The Fountain (DVD, 2007, Widescreen)

This film is a artistic masterpiece. Its graceful beauty is does not permit debate. It will be an exquisite experience for any lover of art. The sheer visual originality will transfix the viewer. It is without pretense . . . its message is universal.

Here is the caveat: you need not be "educated" in film to understand this work . . . you need not be a Ph.D. holder to enjoy its majesty . . . you need not have any background in Early Colonialism to follow Aronofsky's thoughts . . . but you do need to be patient. You need to prepare yourself for a visual experience that rivals Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. You need to surrender yourself to Aronofsky's vision. His non-linear approach may initially confuse the viewer . . . his metaphors may initially frustrate . . . . his repetition may initially annoy . . . but try to understand these aspects as essential to the film's glory. Trust Aronofsky to guide you through the film . . . the more you resist his approach, the less you will be inclined to enjoy it.

Some label this film a "tear-jerker" . . . this is a terrible misnomer. Aronofsky's work did not steal one tear from my companion or me. This is not as much a work about two people, but is allegorical. So, if you are concerned that this film is a "romance," you can dismiss those fears entirely.

This film is similar to neither Requiem nor Pi . . . that is Aronofsky's genius. He is gifted with uncommon range. Moreover, this is not the Hugh Jackman with which many are acquainted . . . his acting is sensitive to detail and strikingly stark. Rachel Weisz enthusiasts may be equally surprised . . . but hopefully in positive manner.

Here is the bottom line: this is neither X-Men nor The Mummy, it is neither Pi nor Requiem . . . this film is as innovative as it is spectacular. Nonetheless, if you need a linear plot, if you must have explanations, if you have limited patience, you will find yourself frustrated. But, if you find yourself bored with contemporary film, tired of its predictability, exhausted with its pedestrian qualities . . . if you simply yearn to view a challenging work of art, allow The Fountain to work its uncanny "magic" on you.

This is easily one of the most important films of the decade.

It is difficult to summarize the plot, but to be succinct, the movie is about a man's journey to save his wife, and his wife's journey to save him back. The scope of the film covers the beginning to the ending of time, and chart's our protagonists trials over the course of thousands of years and various continents and worlds.

Yeah. I can't do it justice - you'll just have to see it.

The thing is, you cannot take your eyes off the screen once this movie begins. And it's one heck of a mind trip. Many people have labeled it the "2001: A Space Odyssey" of our generation, and I think that's a fair comparison. However, I would apply a caveat: if you are one of those people who "didn't get" 2001, you might have some trouble with this one; it is similarly esoteric and rich in symbolism. You do have to keep your mind turned on to feel the full experience of this film.

Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz give the performances of their lives. Their struggle to help each other feels so real that it rips your heart right out of your chest at times. I don't want to give anything away, but definitely keep a box of tissues handy for this one.

I can't recommend this film highly enough, and 5/5 doesn't quite do it justice. Unless you're a complete philistine, you can't help but love this movie.

Truly striking an amazing film. One of the best movies that I have seen in years! The visual effects are amazing, and the message is even better. Lots of metaphysical and tree of life symbolism here. This movie also has a wonderful love story, its hard not to be touched by this story.

A+++

Why, oh why do people insist that this movie is "split" between time periods? How can you not see that this is a single, non-linear narrative. The conquistador sequences compose the book that Izzy has written and asks him to finish!!!!! How do people miss this?! The zen-like scenes represent Jackman's character's internal journey and struggle with acceptance of death. How in the world did everyone miss this?! I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!! If you haven't seen the movie, don't listen to all this bull about the split narrative. Watch it, and if you actually pay attention, like so many people seem to have not, you will be drawn into the beauty that is this film. It is well worth the investment!

Visually dazzling !! Emotionally charged with superb acting. This movie displayed a nostalgic awe that will take your breath away !!!!! I can honestly say that this was the most satisfying movie experience I have ever had. If you havn't seen it yet you are in for a great time.

