Tideland
THINKFilm | Release Date: October 13, 2006
6.6
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 62 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
40
Mixed:
8
Negative:
14
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
zpocJan 19, 2013
One of Gilliam' best. Beautiful, funny, dark. Most critics, it seems, we're too terrified by the image of a retarded man kissing a young girl. It's worth noting that this is not a sexual kiss, it's a peck on the lips like any two childrenOne of Gilliam' best. Beautiful, funny, dark. Most critics, it seems, we're too terrified by the image of a retarded man kissing a young girl. It's worth noting that this is not a sexual kiss, it's a peck on the lips like any two children might do while playing. Anyone who interprets that scene as pedophilia needs to take long look at themselves because it's kind of creepy to read that much in to such an innocent scene.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
All this user's reviews
10
CathyDApr 17, 2007
This movie has been reviewed as "not for the faint of heart". And while that is certainly true, it should in truth be described as "not for the faint of mind". It is a philosophical marvel for those with the capacity to view from different This movie has been reviewed as "not for the faint of heart". And while that is certainly true, it should in truth be described as "not for the faint of mind". It is a philosophical marvel for those with the capacity to view from different angels, question, and prod the fabric of life. Allegories, allusions, symbolism abound- the symbols of water, the bees, the squirrels, the religious connotations, the allusions to all kinds of fairy tales, especially Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood... The plot can be seen as 'drab' because it would have to be not to turn borderline chaos into total chaos, for all the connotations and themes connected to each element of the movie. Look a little deeper, and you will come to be led by Gilliam, as he intended, literally, to the Wonderland of perception and conception distortion the author and director are trying to lead us to- the perception and conception distortion that is the Tideland of the limbo between Childhood, Youth, and Innocence, and Adulthood, Tiredness, and what we choose to make Innocence be by adult terms- Corruption. A masterpiece to the open minded, philosophical, artistic, and daring explorers of life and it's variably thick or thin fabrics.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
3
ChristopherW.Mar 1, 2007
I take a special interest in films that are considered bizarre, twisted, or very dark. I love a daring and courageous film that carries me along to places I have never been before. With that said, 'Tideland' wants to be disturbing I take a special interest in films that are considered bizarre, twisted, or very dark. I love a daring and courageous film that carries me along to places I have never been before. With that said, 'Tideland' wants to be disturbing and comically bizarre, but ends up being tedious, aimless, and boring. The visual trappings maintain some interest for awhile, but even Gilliam's trademark visual style grows tiresome in this meandering misfire. Again, I don't mind taking a journey into a director's nightmare if said journey is provocative and entertaining. 'Tideland'? Not so much! Leave this one on the rental shelf!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
BennyGillOct 21, 2006
A real masterpiece. Gilliam's best since Time Bandits.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
JimmusM.Mar 29, 2007
Vile. To call it creepy is an injustice to creepy movies. There is no "get it" or "don't get it". It's a meandering, pointless movie which touches on aspects of hardcore drug abuse, death, child abuse/neglect, mental illness, Vile. To call it creepy is an injustice to creepy movies. There is no "get it" or "don't get it". It's a meandering, pointless movie which touches on aspects of hardcore drug abuse, death, child abuse/neglect, mental illness, pedophilia, retardation, necrophilia, terrorism, and religious fanaticism, to name the main offenders. I would not be a bit surprised if the little girl in the main role came away from this film with serious, long-standing mental problems. Truly disturbing.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
ChadS.Apr 6, 2007
People who despise "Tideland" object strongly, rightfully so, mind you; to the adult relationship between Jeliza-Rose(Jodelle Ferland) and Dickens(Brendan Fletcher). Statutory rape, or even its overtures that would precipitate such a People who despise "Tideland" object strongly, rightfully so, mind you; to the adult relationship between Jeliza-Rose(Jodelle Ferland) and Dickens(Brendan Fletcher). Statutory rape, or even its overtures that would precipitate such a godforesaken congress, violates the unspoken, but implicit pact between performer and director; which is: the filmmaker has a moral obligation to not humiliate his actor. If Dell(Janet McTeer) doesn't burst in the room and interrupt a kiss, clearly intended to be adult in nature, between man(-child) and child, a far-worse transgression would most likely follow. "Tideland", in my mind, is Terry Gilliam's f*****-up interpretation of "The Blue Lagoon". An ocean transformed from a field of tall brown chaff is suggested, visually, through CGI; but it's when Dickens pretends to swim with Jeliza-Rose did my pre-pubescent memories of Christopher Atkins and Brooke Shields(and her strategically-placed hair) stir, and stir, and stir. Is this a reason to fully recommend "Tideland"? Hell, no! Jeliza-Rose's come-ons made my skin crawl. But just keep it in mind that the accidental lolita is carrying on without any adult supervision. She's an innocent.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
HolgerW.Aug 31, 2008
This film is just a masterpiece for those who open their eyes, their minds and hearts....and step out of this superficial living to see...really see.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
PinkyCOct 15, 2006
