Terence Malick's The Tree of Life, alongside Christoper Nolan's Inception, is a visionary masterpiece that classes as not only film of the year or decade, but film of the century. It's unlike you've seen before. Malick has made film on the scale of 2001: A Space Odyssey that captures the very essence of every living thing in this universe by tackling life, the afterlife and the creation all in one. It is completely unmissable. Almost impossible to understand, but just so out-of this-world. Everyone has to see it!

I dont agree with reviews of other users here.. the film was extraordinary, thats why it is worth to see it. Especially the images of the Universe and the Earth are very moving..During the film you really have to think about life and its meaning.

First an admission, I did not see the whole film because I left before the end. I wondered whether I was going to miss something, but from the reactions of the other user reviewers it seems I did not.

To me this seemed like two films joined together, with the first half tacked on as an afterthought to try and rescue it.

The main film (as much as I saw) is a rather dull story of family life where nothing much happens. However before that begins there is a wonderful collage of images that really inspire a sense of awe in the universe and make you ponder the meaning of life the universe and everything.

So even though I have only given this film 2 stars I strongly recommend that you go and see it. Just walk out half way through!

I absolutely agree with the other 2 users. This was a painful experience and I would have left had I not been certain something was going to happen.
This seems to be one of those films that certain people will to be compelled to say is 'brilliant' believing it bolsters their credibility as artistic and interesting people. I have reasonable patience for innovation and ambiguity, but this film gave nothing in the way of a narrative. I could cope with that if it was a visual film such as Koyaanisqatsi which was simply music and incredible images from nature and city living. But Tree of Life tacked on a 'story' that inserted scenes that cropped up never to be referred to again (watching prisoners being stuffed into cars and the mother giving one a glass of water whilst the eldest child watched with alarm?) and told very little about the lives of the central characters. Razor thin 'plot' based solely on far away anguish looks. I knew Sean Penn was unhappy as he kept morosely uttering 'my brother' and meandering through the desert. And the images of nature were ok, but I would go for a David Attenborough documentary any day!

Several people walked out of the screen I was at and quite honestly felt like joining them.
Only the feeling that 'something' had to happen soon kept me there.
I was disappointed - nothing happened!
Wonderful imagery and I suppose thought provoking, if only to wonder what is going on other than the creation of life, but I can hardly agree about the standard of acting unless pensive expressions are your thing.
Could someone explain why the eldest managed to change eye colour when he became adult - or did I miss something there as well?

I cannot agree with the reviewer. And so were the rest of the audiences. Lots of unnecessary vignettes, lots of shaky camera shots, lots deliberate acting and predictable music to compliment colourful visuals. Lots of shots of people's backs, people looking moody, people looking OTT happy, people walking in a state of daze - lots of them from the start to the end. I mean, I get it but after two hours, can we move on please? You get the sense that everything is deliberate. Beautiful scenes do not hide a shallow storyline. Also, you got to give credit to Hollywood to come out with such cheesy lines like "Unless you love, your life will flash by", and there're more of these in the film. Spare me the preaching. I agree that the film is expansive in visuals (to compliment such histrionic film title) but where is the craftsmanship of the director? Where is the story? Absolutely two hours of tosh.