Amazing

Rating: 10/10 (21 June 2007)

Watching The Fountain was one of the most profound and moving experiences I have ever been part of.
Not only were the special effects (dealing mostly with the nebula) and score amazing, but the whole storyline and the way it was presented left me speechless when I finished the movie.
The story begins in the 1500's, in Spain, during the Inquisition. Hugh Jackman plays Tomas, a conquistador, who goes on a journey to find the Tree of Life (or Fountain of Youth). He was sent on this mission by Queen Isabella, played by Rachel Weisz. The story takes place in three story lines- the one in the 1500's- one in the 2000's- and the other, and most spectacular, in the 2500's- deep in outer space.
After watching the film, it took me several hours of thinking about what really happened- and I came up with this interpretation-
Only one of the story lines is truly real- the "present." The future storyline is a clear metaphor for the struggles "present" Tommy is enduring in relation to Izzy's illness. The tree in his spacecraft clearly represents Izzy. His travel to the dying star is directly parallels his quest to find a cure for Izzy's cancer. If he can find the cure for death, Izzy- as well as he- will live forever. Izzy's death coincides with the tree's. In the end, however, Tommy realizes, after "finishing" the book, that death cannot be avoided and should not be feared- something Izzy told him earlier. His acceptance of this is illustrated in the very last scene when he "exits his bubble" and becomes part of space. In the present timeline, he finally says goodbye to Izzy, planting a seed on her grave, renewing life.
This movie was absolutely mind blowing and hopefully more people will experience this masterpiece in the future.