We've lost our sense of awe- about God, life, sacrifice, beauty, Art and creation. Unfortunately, an accurate assessment of most movies- "Christian" and "secular". Thankful for exceptions like Malick and his work.
Great video! Malick has been, along with PTA, the greatest working film director in America, for many years… ever since I saw The Thin Red Line, in theaters, I've been hooked. Malick's take on faith is far more genuine, believable and truly "Christian" than all those so-called "Christian" propaganda movies combined. The "consistently poor filming quality" of those movies, I'd say, is connected to their shallow, politicized take on Christianity, with their absence of doubt, awe or wonder. There is so much for the non-Christian in Malick's films, too. A so-called "atheist" can encounter a transcendent experience with the divine thru his work.
First let me state that this video was so incredibly well done. I always state that most Malick film's are a four years Master's class in Western philosophy and Theology condensed into a three hour crash course. "The Thin Red Line" is one of the single most profound thought experiments I have ever experienced and "Days of Heaven" is like nothing else.
I genuinley loathed his last WWII film as I felt it trite and atypical Western rote "bad moustache man bad" we get beat over the head with daily. I never saw "Tree of Life" but I feel obliged to now.
Malick has philosophy degrees from Harvard and another Ivy I believe and taught at Oxford. He is master of canvas and prose. Also, I believe most modern "Christian" films suck because they are low effort. They stand against everything Hollywood is about and who is in control, so they raise a few dollars, get D list talent and make a Hallmark story for midwits.
"Shawshank Redemption" is a great Christian film whether people realize it or not. It is jam packed with theological questions and images. I Cant remember offhand but I know there are a few more which escape me. "The Passion" was good albeit a rough watch..
I am not a crier but that was, as intended, an intensely painful experience to endure. Speaking of emotionally distraught, to this day, the "wife on swing" and "Dear John" letter monologues make my stomach knot. They just break me as does much of the movie with Stavros the devout Catholic and Witt the spiritual optimist
The guy has a knack for capturing beauty on film. Some of the nature shots in 'The Thin Red Line' are heart-rending to the point that I get a visceral churn even after having seen them dozens of times. That shot of the floating Jessica was so cool in 'Tree of Life'.
Hi, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for making this absolutely spot-on analysis of Malick, and the problem today with superficially made Christian films! These are some of the many reasons for which I was drawn back to Malick's filmography, after being introduced to him a few years back. It is an amazing thing in this day and age, for a director with such a profile as Malick, to be able to bring individual films to a mainstream audience that serve as a meditative experience, rather than a fan servicing amusement park ride. Fantastic video, thank you again!
The point of Jesus lowing himself as King to Man apart from The Cross was so he could REALATE to our Humanity. Malick touches on that same spectrum beauty within the Chaos while your typical evanjelly wants to escape & gaslight the chaos all together.
Malick has been my favorite living filmmaker since the death of Bergman. I wrote my undergraduate thesis on The Thin Red Line (which came out in 1998, btw) and have seen it probably 30 times. He’s the only director with two films in my all-time top 10. Glad to find another fan who understands that Christian moviegoers are doing themselves and their faith a disservice in buying tickets to films produced within the Christian film industry. Think of the changes in both our churches and our culture if Christians rejected garbage like Left Behind and instead let themselves be challenged by The Tree of Life, Silence, Last Days in the Desert, etc.
As a filmmaker who is tired of the lack of quality art house Christian cinema, I really do thank you for this video. It’s helped me with my approach and mindset on how I’m going to create this films that touch the ones who don’t know God.
My daughter and I watch Tree of Life every year or so. I enjoy the nostalgic hayride through my childhood so hauntingly framed as to feel autobiographical; my daughter sees it as a string connected a past she never touched, but is touched by. God's beauty reveals itself. Malick understands this. His camera drinks it in, sip by sip, never waterboarding us with it. He is in awe of this brief glimpse we get called life. As are we…in those rare moments when we stop, shut off the chaos, and just disappear into the contemplation. Thank God for these films.
I love malice’s films. I saw The thin red line in theaters just a few days after watching saving private Ryan. I want to the movies with the same group of friends. Afterwards some of my friends complained the thin red line was “Boring” others appreciated the film but preferred saving private Ryan. But I was blow away. Every second of the film seemed to be infused with a quality that usually is only experienced for an instant. One beautiful image and than it’s gone. But watching thin red line was like an extended meditation.
Watching this video makes me want to watch all his movies over again. Thanks
If The Tree of Life is the Book of Job, then Knight of Cups is the Book of Ecclesiastes. Job is about a man who loses everything and despairs. Ecclesiastes is about a man who gains everything and despairs.
Intresting video 😊
Thanks for posting this! I am an atheist and also a huge Malick fan. I get so much from his films aside from the religious overtones, etc.
Fantastic essay on Malick’s work!!
We've lost our sense of awe- about God, life, sacrifice, beauty, Art and creation. Unfortunately, an accurate assessment of most movies- "Christian" and "secular". Thankful for exceptions like Malick and his work.
yes
Great video! Malick has been, along with PTA, the greatest working film director in America, for many years… ever since I saw The Thin Red Line, in theaters, I've been hooked.
