I'm convinced there's a Malick gene. Some have it and some don't. Some watch one of his films and are so moved they can barely speak and others watch the same film and can't believe they wasted all that time. This review is for those that have it or at least want to discover if they have it.

Every single frame of this film is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. I've never seen another film where the director didn't have to go with a utilitarian shot here and there for the sake of the plot. Not here. It's almost like looking at a long string of exceptional photographs. That's really the first thing that stands out about this…

This is my second viewing of this film. First review is here.

This film proves to me that there is a quality in art that lifts it up above simple terms as 'Masterpiece' or 'Favourite'. The Tree of Life captures what art is to me and by this I mean all art, in any way shape or form.

Resonance.

Any piece of art has objective qualities. They are often easily 'measured' and are quantifiable. But where the unique pieces separate themselves is in how they resonate with their audience. I there is none, then they mostly remain hollow.

The Tree of Life's intentions seem first to make sure it resonates with its creator, as this feels as a deeply personal…

This film was like a tuning-fork that was struck and tuned to my frequency. Sometimes films just seem to resonate within oneself, with this film that certainly was the case for me.This is not an easy watch, nor is it for everyone. Some will be bored, some will be blown away, but that is often the case with a great piece of art.

And a piece of art it is. Malick is a painter. He has the ability to create images that will stay with you for a long, long time. He has done so in his previous work, but in this film he goes all out and uses such startling imagery it often left me gasping at the screen.…

Watching Malick's 'The Tree of Life' has become a religious experience for me. One that literally brings me to my knees, finds my hands clenched tight, and tears in my eyes. There has rarely ever seen before more beauty on film than what is shown here. Emmanuel Lubezki captures the very essence of life on celluloid which was absolutely necessary for this film to contain.

Malick's film explores themes of evil existing in a world of beauty and grace. The hypocrisy of our fathers, both physical and spiritual. The loss of innocence as a child and the ultimate search for meaning and truth in life. This is explored through cyclic natures showing birth, marriage, growth, death, and even the creation…

That loud clunk you heard a little while ago? That was the sound of my jaw dropping as I finally cracked (not opened, mind you) the nigh-impenetrable shell that had separated me from the near-religious admiration most people give to Terrence Malick. The previous two films of his I have seen felt like a strange dance, one where he led, and I kept stepping on his feet. About halfway through The Tree of Life, I finally heard the beat, and got swept up in the swarthy embrace of Mr. Malick. As a Malick neophyte, I am sure I am either missing the point completely or grossly misinterpreting it, but here it goes:

The Tree of Life is a sublime, sprawling,…

"There are two ways though life. The way of nature, and the way of grace."

For a statement that could be labeled as a vast oversimplification of a person's behavior in life, it is remarkably true. Because isn't that a central question that we all wrestle with? Do we please others, or do we please ourselves?

I wouldn't call this a review so much as a personal reaction. If you don't know anything about this film, I honestly don't know how to describe it or even if I can recommend it to most people. I can definitely say that it's as thought-provoking and emotionally effective as anything I've ever seen.

I think what resonates with me the most about this…

So what i don't understand is why this movie is so hyped. i mean really? what was that , at the first 30 mins i was watching some kind of Discovery channel commercial? And then after hearing 30 mins of bullshit about religion and god and stuff the movie finally starts.

And there is this bitch from ''Zero Dark Thirty'' again talking about ''God'' and seeing all these National geographic shots? what is the meaning of this movie? i couldn't stand watching it and hearing that but i watched it through the end but i still don't understand what this movie is about.

After those horrible 30 minutes the movie finally starts , with a boring family life. A son…

'Stel je voor dat ‘The tree of life' onthaald zal worden als een flop', fluisterde ik tegen een collega terwijl we stapvoets aanschoven voor de persvertoning van Malicks nieuwste. 'Stel je gewoon voor dat ‘The tree of life' niet onthaald zal worden al een meesterwerk', countert die. Om maar aan te geven dat de verwachtingen hoog gespannen waren voor de nieuwste van de beeldentovenaar Terence Malick (‘Days of heaven', ‘The new world'). De genese van het idee achter ‘The tree of life' vond plaats in de jaren zeventig en sinds 2005 is de mediaschuwe Malick aan het sleutelen aan zijn ultieme magnum opus.

Hoe verdeeld de meningen ook mochten zijn na de première in Cannes: om de ambitie van ‘The…