![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36zDerw0H4BmXW8Ib0VElqcu_010jAIthMN1ywOW5GLDtrmsw6PF9elIMUJEosVXFp9GBzKBwuOZxe0UAn46SFO_-6FNzznnfNvWkfGx-5dDdkVOKofFMWtCXrTpXdI5MCrDxl_8lqAU/s280/Voyage+of+Time.jpg)
The late astronomer, Carl Sagan, developed the Cosmic
Calendar as a way to explain the history of the universe to laymen. According
to Sagan, if the entire history of the universe (from The Big Bang to present
day) were represented in one calendar year, highlights would break down as
follows:
January 1, The Big Bang occurs
September 14, Earth is formed
December 24, First dinosaurs appear
December 31, 11:54 p.m., Modern humans appear
December 31, 11:59:45 p.m., Writing is invented
December 31, 11:59:59 p.m., America is discovered
With his Cosmic Calendar, Sagan posited that, in the grand
scheme of things, intelligent, human life is just a mere blip in the history of
the universe. If 1492 to 2017 is represent by fractions of a second on the
Cosmic Calendar, imagine all that came before.
It is that notion of perspective – of curiosity and consideration
– that Terrence Malick explores in Voyage
of Time, his beautiful, G-rated ode to the birth of our universe. It explains
why near the end of the 40-minute film, a sequence of the dinosaurs being wiped
out is quickly followed by gorgeous night shots of the Burj Khalifa building in
Dubai. Because, in the context of it all all, the death of one species and
Man’s tallest work are not at all far apart.
The cheapest way to explain Voyage of Time is to say it is like the universe creation sequence
in The Tree of Life, only longer and
more in depth. Voyage of Time borrows
no shots from that Tree of Life
sequence; it rests entirely and gloriously on its own. The Tree of Life passage was a mere sampling of Malick’s insight, and,
it appears that the version of Voyage of
Time I saw is one step up from that.
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There isn’t much left in Voyage
of Time after the Dubai shots, which ultimately forces us to think, Where do we go from here? There is a
long, unsourced passage of text that opens the film; a poetic introduction for
what we’re about to see. I can’t recall all of the words, but it ends with a
question, one I believe Malick is asking us directly: Do you wonder, too? And to that I say: “Why yes, sir. I certainly
do.” A
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I really want to see this film more than any of his other films but it never came to Atlanta. Plus, it's likely that I'll have to wait another month to get some money as I'm kind of broke at the moment having spent money on a laptop.
ReplyDeleteSuch a bummer about your laptop. Sorry man. I came across this screening by chance. It never really got a proper release, probably because it's so hard to market. It won't have nearly the same impact on DVD/Blu-Ray.
DeleteI'll love to watch this on cinema, but it's not coming to any theater near me. I think I'm gonna love it 'cause that sequence from The Tree of Life and the ending on the beach were my two favorite sequences.
ReplyDeleteI really wish this was getting a bigger release. Such a shame. It is so, so beautiful!
DeleteI love those scenes too. Absolutely stunning.
Very cool. I would love to watch one of these in theaters. Doubt they will be released in Norway though.
ReplyDeleteReally a shame this didn't get a wider release. Such a fun experience.
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