The Tree of Life tries to explain the origins of the universe and talks about a Texas family in the 1950s at the same time. When I was forced to float in the universe for 10 minutes
and then I was shown a merciful dinosaur, I could not help but ask myself a question: WHERE IS BRAD PITT? The cosmic scenes are indeed narratively distracting, though thematically related.
Featuring low-angle shots, minimal dialogue and some inner monologue asking God questions, the film talks about the natural cycle of life and death, the ups and downs in a life, the infinitesimal nature of humans and the existence of God. The resolution comes suddenly in this impressionistic movie and the ending is of religious significance. In the movie, there are some obscure symbols intentionally left open to wide interpretation.
Please note that the theatrical version is 138 minutes long while the first cut of the film is 8 hours long.
As for the cast, Brad Pitt, who plays the role of the authoritarian father, acts very well.
However, Sean Penn's character is underdeveloped, which is a waste of his talent for acting.
On the whole, this art-house movie with poetic images is NOT for everybody. 2.5 / 5
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似是有緣人Certified Copy 4.1 / 5
但係好多人話《生命樹》好複雜，太難明而覺得好悶，不過我都會為左Brad Pitt而睇。
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 01:10:00]It is surely not for the mainstream audience.
我覺得這電影很有宗教味道，不斷與神對話﹗我欣賞大自然的拍攝鏡頭很壯觀及美，另一欣賞是爸爸與大仔的感情戲，我看得很感動﹗
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 01:27:00]Despite the very good cinematography, the computer generated images in the cosmic scenes are mediocre. As for the family drama, the Dad's love for his son is sometimes engaging, thanks to Brad Pitt's excellent performance. However, whenever I was dragged back to the distracting cosmic scenes, the film became less engaging and my sympathy for the family lessened. I also don't understand how the family conflict is resolved at the end of the movie and so I am not touched. In this impressionist movie, some details are not available. Perhaps how the problem is resolved is not important. What matters is that everyone will be in the heaven and with love we can be reconciled with our family members. I personally find this message "forced, artsy and pretentious".
我認同亞愚的說法 ~ 這電影很有宗教味道，不斷與神對話﹗也欣賞大自然的拍攝鏡頭很壯觀及美呢!!! 也同意你說浪費了 Sean Penn和不是所有觀眾會接受呢!!! 然而都幾喜歡這電影......
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 01:31:00]Just average from my point of view. By the way, I think this movie should not be watched at home and more viewings may be necessary in order to understand this poetic movie.
我首先問既問題係: Where is Sean Penn? 我喜歡地球起源那段。 The resolution comes suddenly－－同意，太sudden了！我感受不到為什麼他們的心態有轉變。 同場有幾個人提早離場，我旁邊的情侶講野越來越大聲（問埋d無聊問題，如＂果個人係咪發羊吊＂，為角色的行為解釋／口述一次，問咩d等多一陣就會知答案ge問題（如:班細路點解喊......) 。我咮佢地都聽唔到，好彩有人走我可以調位。
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 01:48:00]HAHAHA.... the cosmic scenes are too long... At one point, I thought whether or not I was really in the same house. Where is Brad Pitt? Why is there a dinosaur? Why are they related? Those scenes are distracting and I cannot focus on the family drama. It seems to me that the film preaches the word of God. How the conflict is resolved does not matter, since humans are infinitesimal in the universe created by God and everyone goes to the heaven after one dies. In mine, 6 left the house. In the cosmic scenes, some people murmured. Last year, when I saw REC 2 at The Grand, a beautfully dressed lady kept asking her boyfriend questions about the first episode. At one point, I could not stand her anymore. I turned my head, looked at her with a smile and answered her question loudly and politely. Then she asked fewer questions haha.
btw, 可能大自然雄壯既景色都有助佢地去親近神同幫佢地克服。我突然諗起今年電影節的一套戲，主角一直克服不了母親逝去的傷痛，也是讓大自然給療傷的。
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 01:56:00]Anyway, I am puzzled. Why does the mum fly at one point?
