I really had to write something about this movie, considering I'm seeing raves for it everywhere when it really just wasn't that great. The ideas Aronofsky presents are extraordinary, and some of the visuals are incredibly profound, but it's just that the way the story is delivered is stupid and melodramatic.
I understand that this sort of movie isn't really about human drama...but you need it to at least be presentable to make it a relevant movie. You cannot sacrifice any sort of human credibility for good visuals and ideas.
I mean, watching this film was frustrating for me. Every part of the premise is perfect...love, loss, redemption, spirituality, and just the film's entire vibe was flawless. It could have been an amazing movie, a complete and total masterpiece. But it just didn't deliver when it needed to. To create a masterpiece, every element of storytelling has to be there. This had the visual and philosophical elements nailed...but the human feeling was hideously lacking.
I think people are hung up on this film because the ideas are so great, and because it's hard not to like a film by the great Aronofsky. But if you get past the ideas put forth, and the hypnotizingly beautiful images, you will realize there is nothing there.
I wanted to like this movie, I really did...but it's just not up to par. It did not live up to its outstandingly promising premise, which I'm still sad about. If you want a movie that presents ideas and visuals in a way such as this and still delivers on the human level, watch Sunshine. However, The Fountain is still worth watching if you're in a fix for provocative sci-fi.