The New World (2005)

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 Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | 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:

Native American cast members had to learn the Algonquin language. 3000 people speak this language today, many of whom were hired by producers to teach cast members.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Pocahontas is approaching with the Native Americans to give food during winter, she is wearing a hide over her head which is of an axis deer. This is native to India and Sri Lanka and would not have been in America in the 1600s.

Quotes:

Pocahontas: Did you find your Indies, John? You shall.
Captain John Smith: [after a long reflective pause] I may have sailed past them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Un conte de Noël (2008)

Soundtrack:

Ancient Voices

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!