MovieChat Forums > The Tree of Life (2011) Discussion > Whether you loved it or hate it, please ...

Whether you loved it or hate it, please explain why.

posted 12 years ago by amandaaaj
69 replies | jump to latest

I'm definitely full of conflicting feelings regarding this film and I came to imdb seeking exposure to other peoples' thought processes. Unfortunately, within most threads I've looked at all I've found is comments like these:

"This is a unique and beautiful masterpiece and one of the best films ever made."

or....

"Worst. Film. Ever.
End of story."

People rarely actually explain why they liked or disliked the movie. These are the most specific comments I have found on either side, and it's comments like these that I want to request in this thread:

"The film transcends categorization because it attempts to encompass the grandeur of not only human life, but of ALL life" (still pretty vague but honestly the most specific comment I found on the positive side).

or...

"I see little worth in a film with no structure, no plot and no coherence. I see little skill in filming a 20 minute sequence about the start of the world narrated by whispered nonsense and injecting it into a random part of the film. The only good thing was some nice visuals, but that doesn't make it unique."

What these people have done is provided reasons for their opinions. I challenge everyone in this thread to post your opinion of this film, and clearly EXPLAIN why you feel that way. I'm dying to actually understand everyone's opinions and thought processes. This is not a place to debate whether this was a good or bad film or to convince others the way they think is wrong, this is a place to express YOUR OWN opinion and then clearly explain why you feel that way. No cop-outs aloud.

I'm curious how many people are actually capable of defending any of their positions on this film.

[–] wonttell99 12 years ago

I don't like this film at all.
I'm in minute 51 of watching it, and I don't see any story unfolding, which for me is essential to even call it a film.
This looks more like a loosely tied connection of cinematographically nice looking images.
To put it in computer terms, this is like an old-fashioned screensaver.
This is Flying Toasters.
The film is filled to the brim with pretentious dialogues, people staring into the camera as if they are saying or doing something very important, though all there's aboslutely nothing special in what they're doing.
Much ado about nothing.

[–] Jacovitti86 12 years ago

I really love it. It definitely has some flaws but overall it's a film I treasure.

The thing I get out of it is, it's a movie that I just find very relaxing to watch. It's a movie that makes me think about life, my childhood, and on where I am in my life right now. And in the meantime I get to soak in some beautiful imagery and great music. It is full of beautiful sights, amazing shots, and it's a really, really interesting piece of film-making.

For me, it is a movie intended to evoke feelings. I don't really see a point in over-analyzing it. My only problem is that the somewhat distant and abstract storytelling prevents you from caring that much for the characters, so for me the ending (the film's weakest part) doesn't have the power that it probably should have.

But I really love films that try to do things differently, to tell a story in an unconventional way. That's why I love most of Stanley Kubrick's work and in particular 2001, a film this often is compared to. I love it when films make you think and feel things purely through visuals, because that is the essence of what movies should be about.

[–] Vicious-Nike 12 years ago

I'm too tired too write a big review or explanation, but I loved Tree Of Life, because it's not a Movie like any other. It's kind of a blue print, what movies can do, what they can create and achieve and what they can evoke in one's mind and feelings. There are several obscure and ridiculous images and ideas (Sean Penn holds his hand in a jet of water). It touched me in a way, no other movie did!

So, just as a note, I hated 2001 and after this massive *beep* about Tree Of Life I don't have a guilty conscious anymore...

[–] forthesafetyofpuppies 12 years ago

Reading The Tree Of Life board, particularly this thread, I can't help but think of this scene. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpIYz8tfGjY

I fear, though, if I pulled out Terrance Malick he, far from ending the mental masturbation, would just join in.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YA5UdVhhsI

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Katiedot 12 years ago

I can understand why people loved this film - tbh, can also understand why people hated it too.

For me it was a bit meh. I think it's possible to make magisterial, moving films that capture the mind but Tree of Life didn't do that for me. While I hesitate to post this here, it felt rather like something a film student might make: trying to shoehorn in the biggest, most wow emotional movements into it, to make some kind of statement by throwing in every thing possible. Sometimes less is more.

For some this approach obviously worked. For me it felt too obvious, too manipulative. When the whole creation of the universe bit happened I cringed with embarrassment at it. But I did enjoy humming along with some of the music.

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[–] kjohnson-21 12 years ago

I usually enjoy odd films and I like all of the actors in this, but I just don't get it. How could anyone have come up with the summary plot description. Really, disillusioned in a modern world? Not seeing it. It had moments, then all the odd camera tricks and nonsense, people frolicking, etc. just didn't hold my interest.

One thing was interesting and I expected it to be further explored....I felt that they were leading up to a sexual relationship between the mother and son...there were some suggestive shots of Jessica's body and then the night gown thing and the comments by the son '...don't look at me.." Definite scenes of shame.

All of the shots with the boys experimenting with danger made me nervous also. Reminded me of things I did as a boy and I kept expecting the older son to accidentally hurt his brother.

A definite thumbs down for me. How was this nominated for best picture?

[–] hodie 12 years ago

This is a story that could have made a nice tight human drama if it had stuck to characters actually speaking to each other instead of dragging in a lot of folderol about the whole universe.

I have experienced the loss of a close family member and my experience was nothing like this. It is as if the boy's death was exploited.

"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

[–] johngalt-1 12 years ago

The first (and so far only) time I watched the film, I said "what?" as the credits rolled. But a day or so later, I realized I was thinking about things I hadn't in a very long time, and that most of them stemmed from imagery in "The Tree Of Life". I have been wrestling with myself over whether I want to watch it again. But some distance from the sole viewing....I love it.

I believe the intention of the film was to put the viewer in the role of the main character, to lead us on the same personal journey. Malick speaks visually of his own through his characters. But the "story" is one that we must write for ourselves, using his offerings merely as a guide.

This is not an "entertaining" film in the strictest sense. It is a sort of dream from which we awaken recalling only portions, and must proceed to our own interpretation to complete the experience.

If you ate popcorn during this movie, you probably missed an awful lot.

The last resort of one who cannot think is to argue that another cannot feel.

[–] Alice_no_wander 11 years ago

Can't say if I loved it or hated it. But it made me thinking. And it's a good movie. The one that makes you think about life a bit further than usual. It was also visually beautiful. The idea of narration of someones thoughts while showing completely static or dynamic scenes with nice music in the background is something that suits my taste. I liked New World more since there were moments in this one where I simply couldn't catch what he really want's to express or show. What feeling, what emotion. I thought I got it all wrong.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft 12 years ago

I hated it because I am an atheist materialist. I do not have an iota of "spirituality" in me, and I don't want any. To me that is all just mushy-minded pablum, not nearly as "deep" as people think.

For depth, give me something like Bergman's "Persona" or Linklater's "Waking Life" over this mumbo-jumbo any day.

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