The Fountain

[Brian in Mesa]

The Fountain

Release Date: November 22, 2006
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Screenwriter: Darren Aronofsky
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some intense sequences of violent action, some sensuality and language)
Website: The Fountain | The Fountain Remixed

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz, Ellen Burstyn, Sean Gullette, Sean Patrick Thomas, Donna Murphy

Plot Summary: "The Fountain" is an odyssey about one man's thousand-year struggle to save the woman he loves. His epic journey begins in 16th century Spain, where conquistador Tomas Creo (Hugh Jackman) commences his search for the Tree of Life, the legendary entity believed to grant eternal life to those who drink of its sap. As modern-day scientist Tommy Creo, he desperately struggles to find a cure for the cancer that is killing his beloved wife Isabel (Rachel Weisz). Traveling through deep space as a 26th century astronaut, Tom begins to grasp the mysteries of life that have consumed him for more than a century.

 

[Pariah]

I just saw this.

95% of the movie was brilliant, IMO...but the ending needed to be tied up a little better. I think people going expecting to see a straight sci-fi or fantasy movie will be dissappointed, you need to go with your thinking cap on and be open to the idea of a film that explores big picture (think "why are we here" big picture) philosophy.

 

[Pariah]

Nobody else saw this this weekend?

 

[abomb]

Nobody else saw this this weekend?

Judging from the box office, you might have been the only one.

 

[Stout]

I heard it was god-awful, like symbolism smashed across your head over and over and over again. I have to pick and choose movies anyway since I'm poor, so I'll pass.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I have to see this movie again - this first time, I went in with the wrong mindset... and I still enjoyed it. However, this isn't a movie to be understood so much as to be EXPERIENCED.

I could try to make heads and tails of it, but why bother - it's like trying to have a conversation about 2001 - all that's going to happen is you're going to sound incredibly stupid talking about a very complex movie.

really need to go see this one again - can't wait to see what Aronofsky does next.

admittedly, this is NOT a movie for everyone.

 

[Pariah]

admittedly, this is NOT a movie for everyone.

Shane would hate it.

 

[Pariah]

I have to see this movie again

Agreed, though I'll probably rent it when it comes out.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Shane would hate it.

hate it? I would think he'd be so pissed watching it that he would spontaneously combust at about the 75 minute mark.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

However, this isn't a movie to be understood so much as to be EXPERIENCED.

Christ on a crutch!

What the Hell does that mean?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Christ on a crutch!

What the Hell does that mean?

it means you're likely to much of a moron to understand the movie Ken!

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

it means you're likely to much of a moron to understand the movie Ken!

Jeez, you don't have to nasty about it! You know that I'm kind of slow since the accident!

Why can't you just let me be happy with the Disney channel and my hot wheels cars?

Jackass!

 

[Cheesebeef]

Jeez, you don't have to nasty about it! You know that I'm kind of slow since the accident!

Why can't you just let me be happy with the Disney channel and my hot wheels cars?

Jackass!

shut up you twit!

 

[Pariah]

I'm still thinking about this movie a little bit. For me, that's a good sign. But, the more I think about the ending, the more I didn't like it.

...I guess not the VERY ending. I kind of liked that. But the last leg of the journey was stupid, IMO. Maybe it just looked bad, and that's my issue. I don't know.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

it means you're likely to much of a moron to understand the movie Ken!

too

 

[Pariah]

So anyone else seen this, yet?

 

[PDXChris]

I watched it last night and if not for watching it on Blue Ray in 1080P I would not have been as into it as much. This movie was beautiful, but the story was ok and the end was terrible.

 

[BACH]

I watched it last night and if not for watching it on Blue Ray in 1080P I would not have been as into it as much. This movie was beautiful, but the story was ok and the end was terrible.

I agree with that statement.

Very interesting story in a beautiful setting, but it just doesn't seem "complete". The ending was terrible and didn't make a whole lot of sense IMO, unless the director wants the audience to draw their own conclusions about how the "full circle" became complete.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i just watched it this weekend. visually amazing. enjoyed the intertwined "single" storyline. anything that makes me think DURING the flick is a relatively rare occurrence these days. didn't mind the end so much. think on it a bit harder.

 

[BACH]

i just watched it this weekend. visually amazing. enjoyed the intertwined "single" storyline. anything that makes me think DURING the flick is a relatively rare occurrence these days. didn't mind the end so much. think on it a bit harder.

Maybe I'm overanalyzing, but I can't get the final piece of the puzzle to fall in place. I get the overall plot.

Spoiler

Okay, I get the "main" point. The entire movie Tomas/Tommy/Tom in searching for eternal life, but until he realize that death is a part of life, he doesn't find it. When future Tomas/Tommy/Tom accepts that he too is going to die and at the same time lets go of Izzi (He's finally able to leave the tree planted at her grave), then their love becomes eternal.

BUT!
What I do not get is how Tom (future) can help Tomas (past) to the Fountain of Youth. It that a metaphor for Tomas/Tommy/Tom as one person understanding the meaning of life, and therefore being able to go to the Fountain?

 

[Gaddabout]

I finally got to see this movie tonight! Don't think I've seen a movie with as much rich and timeless wisdom in a long, long time. Having already gone through this process of making peace with my own mortality, it didn't have the emotional impact I think it had on others, but I could appreciate it as much as I agreed with it. The spiritual undertones could be applied to most any faith, so it was nice to see them not be so heavy handed with the Buddhism. I loved it for its content and ability to tell and old story in a new way.

Darren Aronofsky continues to be my favorite director. I could not relate to Requiem for a Dream, but Pi remains way up there on my favorites and I can only hope Aronofsky stays away from the pile of Hollywood money long enough to make more movies like this one. He's one of the few directors I think deserves to throw money at the cost of putting stuff on cellulose. Forget the self-importance and give me more of this old soul storytelling.

 

[Bada0Bing]

I have to see this movie again - this first time, I went in with the wrong mindset... and I still enjoyed it. However, this isn't a movie to be understood so much as to be EXPERIENCED.

I could try to make heads and tails of it, but why bother - it's like trying to have a conversation about 2001 - all that's going to happen is you're going to sound incredibly stupid talking about a very complex movie.

really need to go see this one again - can't wait to see what Aronofsky does next.

admittedly, this is NOT a movie for everyone.

I recently watched this and totally agree. What a visually stimulating movie. I'm definitely going to have to watch this again. Aronofsky really makes some out-there movies, I love the the ones I've seen so far.