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