I’ve watched four films by Terrence Malick – "The New World" (2005), along with his earlier works, "Badlands" (1973), "Days of Heaven" (1978) and "The Thin Red Line" (1998). He's a filmmaker who clearly isn’t aiming for mainstream appeal. While his previous films are well-crafted and, in some respects, quite impressive, they possess an airy, unhurried quality that might not suit every viewer. My personal favorite is "The Thin Red Line," a flawed but powerful film about a battle during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II; it rises above its plot to explore fundamental questions about existence. Malick attempts this kind of exploration in all his movies, but he achieved something particularly striking with “The Thin Red Line.” I bring this up because I’m familiar with Malick's style and what to expect from him. I was really looking forward to "The New World," a historical drama about the establishment of the Jamestown, Virginia colony in 1607, featuring Captain John Smith (Colin Farrell), Pocahontas (Q'orianka Kilcher), John Rolfe (Christian Bale) and others (Christopher Plummer, Wes Studi, etc.). Filmed on location near the Chickahominy River in Virginia, the film is visually beautiful as you’d expect, with excellent costumes and casting. However, for me, the slow pace was a problem, and I wasn't engaged by the themes enough to become completely absorbed. It functions primarily as a romance, which isn’t really my thing. I can’t quite put my finger on why; perhaps it’s the sluggish rhythm or maybe because Kilcher’s portrayal of Pocahontas didn’t particularly captivate me—though she is certainly good in her role. I just didn't find her as compelling as Smith and Rolfe did within the story. One issue I have with the movie involves an overly idealized depiction of Native Americans. For example, when Smith narrates a voice-over: "They are gentle, loving, faithful, lacking in all guile and trickery. The words denoting lying, deceit, greed, envy, slander, and forgiveness have never been heard. They have no jealousy, no sense of possession." _Really!_ If the Native Americans had no concept of ownership, why did they attack the settlement when the English settlers didn't leave the following spring? Why were various tribes across the Americas constantly at war with each other? Are we supposed to believe that none of them understood what a lie was or experienced jealousy or envy? I understand that these people hadn’t yet been corrupted by European civilization, but suggesting they were as virtuous as described is quite unrealistic. It seems inevitable that some Native American men would have felt jealous when Smith sparked romantic interest with Pocahontas. I could only appreciate the film by recognizing that Smith's voice-over represented his idealized and romanticized view of a people he admired. In other words, it wasn’t an accurate reflection of reality; it was simply his temporarily biased perspective. BOTTOM LINE: “The New World” will likely appeal to those who enjoy artistic and romantic films. I find myself somewhere in the middle—I acknowledge its merits, even its potential for greatness, but can't ignore its shortcomings as a viewing experience. Regardless, it’s valuable to be able to step back in time and visualize how things were when Jamestown was founded, however romantically portrayed here. The film runs 136 minutes (a considerable length) and the extended cut is 172 minutes long. GRADE: C+

Source on TMDB