我從來都唔欣賞詩歌，而好明顯，係套都似係詩多過戲 套戲拍得好靚，不過唔係人人接受到，我覺得好有意境，但同時好反感
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 14:09:00]Yes it is like a poem, but is it a well written one? I always say my favorite movies make me think and feel. This film makes me think, but some symbols are confusing and some details are missing. Therefore, it also fails to touch me. I wonder if some Christians love this movie.
2.5分，比我想像中要低一點... 電影那些壯麗的畫面，之間似乎沒甚麼聯繫或隱含寓意，若以「影像詩」稱之，又似乎是一首不合格的詩歌... (我想起李滄東的【詩】，感覺好多了)
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 17:44:00]Just average to me, despite the stunning images and Brad Pitt's impressive performance. A good comparison!!! 李滄東的【詩】is more poetic.
今天看了這電影，只可說不是我預期的，很同意這電影浪費了 Sean Penn 的演技和角色
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/10/2011 19:55:00]Agree. Although I have seen many art-house movies, The Tree of Life still surprises me. I know that some people love this movie very much and I am interested in the reasons.
我也不知母親為何飛起，不知是否有喻意。個仔游出房間果幕好似易明啲。我不是十分喜歡這套戲，但也不討厭，我喜歡創世那段，拍得很好。但我不是每個＂詩意畫面＂都喜歡，有些太重覆。另外，囈語太多看得有點不耐煩。小演員很好看 :)
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/11/2011 22:04:00]我不是十分喜歡這套戲，但也不討厭 - Me too. Just average. Too ambitious and artsy. 2.5 / 5 詩意畫面有些太重覆 - Agree! AND too long! 囈語太多看得有點不耐煩 - Agree! They are distracting. Whenever I was nearly touched or engaged by the drama, the National Geographic scenes and the inner monologue distracted me and I felt nothing while watching those scenes. At one point, when I saw the dinosaur, I even asked myself where Brad Pitt was haha... Was I still in the same theatre hahaha... the parallel description of the origins of the universe and a real family does not work on me. 小演員很好看 - OK, but they are not cute. I think their parents are good looking and do not understand why their sons are not. Speaking of a charming children cast, Super 8 is superb!!! The kids are so funny and lively.
我昨晚終於看了. 應該是導演的自己寫照, 以影像, 歌曲, 如詩如畫的方法去表達, 聽聞導演本身都有2個細佬, 其中一個死了, 跟電影中人相同, 我想弟弟之死, 令讀哲學既導演有很多想法及感悟, 對家人的愛恨, 對神的質疑, 把這些都貫注在電影中. 又想起, 浩瀚既宇宙, 自身的問題又算什麼呢? 最後, 導演就如SEAN PENN那般釋懷了嗎? 我真係唔明白囉!
回覆刪除我喜歡劇情片, 是主流觀眾之一, 不習慣這種如詩般的電影. 無可否認的是畫面, 配樂 好出色. BRAD PITT 一次精彩的演出.
[版主回覆07/11/2011 22:24:00]Agree! As a movie maniac, I watch different kinds of movies. Poetic movies can be impressive. I especially love those directed by Hirokazu Koreeda. However, The Tree of Life has distracting scenes. Whenever I was nearly touched or engaged by the family drama, the National
Geographic scenes and the inner monologue distracted me and I felt
nothing while watching those scenes.
嗯，怎麼好呢，還打算過香港看這齣電影呢！
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/11/2011 22:29:00]Please come! The foreign reviews are indeed very positive and some local movie reviewers give it 5 stars. This is a unique cinematic experience. This impressionistic movie is like a poem. You may have your own interpretation of those scenes and you may like it. After all, everyone is different. ^^
KENJI, 你寫:"You may have your own interpretation of those scenes and you may like it. After all, everyone is different. "
回覆刪除我好同意你的觀點, 我覺得不用深究電影說什麼, 最精彩的是看每一個人的觀點, 某程度上亦可以啟發到自己. 所以"生命樹", 我特別看了很多COMMENTS, 自己亦有獲益及得到啟發.
