Two And A Half Hours of My Life I'd Rather Have Back

Rating: 2/10 (4 February 2006)

Unfortunately today I had the misfortune to see the supposedly 'epic' New World. I must admit that at first I was glad of the opportunity to witness what promised to be an exciting treatment of a largely unexplored cinematic and historiographical topic, but I must confess my severe disappointment. Malick's direction at first seems enticing, different and refreshing. However, after two hours of consistent repetition of the same directing techniques it begins to become a little wearisome. The film doesn't really seem to know what it is. To me it appears as a standard love story, but it keeps trying to be something more, which naturally results in a confusing and disjointed picture. Hence, it becomes across a film which is devoid of substance and movement. It struck me at the end that nothing really happens. Like 'Alexander', this film just seemed to serve as another excuse for Colin Farrell to appear moody and dejected on camera; a thoroughly dissatisfying experience.