by: Pablohopp

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 01:06:20 +0000

Let me start my review by saying this; Q’Orianka Kilcher’s performance as Pocahontas is so utterly complete, that the scene when she first puts on an English dress and shoes was one of the most painful and heartbreaking things I ever witnessed in a movie. How often does a movie come along that can make something so simple, so powerful? That one scene says it all about the “New World,” but I won’t spoil the rest of the movie for you. People either love the movie or hate it. I can understand why it doesn’t appeal to some people. But how often do you read reviews so passionate for a film? For me personally, I’ve only been blown away by a movie three times in my life. First, when I was nine and seeing Star Wars for the first time. Whew, what a biggie! Fourteen years later I saw a showing of Lawrence of Arabia at an old local theater. I ended up going back three times. Now, 15 years later, it happened again. But unlike Star Wars and Lawrence, my viewing of The New World didn’t occur on the big screen, but on a flight. I read only one review of The New World before I saw it, and it wasn’t very good. But I love history and wanted to see the movie. Luckily the plane was showing it, but my viewing was limited by those tiny personal monitors and the audio had the usual hum of the plane engines. It made no difference. The opening scene, and what an amazing scene it is, drew me in immediately. In spite of the severe limitation to sight and sound, the power of the movie was shocking. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was seeing and hearing things I had never seen or heard before in a movie. People often refer to their viewing as if “transcended,” and that’s an apt description. Upon arriving back to the USA, I immediately bought the DVD from Amazon to make sure that what I thought I saw was the real deal. It was again mind blowing, especially on a larger monitor and with surround sound. It’s one of those things that can’t be explained why some movies can hit you at those truly deep levels. I have read reviews of the movie, good and bad, and some people claim that those who don’t like the movie just don’t “get it.” Look, I didn’t like The Thin Red Line and loved Dumb and Dumber. I’m not so vain to think that I have something special about me to “get it” over other people. I think rather, it’s a matter of choice. We all have movies we like and dislike for various reasons. But if you didn’t like The New World, then I hope you can find some movie that will allow you to experience the sensation of being so truly moved that it demands repeated viewing. This movie had me questioning my views of history, life, love, right and wrong choices, and the way we live within our world and with each other. If you haven’t seen this movie, then give it a try. As you can read from the reviews, there is no middle ground; sure for some it as was boring, but maybe, just maybe, if you take a chance and sit back, it might just roll over you and then blow you away.

Comments on: The New World

by: Pablohopp