I hate when people say they don't like this movie. The visuals in the movie are great and I'm pretty sure the director pulled some of them out of my dreams. It's a great story.

I loved this purchase because i have been looking for this movie every where in stores and i cannot find it...I know i can come to ebay and find anything i want. Thank you.

This is undoubtedly the worst movie Hugh Jackman ever made. I only got a copy of it so my Jackman collection would be complete. I had gone to the dollar movies to see it on screen and after 10 minutes I only hoped it would be over soon. It jumps from current times to the Spanish conquistador in the times of the Spanish inquisition and then has the character in some weird bubble floating in space. Throughout all this jumping around, Tommy (or Thomas) is trying to find the fountain of youth and/or a cure for his wife's brain tumor. Good luck to anyone trying to follow this plot !!

Makes you think about things that truly matter and about the inevitable. Well performed and thought out.

This movie is often misunderstood by people, due to the pop culture effect of not wanting to think through a movie and desiring special effect to "numb the brain into a blob of Tapioca." If you like to watch a movie that you dont get the first time then enjoy, if not then maybe Transformers is more up your ally.

"Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. Pat, Present, Future. Through time and space, one man embarks on a bold 1000 year odyssey to defeat the most indomitable foe:
Death.

Hugh Jackman plays that man, devoted to one woman (Rachel Weisz) and determined to pretect her from forces that threaten her existence. His quest leads him to a Tree of Life... and to an adventure in eternity."- back of box.


I Have seen Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and now that I have seen this one, I think that Darren Aronofsky has done it again!! So if you have seen the other films by him, get this one!!

I bought a movie the other day i was immediately impressed how creap the movie was and it was inexpensive. the seller you sold it to me was great the seller had a good detail of the product and the shipping was awesome not very high shipped very fast the product was great for what i was looking for it was very cheap movies i found in a long time it was cheapper on here then it would have been if i went to the store and brought it there so it was a great product for the price the seller was selling it for thanks again for the great bussiness you gave me and the fast shipping of the product thanks again for the bussiness i will be back soon thanks again stay selling great products thanks again

This film has a great story which, like a Rubix cube, keeps supplying more meanings (and deeper ones) with every viewing. It comprises three separate yet ultimately interrelated narratives---a conquistador searching for the tree of life in New Spain, a scientist searching for a cure for his wife's cancer, and an astronaut searching for a nebula in deep space. One viewing will not supply the meaning of the story; multiple viewings will begin to intimate its core message.

The film is directed by Darren Aronofsky, known for his indie hits Pi and Requiem for a Dream. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz star in this love story with deeper roots.

This film is a great feast for the eyes and mind!!Not at all like the trash that is comming out of Hollywood lately.....
The film has a very intricate plotline and superb visuals.The main overtone of the film is a hauntingly beautiful spiritual/mystical mood.
It is not an easy plot to understand if you are not schooled in depth in Western/Eastern Mystical/Occult philosophy.If you are not,then this film is not for you.You will not understand the film.
Subjects hinted at by this film include; Kabbalah,Magick,Transcendentalism,in-depth Buddhism,Tantra,Tibet,reincarnation,illumination,self awareness,and enlightenment,all wrapped around the universal motif of the Tree of Life.
I only recomend this film for those that can enjoy the deep mysteries of life.
All in all this film is a gem! I can compare it with Kuberick's 2001:A Space Odyssey....an overall feast for the mind and senses!!

The movie came in great condition, very fast shipping and the movie is all it says it is, great. The DVD is in great condition, not a scratch, great! AAA+++ seller, thanks for your great service!

I have bought the dvd and itr was in perfect condition everything was done as promised! I would recomend this seller!

