The Sea of Trees
The Sea of Trees
PG-13 | 26 August 2016 (USA)
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In Japan's Aokigahara Forest, a troubled teacher meets a mysterious lost stranger who takes him on a life-changing journey of love and redemption.

Reviews
Hellen

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

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Diagonaldi

Very well executed

Derry Herrera

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

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Nayan Gough

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

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SnoopyStyle

Arthur Brennan (Matthew McConaughey) travels to the Aokigahara forest in Japan where people go to commit suicide. There, he encounters Takumi Nakamura (Ken Watanabe). The movie also shows his troubled marriage to Joan Brennan (Naomi Watts).Director Gus Van Sant delivers a ponderous journey of self-discovery. Neither timeline is that compelling. The troubled marriage lacks energy which ends in a silly surprise reveal. The walk in the forest is only that while the audience waits for the inevitable reveal. This felt much longer than its running time.

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krocheav

Over recent years, several reviewers have mentioned finding the reviews and critical reactions given by the Academy and Festival critics - for mainstream and other titles, to be just about worthless. "Trees" is a reasonable case in point. While Mad Max and the like, are hailed way above their station, thoughtful life-affirming works are being thrown away – some have begun to question these baseless critics.Chris Sparling (Buried 2010) with 'Sea of Trees', has written a thoughtful study about the places the mind goes when overcome by grief. The entire impact of this movie is fully engrossing. The performances, script, direction - the hauntingly beautiful cinematography by Danish documentary maker Kasper Tuxen, the artistic production design, all wrapped up in a score by modern symphonics composer Mason Bates, offers much to be admired.It's an exhausting experience for the thoughtful, patient viewer. At first, this looked like it was about to be yet another story unfolding in flash backwards/forwards mode - that often leaves you with little resolution. Thankfully, here, the pieces fit together in a rather unexpected way. It's slightly reminiscent of an earlier, now forgotten, Ben Hecht story "Miracle in the Rain" yet, also entirely different in overall tone. Mathew McConaughey and Ken Watanabe are perfect as the strangers brought together in the valley of death. It's good to see lovely Naomi Watts used to good advantage in a role worthy of her professionalism. For those who like to think and feel their entertainment, this is a must. If depressed or burdened by grief you might not be so drawn to its topic. Still, it's all first class – regardless of the somewhat superficial festival crowds indifference.

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bpenelope

I thought it was great. At first I thought it was going to be very depressing. Kept at it and it really spoke to me. Didn't like the alcoholic part too much, thought was unnecessary. After it was over, it made me go make a list to ask my husband and grown kids questions e.g. favorite color, season, book, and many other questions. Nice thought provoking and redemption story.

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gmjerrymack8

This film violates the cardinal rule of screen writing:never bore your audience. I tried hard to stay interested in what seemed to be a developing story, but I was able to watch two men talking in hushed, incomprehensible tones, wandering in a dark forest for just so long before I was bored out of my gourd. I kept thinking there must be a point to this, but I didn't have the stamina to hang in there to find out. And was he really trying to commit suicide? It's highly unlikely that someone in that frame of mind would suddenly be moved by compassion to help a stranger, who seemed to be in serious physical trouble, but then managed to trek on through the rugged terrain. All in all a case of bad Hollywood judgment.

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