Malick's take on faith is far more genuine, believable and truly "Christian" than all those so-called "Christian" propaganda movies combined. The "consistently poor filming quality" of those movies, I'd say, is connected to their shallow, politicized take on Christianity, with their absence of doubt, awe or wonder. There is so much for the non-Christian in Malick's films, too. A so-called "atheist" can encounter a transcendent experience with the divine thru his work.
Love your vids, from Malick to Ghostbusters…
First let me state that this video was so incredibly well done. I always state that most Malick film's are a four years Master's class in Western philosophy and Theology condensed into a three hour crash course. "The Thin Red Line" is one of the single most profound thought experiments I have ever experienced and "Days of Heaven" is like nothing else.
I genuinley loathed his last WWII film as I felt it trite and atypical Western rote "bad moustache man bad" we get beat over the head with daily. I never saw "Tree of Life" but I feel obliged to now.
Malick has philosophy degrees from Harvard and another Ivy I believe and taught at Oxford. He is master of canvas and prose. Also, I believe most modern "Christian" films suck because they are low effort. They stand against everything Hollywood is about and who is in control, so they raise a few dollars, get D list talent and make a Hallmark story for midwits.
"Shawshank Redemption" is a great Christian film whether people realize it or not. It is jam packed with theological questions and images. I Cant remember offhand but I know there are a few more which escape me. "The Passion" was good albeit a rough watch..
I am not a crier but that was, as intended, an intensely painful experience to endure. Speaking of emotionally distraught, to this day, the "wife on swing" and "Dear John" letter monologues make my stomach knot. They just break me as does much of the movie with Stavros the devout Catholic and Witt the spiritual optimist
This is the best analysis of this topic I've encountered. Really great stuff. I hope more people will watch your videos.
The guy has a knack for capturing beauty on film. Some of the nature shots in 'The Thin Red Line' are heart-rending to the point that I get a visceral churn even after having seen them dozens of times. That shot of the floating Jessica was so cool in 'Tree of Life'.
👏👏👏
subscribed. completely satisfied.
Great video! This is so true.
I couldn't agree with this more!
christianity needs to go. The right has destroyed it beyond repair.
This video is incredible. Thank you.
Hi, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for making this absolutely spot-on analysis of Malick, and the problem today with superficially made Christian films! These are some of the many reasons for which I was drawn back to Malick's filmography, after being introduced to him a few years back. It is an amazing thing in this day and age, for a director with such a profile as Malick, to be able to bring individual films to a mainstream audience that serve as a meditative experience, rather than a fan servicing amusement park ride. Fantastic video, thank you again!
Despite the twenty year hiatus, he still ends up being THE American Director. He is to America what Renoir is to France or Tarkovsky to Russia.
The Way of The Wind
( A Biopic Directed by Terrence Malick about The Life of Jesus Christ) is now in post production.
My life is now complete.
The point of Jesus lowing himself as King to Man apart from The Cross was so he could REALATE to our Humanity. Malick touches on that same spectrum beauty within the Chaos while your typical evanjelly wants to escape & gaslight the chaos all together.
You should look up the channel Logos Made Flesh. Malick is actually coming out with a project about Jesus that will release relatively soon
Malick has been my favorite living filmmaker since the death of Bergman. I wrote my undergraduate thesis on The Thin Red Line (which came out in 1998, btw) and have seen it probably 30 times. He’s the only director with two films in my all-time top 10. Glad to find another fan who understands that Christian moviegoers are doing themselves and their faith a disservice in buying tickets to films produced within the Christian film industry. Think of the changes in both our churches and our culture if Christians rejected garbage like Left Behind and instead let themselves be challenged by The Tree of Life, Silence, Last Days in the Desert, etc.
very well done video.
As a filmmaker who is tired of the lack of quality art house Christian cinema, I really do thank you for this video. It’s helped me with my approach and mindset on how I’m going to create this films that touch the ones who don’t know God.
Good video.
Subscribed. Great video essay. Keep them coming.
My daughter and I watch Tree of Life every year or so. I enjoy the nostalgic hayride through my childhood so hauntingly framed as to feel autobiographical; my daughter sees it as a string connected a past she never touched, but is touched by. God's beauty reveals itself. Malick understands this. His camera drinks it in, sip by sip, never waterboarding us with it. He is in awe of this brief glimpse we get called life. As are we…in those rare moments when we stop, shut off the chaos, and just disappear into the contemplation. Thank God for these films.
I love malice’s films. I saw The thin red line in theaters just a few days after watching saving private Ryan. I want to the movies with the same group of friends. Afterwards some of my friends complained the thin red line was “Boring” others appreciated the film but preferred saving private Ryan. But I was blow away. Every second of the film seemed to be infused with a quality that usually is only experienced for an instant. One beautiful image and than it’s gone. But watching thin red line was like an extended meditation.
Watching this video makes me want to watch all his movies over again. Thanks
I'm used to seeing left-wing people critizing Christianity for all sorts of reason, but none really makes sense – except this video.
I'm a Christian and I am baffled by the lack of talent of Christian film makers. Your critic is spot on. We really do need better Christian artists.
If The Tree of Life is the Book of Job, then Knight of Cups is the Book of Ecclesiastes. Job is about a man who loses everything and despairs. Ecclesiastes is about a man who gains everything and despairs.
One of the best videos I've seen on Terrence Malick's work. Its a shame this video doesn't have more views.