[版主回覆07/12/2011 18:05:00]Exactly! Maybe those symbols can be interpreted in another way. It is unlikely for one person to understand everything in The Tree of Life. Someone else may be able to provide me with an inspiring interpretation which I fail to notice. So, keep sharing!!!
I feel《生命樹》is not difficult to understand, I like it. http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/sugarlady1127/article?mid=4158
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/14/2011 11:50:00]Yes to a certain extent. There are some obscure symbols intentionally left open to wide interpretation. For example, is the dinosaur scene necessary? Why does the mum float in the air?
Comments to this movie are generally at the extremes. You are one of the very few who gives an average rating, and I agree to you.
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/14/2011 18:56:00]Thanks so much. I personally think this movie has its strengths and weaknesses. I also want to add that I enjoy being led to explore the garden, the forest, the universe, the past, the beginning of everything, etc.
回覆刪除生命樹在本港的評價好像頗差..... 在外地就有不俗的 評價! ~ 我自己就對它的故事頗有興趣...我想我還是會往影院看看它是否適合我? PS:謝謝 Kenji 兄的support!~
[版主回覆07/15/2011 00:35:00]You are welcome! With the right expectation, you may love the movie.
打算遲點去看！
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/15/2011 13:28:00]This is a unique cinematic experience. I hope it is your cup of tea.
I do hope so~
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/15/2011 16:29:00]Good Luck!
生命樹用了很多藝術元素和特效處理
回覆刪除我好想睇 Certified Copy，而家得返好少場次
[版主回覆07/15/2011 20:04:00]Certified Copy reminds me of Before Sunset. The two characters symbolically undergo the four seasons in a relationship. In the first half, time passes swiftly and life is playful. In the second half, the movie become reflective. Their relationship is still a mystery, but what matters is how we look at it. It is a copy of other relationships and I feel touched by their story. The first scene tells us the man's personality while the last one is also about time, i.e. getting late. Anyway, it is a philosophical movie about love and I love it. It is a pity that there is only one screening left every day at BC.
太子啦你喜歡這部電影。我唸我會喜歡啊 !
回覆刪除好似想落畫咁，唔知有無緣睇到囉
[版主回覆07/15/2011 23:50:00]I wish you good luck!!!
the tree of life...普遍都得到大多影評者既大力推舉....以為你都會俾高分tim....嘻~
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/16/2011 11:24:00]Will you watch it? 陳志華 5★ 揚棄傳統線性敘事邏輯，鏡頭如流水行雲，畫面本身已極富能量，音樂更是撼動心靈，連嬰兒小
孩也非常入戲。可媲美《2001太空漫遊》，戲裏兒子回望一生扣問上蒼，導演則從「創世」拍到「永生」，引用經文，同時超越世俗宗教。當中對男孩成長、弒
父戀母情結、兄弟感情，皆用心刻劃，也邀請觀眾用心感覺。《生命樹》就如醇酒，或許不少人看了陀陀擰，它的境界自與別不同。 紀陶 5★ 戲
劇內容與視聽技術都俱得滿分，也足可令其他巨匠以及超級影癡看後也發現電影仍有天外天的超新星作品！當中最驚歎尤以視聽官感帶出如按摩心靈般治療作用效
果，是電影學生必修作。故事涵蓋現世代以男為當家的抑鬱源流，也道出沉默母性的影響力，是唯一一部將天地穹蒼帶入尋常阡陌人家的恩典作！ 張偉雄 5★ 我
們都是該隱，要面對心魔尋找自性。我們都是約伯，苦難時質疑神，在哪裏。神打破沉默，我創造大地之際，你又在哪裏？在心性辯證的大題下，這並非一部直線
看的電影，要先明白呼吸的節奏；逆光太陽、風的潛行，及圓形的自持，就起作用了：泰倫斯馬力克推敲神性無處不在時昂首邁進水瓶世代的新敘事。 鄭政恆 5★ 影片引證了何謂經典的力量，心靈的震撼，影像的魅力，這是西方的天問，探尋上帝的創造，打開童年往事的回憶，揭示現代人心靈的枯竭，以至於從本性與恩典的二元拉扯中找到永恆與拯救。這部殿堂級的作品可與《2001太空漫遊》對話，水平不相伯仲。 潘泝 3★ 一
般認為要看多一次，至少，在商業大片掛帥的暑假黃金檔期別樹一幟，票房成績總算有所交代，無關畢彼特事，連環映後導賞會是一時佳話，發行的進取堅持與策略
功不可沒，編導Terrence
Malick以瑰麗色彩象徵意念片段式故事情節畫外音，輕觸神權、人性本質與親情關係的詰問，小孩選角演繹出色感人，可供任意詮釋的空間豐富，惟結尾收筆
力弱，整體格局視野與寇比力克的《2001太空漫遊》仍有一大段差距。
這部電影很像聖經中傳道書與詩篇的改編 個人則愛這部作品愛到不懂下筆評價呢XD 畢竟, Terrence Malick 確是美國當代僅有的電影大師了 有空可看看本人的觀影感受呢 ^^ http://onethirdliving.blogspot.com/2011/07/tree-of-life.html
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/17/2011 18:47:00]Happy for you, but my friend and I were disappointed.
