| Directed and written by Terrence Malick, the talented | | | | Native American kingdom of Powhatan (August |
| artist behind The Thin Red Line (1998), great | | | | Schellenberg). Of course, most of the world knows the |
| anticipation surrounded the release of The New World. | | | | basic plotline. Smith's life is spared when his body is |
| The project was bold and ambitious enough to peak | | | | covered by Powhatan's beautiful daughter, |
| one's interest, but unfortunately, the film could not | | | | Pocahontas (Q'Orianka Kilcher). Kilcher certainly |
| deliver on its promise. Entire scenes drift by with | | | | displays the requisite physical beauty to portray the |
| nothing in particular being achieved to either advance | | | | princess, but the script gives her little with which to |
| the plot, the theme, or the premise of the film. | | | | work. Although a subject of controversy among |
| Unfittingly, the soundtrack featured blaring snippets of | | | | historians, the film plays up the angle of a possible love |
| concert music reminiscent of Richard Wagner, which | | | | affair between Smith and Pocahontas, but it |
| would be great if The New World took place in 19th | | | | accurately records her eventual marriage to John |
| Century Venice instead of 17th Century America. | | | | Rolfe (Christian Bale) and the couple's celebrated trip |
| Much more should be expected from James Horner | | | | to London. But The New World's problems don't stem |
| whose brilliant work has enhanced such films as Field | | | | from historical accuracy, but rather from the fact that |
| of Dreams, Braveheart, Legends of the Fall, and | | | | the preceding paragraph is a detailed account of |
| Titanic. The New World soundtrack is disaster almost | | | | everything that happens in a tedious two-hour |
| on par with the latter film. | | | | fifteen-minute snoozer. In short, it's long and boring. |
| The rest of film isn't much better. Although it vividly | | | | As much as the film failed to live up to expectations, |
| illustrates the limitless possibility of early Jamestown | | | | this much can be said for The New World: it |
| and the majesty of the unspoiled wilderness | | | | accurately portrays the landscape of southeastern |
| surrounding it, the visual images are offset by poor | | | | Virginia. That alone makes it immensely superior to |
| dialogue and what seems to be an overly zealous | | | | Disney's Pocahontas which featured non-indigenous |
| attempt to manufacture a poetic awe-inspiring | | | | animals and forests peppered with waterfalls. |
| masterpiece of a film. Nevertheless, The New World | | | | Unfortunately, an entire generation of children gathered |
| does manage to summon images of the first | | | | their personal knowledge of local geography from that |
| European settlers and the hardship they must have | | | | film. From the perspective of set design, wardrobe, |
| faced. From this standpoint, one can say it has some | | | | historical underpinnings, and the mere beauty of its |
| reflective value for those who appreciate human | | | | images, The New World is a film to behold. However, |
| history... | | | | from the standpoint of dialogue, plot, direction, and |
| The New World begins by following the life of Captain | | | | performance, The New World is an utter flop. Unless |
| John Smith (Colin Farrell). Landing in the New World | | | | you're a history buff, and specifically a Jamestown |
| with a convoy of Englishmen, he happens upon the | | | | junkie, avoid the film at all costs... |