Randy --
Thanks for your dispassionate and systematic review of the NEW WORLD. It provides a much clearer perspective on what the film makers were probably trying to do and what they did well or not. I have not seen the film; but after your review I may be tempted to, even though I rarely bother with most films, historical or otherwise.
I hope you had a great Turkey Day in Boyce. I was thru your area yesterday and the sun was shining even more brilliantly than usual, doubtless aided by the glow of your smile!
:-) Bob
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Robert D. Shriner ([log in to unmask])
Warrenton, Virginia U.S.A
540/349-8193 Cell: 703/795-4355
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Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not
get bent out of shape
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2006 15:30:15 -0500
From: Randy Cabell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: The New World Revisited
For some reason, I decided a week or so ago that I should see the movie =
THE NEW WORLD for myself. Since a lot of bucks were invested in making =
it, maybe it will re-appear in 2007. In any case, I found a copy at =
www.amazon.com for $4.98 and added another $3 for postage. Let me =
give you my assessment of the movie.
First, I am an engineer by training. The last formal course that I had =
in the arts included reading SIR GAWAIN THE THE GREEN KNIGHT, under =
'Country Brown' at Georgia Tech half a century ago. Earlier, I thought =
that GULLIVER's TRAVELS was a great adventure story, completely missing =
the subltlies of poking fun at British Society. I tell you this to =
position my comments.
THE NEW WORLD is not The New World of settling Jamestown that I (and =
probably most people) expected. Oh there is a bit there, but it is =
really The New World of Pocohontas, and beautifully done I might add.
The movie is an Artsy production. That is not my assessment alone, but =
some reviewers.
1 - If you liked SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, you will love the movie. I did =
not like it. But if you did, then by all means go and see THE NEW =
WORLD, and don't bother to read the rest of this EMail.
2 - If you want to see it, then by all means view MAKING OF THE NEW =
WORLD first. It comes on the DVD, and fills a particular need for this =
movie. Three points -- (1) it identifies who some of the people are =
(like Openchecnough),(2) it shows how the movie makers managed to come =
with a Jamestowne that was probably every bit as depressing as the =
original, but most important (3) shows the care involving Native =
American actors, and trying to re-create their ancestor's lives 400 =
years ago.
My Engineering Brain divides the actual movie into three parts of =
unequal length.
#1 - The arrival of the three ships, and the Indian's awareness thereof. =
This is the first 3 or 4 minutes, but captures what must have been the =
spirit of awe and wonder originally experienced. This is the high point =
of historical accuracy.
#2 - John Smith in Love, ala 'Shakespeare in Love.' This is the next =
35-45% of the movie. It is a terrible representation of Capt. John =
Smith. (As VA-HIST readers know, JS is my Jamestown hero.) The New =
World JS (NWJS hereafter) spends half of his time romancing Pocohantas, =
and the rest wearing a pouting look and appearing very unsure of =
himself. If the real JS behaved that way we would either (1) all be =
speaking Spanish and living in the United States of Spain or (2) reading =
in our history books about The Lost Colony #2 - Virginia Edition. =
Sheesh..... NWJS does not even get injured, but merely sails off into =
the sunset to England.
#3 - About half of the movie is 'The new world of Pocohontas.' This was =
beautifully acted, and I thought she did an outstanding job of conveying =
what it must have meant to be alone in Jamestowne among strangers, to =
learn English customs, to marry John Rolfe, go to England, etc. =20
All in all, to me The New World is well worth the $7 - $8 it will cost =
you to get a copy from Amazon, but strangely more for the "Making =
Thereof" than the actual movie. However, unlike the quote on the DVD =
jacket about it being the greatest historical movie since TITANIC, it is =
not. =20
My biggest surprise was the music. It never stuck out, but was done so =
well, it supported what was going on in the movie. i.e. unless you were =
focusing on the music, you probably forgot it was there. That is =
probably what movie music should be all about.
The high point remains as has been reported, the Virginia scenary.
Randy Cabell
The Trumpeter of Jamestowne
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End of VA-HIST Digest - 23 Nov 2006 to 26 Nov 2006 (#2006-217)
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