Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: The New World (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

There are 0 reviews and 1 rating from Australia

Sinbad the Sailor

THE NEW WORLD ( 2005 )

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 January 2022

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I love the beginning of the film that slowly drifts into tranquillity in beautiful film imagery and music: The three ships arriving in view from greenery land where the sun captures the light in shadow from the sky: The unusual dance movements and playfulness of the Native Americans' -'inquisitive and gentle like deer' -it all intrigued and captured my attention:

"They are gentle, loving, faithful, lacking in guile and trickery. "The words denoting, 'lying, envy, slander and forgiveness' -have never been heard: "They have no sense of possession. " 'Real' -is what I thought was a dream."

And yet, in a dreamlike quality and tale, this is how the story unfolds -but how very different this film would have been in mood without the haunting and lovely musical score: from a long journey to form a new settlement into a colony among Native Americans'?

The words are often spoken in quietly voiced, and imagined thoughts -in confrontation, in harmonisation to communicate in division of languages between two very different cultures from ancestral nations.

There are no horrors to witness to unsettle the viewer in alarming terror: but there are hardships, hunger, fighting and poor discipline, and a constant threat in fear from the natives to be conquered, to be colonized in control of their freedom?

I like the eventual pageant meeting at the Royal Court with King James and the daughter of Chief Powhatan: 'Pocahontas!' -the girl, hypnotic to mesmerising beauty to Captain John Smith -and to the camera lens itself!

The beautiful filming and music drifts and lingers along in 172mins of viewing time -and a piano concerto by Mozart ( no.23 ) is prominent throughout to enhance a sadness of a love story that I had not mentioned -but in a longing desire that the film seems intent to convey!

Directed by Terrence Malick
Music by James Horner
Cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki
Starring Q'orianka Kilcher, Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Christian Bale, August Schellenberg....

I saw the film in the cinema at the Tavistock Wharf ( Devon ) on Thursday, 30th March 2006 ( I still have the box office ticket! ) : An afternoon viewing at 2.00pm that drifted into an early evening visit to the 'Tavistock Inn' -in a reflective mood to engage my imagination and enchantment -with my thoughts, not so very far removed from 'The New World' in beauty of this film.
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2 people found this helpful

Mrs L J

Beautifully filmed but didn't really do justice to the story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 October 2020

Verified Purchase

This film was lovely to watch, but there were long sections when nothing happened. Based on the well documented and true story of Pocahontas and John Smith and her subsequent marriage to John Rolfe. She became quite a celebrity in England, accepted at the Royal Court of King James and Queen Ann.
Colin Farrell was totally unconvincing as Captain Smith, spending much of the time wandering round a pained look on his face. Other reviewers have mentioned that his speech was mumbled and unclear. I would agree.
Such a shame that this true story with great potential was spoiled by the directing and mediocre acting by a few.

2 people found this helpful

J. Pauley

Incredible film making (Extended Cut Review)

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 July 2015

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Quite simply one of the most beautiful, mesmerising and profoundly moving films I have ever seen.

Action movie fans - look elsewhere and do not be fooled by the cover or by the trailer. This is most definitely not another 'Last of the Mohicans' or anything like it. It is much, much more. It is that rarest of things in these days of disposable, homogenised, multiplex fodder - it is a work of (dare I say it!) art. With a capital 'A'.

This is not so much a film that you watch as you literally experience. Incredible!

21 people found this helpful

R H Warwick

If you like Terrence Malick fan see it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2015

Verified Purchase

It's been said its like watching a painting dry, and lovely to look at.
It does not have a lot of action, for the young kids of to-day. But if you
just sit back, there is a lot to enjoy. Must say it's the first time I've
enjoyed Colin Farrell in a film. I've just cannot see why so many people
liked him. But this film is not about him but Terrence Malick, and once
more shows how skilled he is.

3 people found this helpful

Caroline Clark

Liked the mood.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2016

Verified Purchase

This film somehow had it all, and at the same time somehow missed the target. I loved the mood and storyline, as it had a charm, but Colin Farrell mumbled so much we could hardly follow, which is a shame, since an Irish accent is endearing. And he didn't come across as much if a leader. I'd have prefer another male lead actor, though not sure who. Dialogue could have been fuller, and the entire story with all its aspects (meanwhile back at the fort) could have been developed in a way we could better grasp the hunger and misery they endured. Loved the ending. We're not sorry we watched it, and will probably watch it again.

6 people found this helpful

simon brennan

A must have for Terence Malice fans

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 January 2021

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A fabulous presentation of Terence Malick's 2005 film. Another top notch release from Criterion.

2 people found this helpful

Philip Wagstaff

Bored by new Eden

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 July 2014

Verified Purchase

As others have said this is an art film. Lovely photography, great settings, realism etc but it is very slow and the love story (both for the native woman and the new Eden) does not convince, and that's mainly down to Colin Farrell who gives the overwhelming impression he does not want to be there.

6 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

Someone will like this film somewhere, not me

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 February 2020

Verified Purchase

Wish I hadn't bought it. Did people civilised people really behave like that!!!!?

Ruth

Got halfway through and had to stop

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2016

Verified Purchase

After seeing some good reviews of this movie I thought I would try it. But it was a complete let down as we couldn't even get through it it was so boring. This is unusual for a movie to be that bad that I won't watch to the end, and maybe it got better, but there was hardly any dialogue just a lot of slow looking and walking. But seeker was fine etc

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Worth buying

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 September 2016

Verified Purchase

Really great epic adventure set in
1607 when the first European settlers met the first American Indians plenty of action and a good love story thrown in.

5 star		70%
4 star		14%
3 star		6%
2 star		4%
1 star		6%

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