Superficial

Rating: 2/10 (6 January 2007)

The film aims to go deep into philosophical and ethical questions, but has somewhat the problem of some Prokofjew operas: It has no peaks at all.
It is a really a good piece of art in terms of visual effects, just like the film music is really great. But the message that the film delivers is clear within the first two chapters. A love beyond all boundaries, questioning the meaning of life and dead, a struggle for sense illuminated from religion, philosophy, ethics and science.
Good idea, but why does the film have to pay tribute to so many things in such a superficial way, and why are there no changes in the general mood of the film? It's the same atmosphere while conquering the tree of life and during the burial. No contrast, everything smooth and silk.
It leads to some fantasy-religion-scifi cocktail that was really, well: boring. On top the film needlessly repeats many scenes, I started to feel I was took for a fool when I was shown flashbacks to earlier scenes where it was obvious why sth. has to happen at this point, not to mention scenes that brimmed over with pathos.
The beginning of the film suggests it could lead into a really nice multi-layered plot, but actually the hidden layers are revealed too early such that the viewer does not even get the chance to think on his own, you get everything served on a silver tablet.
You may also like this film if you like the funny visualization stuff that a certain media player offers while playing music.
Of course this reflects my personal impressions of the film, but it is certainly a film capable to divide the audience.