To the Wonder (2012) - August 6, 2013

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Well... a few things that might help in your decision:
- He's not really the lead, Olga Kurylenko is. At least she's the focus of the film. He's in a LOT of it, don't get me wrong, but most of the film is with her, not him, even when he's in a scene.
- There's not nearly as much voiceover in this as in some other Malick films, it's more sound collages and music.
-It's Malick's least narrative-based film so far, it's basically a 113 minute montage, with almost no dialogue and what dialogue there is is largely atmospheric.

I really liked it, but I wouldn't deny that it's a challenge to sit through.

Great response...appreciate it.

It's interesting how you can chart the evolution of Malick's work by how progressively more abstract and disjointed the narratives have become.

Badlands, relatively speaking, is a pretty conventional film from a narrative standpoint. Days of Heaven is fairly traditional as well, but starts to incorporate the poetic voice over that's only loosely connected to the images on the screen. The Thin Red Line takes this yet another step further, with a very loose sense of plot/story and voice over that's starting to become almost unintelligible at times. Then The Tree of Life comes along and practically blows the concept of "story" and "narrative" out of the water--relying far more on image montage and abstract philosophical voice over.

Sounds as though To The Wonder has Terry on the verge of going off the edge of the proverbial cinematic cliff. Should be interesting.

Love your avatar by the way.

...he was never going back.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

I really didn't know what to do with it, and I love all other Malick films, except for Badlands, which I haven't seen yet.
I didn't enjoy it at all.

I am looking forward to the next one though.

You must see Badlands.

...you MUST!

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

You must see Badlands.

...you MUST!

I don't know. I think I won't like it, as it's features a couple on a killing spree, and I can't imagine enjoying that. I like the poetic, meditative, nature-loving Terrence Malick.
Maybe I will one day.

[Jakdonark]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

I don't know. I think I won't like it, as it's features a couple on a killing spree, and I can't imagine enjoying that. I like the poetic, meditative, nature-loving Terrence Malick.
Maybe I will one day.

Did you like Natural Born Killers? Granted it's more of a satirical film, whereas Badlands is more serious. I haven't watched it for years but I enjoyed it and picked up the Criterion last year (still unopened).

On a side note, I'm not 100%, but I think I remember reading that Tarantino used some of this as an inspiration for True Romance (which of course the original story was picked up by Stone and altered to make NBK). And Hans Zimmer does use some of the music from Badlands in his main theme for True Romance. As I recall Badlands doesn't really glorify the violence, much like Bonnie and Clyde. It's definitely worth watching at least once.

[DarknessBDJM]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

I don't know. I think I won't like it, as it's features a couple on a killing spree, and I can't imagine enjoying that. I like the poetic, meditative, nature-loving Terrence Malick.
Maybe I will one day.

It's nothing like that aforementioned description though. It does not feel at all like a film about anyone going on a killing spree, and what deaths do occur do not feel violet like one would expect given the inspiration for the characters. The deaths more so feel like Sheen's otherwise polite character is gut reacting in the heat of the moment without thinking like a child might do, there's no relish or glee from it, and he isn't ever really angry on screen when he reacts. Spacek and Sheen's characters both have child-like mentalities that manifest in different ways. It's not like Natural Born Killers or True Romance (which re-uses the main theme from Badlands) or even Bonnie and Clyde. It's more so about Spacek's child-like character and her naivete and youth and how she deals with Sheen's character and his spur of the moment decisions and the fugitive situation he's put her in.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by DarknessBDJM

It's nothing like that aforementioned description though. It does not feel at all like a film about anyone going on a killing spree, and what deaths do occur do not feel violet like one would expect given the inspiration for the characters. The deaths more so feel like Sheen's otherwise polite character is gut reacting in the heat of the moment without thinking like a child might do, there's no relish or glee from it, and he isn't ever really angry on screen when he reacts. Spacek and Sheen's characters both have child-like mentalities that manifest in different ways. It's not like Natural Born Killers or True Romance (which re-uses the main theme from Badlands) or even Bonnie and Clyde. It's more so about Spacek's child-like character and her naivete and youth and how she deals with Sheen's character and his spur of the moment decisions and the fugitive situation he's put her in.

Badlands established an ongoing Terrence Malick theme by showing that the natural world around us remains ambivalent to our personal struggles, crimes, atrocities, or even victories. For all of our individual hopes and dreams, we are simply another small part of nature in the grand scheme of things. I love how the events of Badlands take place in the vastness of gorgeous landscapes.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by Jakdonark

Did you like Natural Born Killers? Granted it's more of a satirical film, whereas Badlands is more serious. I haven't watched it for years but I enjoyed it and picked up the Criterion last year (still unopened).

On a side note, I'm not 100%, but I think I remember reading that Tarantino used some of this as an inspiration for True Romance (which of course the original story was picked up by Stone and altered to make NBK). And Hans Zimmer does use some of the music from Badlands in his main theme for True Romance. As I recall Badlands doesn't really glorify the violence, much like Bonnie and Clyde. It's definitely worth watching at least once.

I despise Natural Born Killers. I watched about half of it, and couldn't stand it any longer. I thought only a psychopath could make such a movie, and sure enough, Oliver Stone is a Vietnam war veteran. Go figure.

Glad to hear Badlands isn't like this, but I still have no interest in it.

[Kyle15]

Picked this up for $1 at Dollar Tree today!

Are there any custom covers for it out there? It really needs a better cover.

[CelestialAgent]

How much of the film isn’t in English? The best Region B release for extras appears to be the French release for having Magnolia’s extras, but I don’t want to miss any important dialogue. Similarly, Germany has a Malick boxset including this film, but I would be concerned about missing some of the film.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

How much of the film isn’t in English? The best Region B release for extras appears to be the French release for having Magnolia’s extras, but I don’t want to miss any important dialogue. Similarly, Germany has a Malick boxset including this film, but I would be concerned about missing some of the film.

Quite a bit of it is in French