The New World (2005)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Terrence Malick

Writer (WGA):

Terrence Malick (written by)

Release Date:

20 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

Once discovered, it was changed forever

Plot:

A drama about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers in the 17th century.

Plot Keywords:

Pocahontas | Captain | Fort | Love | Trade

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Colin Farrell	...	Captain Smith
Q'orianka Kilcher	...	Pocahontas
Christopher Plummer	...	Captain Newport
Christian Bale	...	John Rolfe
August Schellenberg	...	Powhatan
Wes Studi	...	Opechancanough
David Thewlis	...	Wingfield
Yorick van Wageningen	...	Captain Argall
Raoul Trujillo	...	Tomocomo
Michael Greyeyes	...	Rupwew
Kalani Queypo	...	Parahunt
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Ben
Noah Taylor	...	Selway
Brian F. O'Byrne	...	Lewes
Ben Chaplin	...	Robinson

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some intense battle sequences.

Runtime:

135 min | 172 min (extended cut) | USA:150 min (DVD extended cut)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | Algonquin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:PG | France:U | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 | Malaysia:U | Hong Kong:IIA | Brazil:12 | Iceland:12 | Norway:11 | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG | Australia:M | Italy:T | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Although it was ultimately determined to be fiscally unfeasible to shoot the entire film on 65mm film stock, this has the distinction of being the first feature film in nine years to shoot on 65mm stock for non-visual effects shots. The last film to shoot in 65mm was Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet (1996), which remains (as of 2005) the last feature to be entirely shot on 65mm.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: After the Powhatans flee their village as the settlers burn the huts, two smoke canisters can be seen to the right of the shot as the camera moves over an empty field.

Quotes:

Pocahontas: What else is life but being near you? Do they suspect? Oh, to be given to you; you to me. I will be faithful to you. True.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Allemaal film: De amerikaanse droom (#1.6)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Ritual 1

Staggering.

This film was everything I had hoped for and infinite volumes more. Writer/Director Terrence Malik simply refuses to see film-making as anything short of an art form and handles his brushes (not to mention every frame) with the tender care and command of an artistic master.

The warnings are true... if you're looking for standard Hollywood fare, then run away. However, if you were trying hard to remember what film-making is supposed to be about, then this film is an absolute MUST SEE. While it is not forcefully spiritual in its aural narrative, I found this film to be a deeply religious experience in ways that words fail to express.

True to form, Malik affords the world of this film as much character as the humans themselves possess. Long stretches of nothing but ambient, nat sounds. Stunning snapshots of the peripheral influences to each scene (i.e. blowing grass, running streams, towering trees). Even an ending title sequence that lives beyond the narrative... breathing the last breaths of a tale that has managed to regularly transcends words.

Sharp. Detailed. Purposeful. Bold. Brilliant.

I have not been this happy about a film in a very long time. Well worth the money. Well worth the time. You will leave better for having seen it.

I could not recommend it more!