Although the slow pace and restraint take away something they compliment and support a sense and sight of beauty

Rating: Null/10 (22 June 2008)

It is the 17th Century and the English are expanding their Empire into new and undiscovered lands. Captain John Smith is in one such expedition and he is holed up in a hasty fort along with his superiors and men, defending themselves from the "savages". Smith ventures out with a party to try and trade with the natives but is overwhelmed and captured by them. Only the intervention of the king's daughter, Pocahontas, saves his life and sees him spared to teach her about his world. The pair develop a unspoken bond, with Smith taken by her beauty and innocence. However when he is returned to the fort he knows that the conflict will restart as they have no intention of leaving this land.
Another reviewer states that it helps to know what you're getting into before you watch this so that you're not expecting some battle-filled epic. Those comments are valid if a little short-sighted because the truth is the name Terrence Malick should tell you what you need to know in regards this being quite a slow-paced but beautiful film and not one to come to for action-packed plotting and big battle sequences. In terms of narrative we are given the story with a very slight touch, almost like Malick is confident that this is something we should feel rather than just be shown. The "rules" of shooting that I read after seeing this confirmed what I suspected  that a lot of effort was put into the filming of the visuals and capturing the world that Smith et al stumbled into. Now this sounds like I'm talking about the "aren't the native people beautiful" film-making of A Man Called Horse, Dances with Wolves etc but this is not what this is. Instead the film just takes its time and allows everything to seep through with striking imagery and shots.
Of course for many people the lack of strong narrative flow will be a problem and to be honest at times it was so for me. Long sections occasionally drag where very little happens or is spoken and although mostly the pace works, at times it really does not and I would have liked to have seen some cuts in some small sections  not that it is my place to suggest such! Malick draws out worthy and restrained performances from his cast that match the tone and feel of the film. Farrell and Bale really hold back and it is strange to see them being so restrained and quiet  but it works. Kilcher steals the film with a natural and peaceful performance that is the core of the film and key to convincing the audience as to why people were captivated by her. Studi, Thewlis, Chaplin and others all do solid support while the sharp-eyed Oz fan will spot Alvarez himself in a tiny role.
The New World is not a film to come to in a rush or if you are a bit tense and looking for a film to quickly engage and hold you. Instead it is a film that is best suited just flowing over you. Does this make it perfect? Well of course not and those that have issues with the quiet and slow plot and pace are not wrong but actually right. They are however missing the point because these qualities are necessary to match the beautiful visuals and "feel" of the film, which are what made it worth seeing for me.