That's cool. I mean, i can see what you mean, I guess I just see it happening much more literally, and there's nothing to suggest that that isn't the future.

The one thing that suggests it is the present to me is the way he is able to switch around the 2006 memories at the end to "take a different path" and take the ring. I thought he was manipulating his memory to "set things right in his mind".

...and I also kind of find the idea that him actually dying at the end is a bit more romantic and adds to the sadness/triumph of his character (how he took life in order to hope that he could be physically reunited with her). I guess if he was just imagining it, it wouldn't have the same power to me.

That could be. I agree that it is more romantic if in the end he really does die, rather then just the spiritual element of him holding out to be reuinited. In fact I think I like that better.

The thing is, there are so many levels to this film, that there really is no telling how many "correct interpretations" of it there could be. I think the film is purposely vague it really could be very well be that way to allow an almost personal interpretation of it for each person.

At any rate...this thread is now 2 pages.

I agree with you there. Almost by talking about it that it matters less and less. The tree in the bubble is...

a) a real tree in Guatemala
b) a fake tree from the book that she happened to write about at the exact same time as he found it scientifically
c) a direct representation of her character
d) possibly the same tree he plants at her grave at the end of the movie

But in the end, it all is a representation her life force or something that will give her life, which he is foolishly clinging on to with all of his might.

That's where this movie just really comes together for me.

If we are to accept the 2500 storyline as real, then I think the tree is definately the one that he planted at her grave. Perhaps he kept himself alive by using the formula he created for Donovan. That is why he was still living in 2500. The tree, he moved to the bubble after hearing Izzie's story of the ancient Mayan who became a tree (she told him the story in the museum). It was his hope that be keeping her alive that he could be reunited with her I guess...am I making sense?

One more creepy angle I thought about right before going to sleep.

What if the 1500 sequences are just as real as the other two time periods? The movie definitely could contain some sort of reincarnation/Rebirth aspects as long as it dabbles in the motifs of those religions, that this story was important to Izzi maybe because she and Tom lived it before? Conquistador!Tom finds the tree in Guatemala, then 2006!Tom's team finds it there again. Conquistador!Tom however failed, and undoubtedly so did Queen!Izzy.

Might be nothing, but I thought I would throw that on the table.

Yeah, I've seen that discussed as an Adam and Eve type storyline in that Eve/Izzy finally finds death (in 2006) whereas Tommy takes longer (2500) to realize it is a part of life...and until each of them does they are trapped in a sort of reincarnation sequence.

Yeah, but there is a real tree in 2006. They say the compound is based on samples and at the end he's all like "I need to know everything about this tree". So it's not necessarily Izzi's tree in the bubble... but it's not necessarily not

I actually thought about that as a reality. Would certainly add another layer to the story.

Yeah. The tree plays an imporant role in each. If the 1500 tree is the 2500 tree then it is likely the 2006 tree as well...but how does that then relate to Izzy in the bubble?

If it is the actual Tree of Life from Guatemala, then I think it relates to what Izzi said about the nebula/dying star. That it was the Mayan Underworld (a place she would be if she was dead) and that he was trying to get there with the Tree of Life in order to "rescue" her from the Underworld. Although as he approached the Underworld/Dead Star the Tree of Life started to die leading him to his epiphany.

To me, the Tree of Life works better than Izzi's tree because I think the reason why he is going to the nebula is to reunite with her. How he plans to do this I don't know! But that's my primary way of thinking about it. Although, I have multiple conflicting opinions on how it could/should be looked at... and I think that's a good thing!

The reason (IMO) why Bubble!Tom wasn't turned into mulch was that he bargained with the tree a bit. He ate as much as he needed. Conquistador!Tom ripped the tree open and greedily drunk the sap, which was his undoing I believe.

This thread and other commetns around have gotten me pumped for this movie, re-energized my anticipation that had dropped a bit with the ok reviews... Won't be able to see it till dvd though, unfortunatley. I'm this close to giving in and downloading.

Interesting theory. That could work (taking the tree to re-unite). I mean, I guess if he believes that she is really there (in the underworld) then taking a tree of life should theoretically allow her to return I suppose. I guess to me it just doesn't work as well as taking the "Izzy tree" to me. But yeah a lot of conflicting ideas. I kind of like that though as it makes the film so much deeper.

I don't think downloading would do it justice, this is really an amazing theatrical experience, but this is just a film that needs to be seen. It is so, amazing? Yeah.

Yeah. That is a possibility as well. But I don't see how that really relates to the themes of immortality -- meaning Conquistador Tom becoming a part of nature because he ate too much but bubble Tom not...?

I just read on Wikipedia that the film is tinted gold because the Spanish came to the New World looking for the Fountain of Youth and other treasures (gold, etc.).

Also that Tom's character named is based off of the Bowie song "Space Oddity".

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God's love be with you

(spoken)
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff

This is Ground Control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare

"This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows"

Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you....

"Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do."

Heh, the symoblism grows deeper...?

That was actually kind of a separate comment... I was thinking out loud about why Space!Tom can eat the tree and live and Helmet!Tom drinks from it and turns into flowers.

I'm going to bed for the evening, was nice chatting with you. I think this is one that can go as deep as people want it to go, but odd because it's still (almost) basically accessible on the surface I believe, even if you view it completely literally.

This is going to be one of those films where people see it in February and the first couple of posters here will be blamed for "hyping/pumping up the movie up so much".

I'm still not sure about the whole Conquistador Tom becoming part of nature. I read some theories on it over at IMDB, but I think I'll need a second viewing and more thought before that becomes clear.

Same here (going to bed) but yes I look forward to continuing to try to digest the film. Thanks for your insight, perhaps you can add some more later.

There's no way I can access this in my town theatrically, if I could I would easily. I'll still probably wait a few months for dvd though.

Yeah, lets continue this, although I'd like to see some others pipe up. I'm not an expert on Buddhism, although I think what I said earlier is correct, I am not sure, and it would be interesting to see if someone can bring some more information to the table.

This is definitely one of those films where reading the internet discussion/commentary is more interesting than watching the actual film.

Funny how someone can direct a mess of a movie, label it as artsy and have hundreds of people on the internet looking for some meaning in it which the director himself couldn't find

They realllly make me want to see the movie again, maybe when I'm more awake and not filled with turkey.