a cerebral roller-coaster ride traversing paths of existence and love.

Rating: 8/10 (26 November 2006)

This movie spewed philosophical allusion wall to wall the entire 120 minutes. To set myself down softly here instead of crashing loudly into the proverbial wall of criticism too early on I'll say this: only see this movie if you come geared up to think. And I mean think. The cognitive spirit of the story was intersticed with a tale of endearing romance, a lifelong struggle, and the fraility of existence. The interprations of a tree of life to represent a riddle of the indifference of life was beyond words. It inspired me the way a flash of insight inspires a scholar to write ceaselessly until all thoughts are expounded. And to think that Arranofsky was capable of maintaining direction in this film which is primarily quiet, contemplative, and unlinear. Of course, The Fountain won't leave you with a cerebral aftertaste lying dank in your mouth. Instead it delivers a poignant tale of a romance so powerful it inspires a man to devote his entire being to saving his wife. The story and it's elaborate imaginatory content spans a thousand years. In one instance, the conquistador is searching for the fountain of youth in New Spain and in the other scene memories and thoughts occupy a future where beings transcend time and space in life pods. Ultimately, the overlying themes behind the Fountain are more than enough rationale to conclude this as a must-see. If not for intellectual inspiration, perhaps at least for its science fiction value.