beautiful movie , a potential killer - slightly spoiled by melodrama

Rating: 8/10 (3 January 2009)

I made the mistake and read about this movie on IMDb before watching it actually, and had higher expectations. Although I was not completely disappointed, I had a feeling that it could be a killer movie if it was slightly less over-dramatized and more subtle in storytelling. The film has some memorable, haunting moments with beautiful visuals, and some unnecessary nearly-pathetic twists which spoiled the overall feeling for me.
The main theme of the movie is the inner struggle of a man with the idea of mortality, and a spiritual voyage towards the affirmation of life through accepting death. The story is told in three threads. It captures the viewer's attention with unusual settings (a Conquistador in Mayan world, and a translucent sphere floating among stars - I would not call it a spaceship as it is often described by reviewers here, but more like a depiction of the voyage trough the inner universe of the main character. This is the most fascinating scene in the movie in my opinion.) The movie switches between these two "fictional" worlds and the third "real" world of a doctor and his wife (although I think it is futile to discuss which one is the "reality" because this is absolutely irrelevant for the main theme and message of the movie). There are a few interestingly depicted archetypal images (man trying to conquer death for his queen, tree of life, death giving life). Initially the warmness of the relation of the doctor and his wife contrast nicely the odd and surreal feeling of other two realms, but then it suddenly veers in to a melodrama. This distraction is not enough to ruin the movie though, and it still remains a remarkable piece of cinematography. It should be viewed more than one time, and for the first time, if possible with someone close to you. Not recommended for impatient/instant fun and action/instant answers/must be happy end/is this real or not/ types.