Mallick is from Texas--the film is shot in Texas. Apparentlt the child actors were culled from a local public school and were not told anything about the film even as they were acting in it. It does lend authenticity to the performances, I think. Sean Pean is a self-important douche bag. He spoils every film he is in with his forced art house "I'm in so much personal pain" performance. At least he finally is 50 after looking 50 since he was 18.

Anonymous wrote:People seem to love it or hate it. I hated it. But, if you took out all the whispering, the Sean Penn story line, and the 20 or more minutes devoted to the creation, it could have been a good story.

Mallick does like a film every decade and like Kubrick, people seem to think he is so incredibly brilliant, they're afraid to edit his films. I liked that which was brilliant in the film--just wish some had the balls to edit it. Pitt was very, very good and the kid who played the troubled son was brilliant. Unfortunately in real life he is some uber right wing Republican--really, really weird how so many of these young (gen Z) kids are fascists.

I think if you aren't born and raised in the US, it also loses you. I can't relate to the Americana aspect of the movie at all. Yes, we all grow up with that naivete and innocence, but if you were reared in another culture, much of the movie (beyond the obvious props/time/space) don't resonate.

I loved it and found it very beautiful. But you definitely have to be in the right frame of mind. We watched it on Netflix, and the first night we tried to watch it I had to stop. I was tired and just didn't think my brain could take it all in. Tried it another night and really got into it.

I also can see how some people were put off by the space/dinosaurs/creation bit, and I admit, at first I was too. But after watching the entire film, I can appreciate those scenes. For that mother, her sons were EVERYTHING and their lives (and death) were the most important thing for her. But those earlier scenes really make you think how, in the grand scheme of things, one person's lifetime is really just a flash in the pan. Our planet is millions and millions of years old, so my several decades here on Earth really are inconsequential, right? But juxtapose that with a mother's love for her child, and of course she would tell you that her children's time on Earth has been the most important (for her, at least).

Anyway, I really liked the film - thought-provoking and beautiful. But if you don't like any of Malick's other work, then you probably would not like this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have not seen it, but I think I would like it.

You are either one of those people who like artsy films or not. My DH is definitly NOT one of those people, preferring to watch Jason Borne.

I liked "Everything is Illuminated" and "The Ice Storm". I think most casual movie watchers would not.

The problem is I like artsy moves (liked "The Ice Storm" didn't see "Everything") and I couldn't stand "The Tree of Life." I don't think it's just a matter of the art film/action adventure divide.

OP here. I agree with this. We love artsy movies. We still hated TOL.

Anonymous wrote:Have not seen it, but I think I would like it.

You are either one of those people who like artsy films or not. My DH is definitly NOT one of those people, preferring to watch Jason Borne.

I liked "Everything is Illuminated" and "The Ice Storm". I think most casual movie watchers would not.

The problem is I like artsy moves (liked "The Ice Storm" didn't see "Everything") and I couldn't stand "The Tree of Life." I don't think it's just a matter of the art film/action adventure divide.

Have not seen it, but I think I would like it.

You are either one of those people who like artsy films or not. My DH is definitly NOT one of those people, preferring to watch Jason Borne.

I liked "Everything is Illuminated" and "The Ice Storm". I think most casual movie watchers would not.

Bottom line- you either like Terrance Malick films or you don't, they are definitely not for everyone but it doesn't mean they aren't beautifully made films that tell a story in a unconventional way. His films are never going to be straight forward narrative pieces with an easy to understand three act structure. If that is not for you then go see Mission Impossible 3 instead.

I loved it. DH and I watched it almost 2 months ago, and just the other day he asked about watching again. (He was the one less impressed with the movie when we watched it, but it is a movie that sticks with you if you give it a chance.)

I don't get the opportunity to get out to see movies often, so I was really disappointed I wasted one of my few chances in 2011 on this. Ugh.

Stand by Me meets 2001: A Space Odyssey.