka Kilcher is on screen, on her face you can see everything she feels and wants to say. I do have to say that after watching Colin Farrell for half the movie Christian Bale seemed kinda wimpy (blasphemy, I know!). Both did a great job as did the rest of the cast.

If you are like me and have considered films beautiful then this one is highly recommended. But if you are expecting another Colin Farrel action/adventure blah movie then skip this one.