This was a fantastic movie, both in terms of story and editing/camera work. I saw about 10 minutes of this at a friends house and decided immediately that I had to buy it. Of course I checked Ebay first and found a great deal on a great movie!

truly a clasic/modern sci-fi. comparable to space odyssey 2001 A long wandering voyage marked by many changes of fortune. a should have for sci fi buffs

Visually stunning, this movie jumps back and forth between 3 storylines during 3 different time periods, and eventually is woven into a complete and compelling story. It deals with life and death and loss in a very human way as you watch the doctor greive for what he knows is coming and his attempts to deny it to himself. Its sad, but also bittersweet and poignant. I highly recommend it.

This movie has the premise of a love story but you have to get past all the very confusing symbolism, mostly Buddist, to get the story. The director could have gotten his message across about love, life and dying with out Hugh Jackman floating around bald and in a Buddist pose. I will probably never watch this movie agian. It is nothing like what the trailers made it out to look like. Very disappointed.

This movie is for the person who likes visual poems that require some thought and demand your attention to the details to understand the message the artist who made it is sending. If you liked DONNY DARKO, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, PAN'S LABYRNITH then you will love THE FOUNTAIN. It delights visually, is well acted, and even if you don't like the movie Hugh Jackson and Rachael Weiss are worth looking at!!. I was fascinated by its surreal feel and the way it engages you and allows you to draw your own conclusion( which may change when you watch it a second time). This movie makers last film was 10 years ago and was a critic favorite. It took him that long to make this one. Has a little of everything, action adventure, unrequieted love, life's journey and the search for sense of all the above. It is what we called in the 70's a "head" movie and not for those who just want fluff.

This is probably the best movie I have seen in quite some time. The cast & crew are able to combine three different stories/times into one, AND make one think about it long after the credits have run. The acting is fantastic! The cinematography is just as good. The story itself - amazing. After I saw it, I couldn't stop thinking about it, so I had to buy it. Be aware... this is not a teeny-bopper movie... it actually requires some brain cells...

This was a really decent movie - much better than a lot of crap that's out there. However, it was nowhere near as good as "Requiem for a Dream." Both movies feature Darren Aronofsky's individual style, which is imaginative, beautiful, and highly stylized. The main plot involves a dying woman (Rachel Weisz) and the man who loves her (Hugh Jackman). The majority of the movie takes place in the present, as Hugh Jackman's character (a doctor who tests medical treatments on animals), attempts to find a cure for his wife's disease. In effect, he is trying to cheat death and discover a modern-day Fountain of Youth. That particular story happens to be very moving, the dialogue is sparkling, and the acting top-notch.

Intermingled with that story is an epic from the 1600s of a Ponce deLeon type conquistador (also Jackman), seeking out the actual Fountain of Youth for his beloved Queen (also Weisz). The story there is effective and beautifully shot, and it serves the purpose of a metaphor for what the current-day Jackman and Weisz are going through. In those two stories alone, the movie is brilliant, and I would have definitely given it 5 stars.

HOWEVER, there is also a third storyline going on, which is rather confusing. The DVD jacket explains that the third story is set in the future, where Jackman's character meditates like Buddha near a beautiful tree. In actual watching of the movie, I felt more like the present-day character was dreaming, or that the "future" was really his imagination. But... obviously I was wong. There's many possibilities for what this third storyline represents or means, and I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but... ultimately, I was confused (or GASP! bored) whenever this particular thread was examined. These scenes tended to run on too long, and drew me out of the movie. They're beautifully shot, of course, and visually, they're a feast. I'm also convinced those "futuristic" scenes meant something very powerful to the filmmaker, but... I felt they detracted from the story. More importantly, I felt LESS emotionally attached during those scenes than during the rest of the movie.

In comparison to "Requiem", I have to say that "Requiem" CONSISTENTLY kept me emotionally engaged. I felt scared, worried, happy, turned on, turned off on a regular basis while watching that movie. At no point did I grow bored and start thinking about doing the dishes or laundry during "Requiem for a Dream." However, I did find myself doing that during this movie. Not often, and it is DEFINiTELY worth the watch. But those handful of slow scenes did make me feel more like giving this a 4 instead of a 5. Sorry, Darren! :O)

-Dan