This film is quite unexpected. Darren Aronofsky has the ability to stir your reactions, in Pi and Requiem for a Dream he does so violently and without remorse. In The Fountain he does so all to subtly at times, weaving a story across time and awareness, about death, belief and love. It actually brought a couple of tears to my eye—almost unheard of. And this set with all the oil lamps and unending arches, oh man, I want to be there.

Some of scenes are unbearably new age with transcendental posturing, but are nonetheless beautiful and help one perhaps understand the mind of the main character—something Aronofsky brings to the fore. The distinct stories weave together but ultimately the plot is morbid, perhaps not unexpectedly.

Are there three stories—past present and future? I felt that “future” was really an escapist mental state, manifesting his desire and actions to do good for his wife.

I have now seen this movie twice, and I love it. Admittedly, it is undeniable that the storytelling is somewhat fractured, but the movie is arranged in such a way that I’m really not bothered by the fact at all. The acting is perfect and the visuals and soundtrack are surreal and otherworldly.

A common complaint is that there isn’t enough development to get attached to any of the characters. In my opinion, after seeing how deeply Hugh Jackman’s character is affected by his wife’s condition, it would be quite difficult not to empathize with him.

I’ve got to say though, I’m not a fan of the bald-Jackman-in-lotus-position.

I marked this worth consuming because I still don’t know that I fully grasp the meaning of the film. While the score and cinematography were undeniably beautiful, the dialogue and storyline were very unclear and confusing. Furthermore, while the film drew primarily from Mayan legend it tried to incorporate biblical references which ultimately did little more than have me question the competency of the writer (the garden of Eden and consequently the beginning of civilization was in Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates NOT Guatemala). When the film ended, my husband and I were both dumbfounded. Neither of us could understand the motivating factor behind the film. Obviously there was concern for life and death, but what exactly was the point being made? And how many times will I have to watch it to get that point?

I’ve always been a huge fan of Aronofsky. He’s got some seriously mature skills.

The Fountain is another stunning film. I loved it. Visually great, a better performance from Hugh Jackman than I expected, a cyclical plot that unfolds at just the right pace, allusions to the mythology of several different cultures.

My only problem was with some of the imagery towards the end. Some of it crosses that line between mystic and overdone. The bad visuals are distracting from the great climax.

Still absolutely worth seeing/owning.

The director clearly loves his wife. The film is almost an homage to Rachel Weisz which is not a bad thing. I’m not sure the plotting works but it certainly keeps you thinking all the way through.

I didn’t really know what I was getting into when I started watching The Fountain. If I had known the premise of the film, I might have brought different expectations to the viewing. As it was, I was shocked within five minutes. And the movie had me questioning throughout. Is love forever? What is real and what is imaginary? Did Hugh Jackman really shave his head or is he wearing a bald cap? While I’m still resolving my feelings on death and rebirth, I was stunned by the gorgeousness of the special effects and design of the overall film.