More Reviews: 作家高慧然 - 矯揉造作 http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/yoyokowaiyin/article?mid=32195&suc=1 作家蔣芸 @ Appledaily - 風向那一方吹 http://www1.hk.apple.nextmedia.com/template/apple_sub/art_main.php?iss_id=20110718&sec_id=12187389&art_id=15439409 肥力 felixism - 我不能說這是齣好電影
回覆刪除http://mypaper.pchome.com.tw/smfelixy2k/post/1322301331 Puffin @ There's Something About Movie - 感想抽象 http://aboutmovie.mysinablog.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=3101882 鄒小糖 @ 電‧玩‧誌 - 一次茫然的觀影經驗 http://bentong214.mysinablog.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=3100786
Although Philosophy is my favourite, I'm Catholic and like wild life, I think this film is overrated and I don't think it will be masterpiece, I give 3/5 just a little bit higher than yours . Just can say love it and hate it like what JuJu (the blogger of first msg here) said in his blog today .
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/20/2011 12:07:00]Thank you! Thank you! Perhaps not every believer likes this movie. As a non-believer, I find it quite preachy. Of course, the religion is respected, but I personally do not believe the universe is created by someone. Yes, it is overrated and I don't think it will become a masterpiece.
我估計我都未必喜歡看呢，我也是怕太過故弄玄虛的電影，跟您一樣不是不代表不懂欣賞有關生命的電影，大師級 Hirokazu Koreeda 拍的就十分有意思！但仍會賞試找來看呢！:)
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/20/2011 15:10:00]I have seen many art-house movies, but I still find some insignificant scenes unnecessarily long and distracting. To show humans are infinitesimal, there are better ways. Is it necessary to show the dinosaurs? Anyway, glad to know that you love Hirokazu Koreeda's movies. I highly recommend Maborosi, Nobody Knows, Still Walking and Air Doll. They are poetic, gripping, touching and thought provoking.
This film is destined to have divided opinions and personally it would be remembered for years to come. Roger Ebert writes a sensational and inspiring analysis on the film which is beautiful and poetic, just like the film itself. But what is more fun than discussions among film lovers? It is nice to have a platform to share our love to films! XD
回覆刪除Kenji兄俾得咁低分呀？
回覆刪除我想睇Brad Pitt呀，不過我驚睇VCD會訓着，焗住入戲院睇，不過仲未有朋友有興趣陪我睇... =.=
[版主回覆07/22/2011 17:38:00]Not low, but just average to me, perhaps comparatively low. Despite the distracting National Geographic scenes, the drama with minimal dialogue is good. Not great because the resolution comes suddenly and the ending is preachy in a religious way. It seems that everyone will be THERE no matter what you do. Don't watch it at home. It is not an easy film...
唔講吓似是有緣人?
回覆刪除[版主回覆07/27/2011 05:24:00]Please look at my reply to one of the bloggers below. Thanks!!!
thanks! have fun!
回覆刪除[版主回覆08/05/2011 12:01:00]THX!!! It was great fun.