Beautifully shot but long.

Rating: 6/10 (6 September 2006)

"The New World" (2005) is a film that can best be described as a sight to see but not to feel. The latest film by director Terrence Malick, the cinematography (by Emmanuel Lubezki) is so exquisite that this film's only Oscar nomination was for just that. This cinematography makes you feel as if there was still a world of the early 1600s out there in our present world. Also a highlight is newcomer Q'Orianka Kilcher as the legendary Pocahontas - her innocence and wonder of the world is shown dramatically and wonderfully through Kilcher's eyes and performance. The same can't be said about two great actors: Colin Farrell's performance as Captain John Smith nor Christian Bale as John Rolfe but then again they weren't given much to do with their roles either. Not only that, the film is very long. So long that sometimes your mind will wander. And for this main reason I cannot give the film more than a 6 out of 10. But I would still recommend it as a viewing experience of early American history.