This movie is awesome! Jodelle Ferland turns in an Oscar calibre performance and will mesmorise you. Based on the novel "Tideland" by Mitch Cullin - Terry Gilliam has created a fantastic adaptation that will shock you and touch you. It will This movie is awesome! Jodelle Ferland turns in an Oscar calibre performance and will mesmorise you. Based on the novel "Tideland" by Mitch Cullin - Terry Gilliam has created a fantastic adaptation that will shock you and touch you. It will leave you thinking about Tideland for a very long time. (I saw it Sept 2005 and Oct 2006 at Toronto screenings)… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
DavidD.Oct 16, 2006
A Brilliant Film. The critics have lost their mind on this one. Easily the best film of 2006.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
AaronSOct 16, 2006
One critic has called this virtually unwatchable. Yep, that it is. Gilliam can be a fine filmmaker, but his recent output has been to put it kindly, uneven. 'Tideland' on the other hand is bad. Beyond bad. This movie is not only One critic has called this virtually unwatchable. Yep, that it is. Gilliam can be a fine filmmaker, but his recent output has been to put it kindly, uneven. 'Tideland' on the other hand is bad. Beyond bad. This movie is not only painfully offensive, but just downright trash. One of the very worst movies from a talented filmmaker ever made. Stunningly, mind-numbingly awful.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
WaltYNov 8, 2006
An interesting wake up to a different kind of movie. The movie however, shows no real purpose and theme as the movie drags on without any real sense of direction. Don't surprised to come out of the theatre refreshed after your nap.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
EonDec 6, 2006
[9.5/10] I've just finished watching this.. I was stunned. It's very beautiful and funny.. And the big part of the fun was thinking how average viewer would react to some scenes, that made me smile. This movie obviously makes [9.5/10] I've just finished watching this.. I was stunned. It's very beautiful and funny.. And the big part of the fun was thinking how average viewer would react to some scenes, that made me smile. This movie obviously makes people meet a lot of their insecurities and most of them can't stomach it. Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas is a real masterpiece, and it got bashed by the critics big time. The situation with this movie is very much alike. People ar so used to the movies with bunch of apologies for what they're showing, and they just hate when something like this is made. As Gilliam said "most of the people who didn't like this movie, don't want to talk about it". I've read one review, where critic said that this movie is very creative, acting and camera work is great, but still gave it the lowest ranking that could be given, and called "the worst movie of the year" , because he found it "boring". Now how much sense does that make? It's the most underrated movie of the year, now that is for sure.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
MichaelW.Feb 25, 2007
Terry Gilliam takes you places you don
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
MichaelE.Mar 23, 2007
Stunning. Gilliam's most complete film since Brazil, and probably the truest, most emotionally resonant film he's ever done. Compared to the somewhat similar Pan's Labyrinth, Tideland wins in every department -- and Stunning. Gilliam's most complete film since Brazil, and probably the truest, most emotionally resonant film he's ever done. Compared to the somewhat similar Pan's Labyrinth, Tideland wins in every department -- and there's no gratuitous violence! The overwhelmingly negative critical reception to this versus the overwhelmingly positive critical reception to the inferior Del Toro feature has eroded what little respect I have for commercial film reviewers. All the rumors they've started are untrue: Tideland is not ugly, it's not "disturbing," it's not pointless, and it certainly isn't boring. Unless Inland Empire is everything I've hoped for and more, this is my pick for the Film of 2006.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
VinceAug 30, 2007
Love Gilliam's works, and the plot itself at a glance was certainly more then interesting enough to grab my attention and make me rent it. But this somehow turned out to be a really, really boring movie. Disappointing.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
JayKSep 2, 2007
I can't believe how underrated this movie is. The lack of respect this movie gets is really a crime. This film is extremely brave, interesting, well-written, well-acted, well-shot, and well-directed. I was captivated the whole way I can't believe how underrated this movie is. The lack of respect this movie gets is really a crime. This film is extremely brave, interesting, well-written, well-acted, well-shot, and well-directed. I was captivated the whole way through. If the back of the case appeals to you, please do give this film a shot.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
AliC.Mar 17, 2008
Beautiful-I'd want all my friends to watch it. It stands out from the dumb trend following movies A 9 only because a greater discovery would have been nice.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
DTG.Oct 15, 2006
It's a hard movie to recommend to anyone but I really liked the movie. It's difficult to watch and sometimes very disturbing but there is something very worthwhile there. In the end it is a hopeful movie and the main character gets It's a hard movie to recommend to anyone but I really liked the movie. It's difficult to watch and sometimes very disturbing but there is something very worthwhile there. In the end it is a hopeful movie and the main character gets put through a lot but is always treated tenderly.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
BobCOct 16, 2006
Beautiful... And disturbing, but only because deep-seated traditional taboos are broken without any sort of apology. But for fans of uncompromising art, this movie will probably enthrall you. I, for one, couldn't be happier that Gilliam Beautiful... And disturbing, but only because deep-seated traditional taboos are broken without any sort of apology. But for fans of uncompromising art, this movie will probably enthrall you. I, for one, couldn't be happier that Gilliam made this movie, by far one of his best (my favorite other than Brazil). I only hope that the audience that this movie was intended for ignores the surprisingly pig-headed reviews and sees this film anyway!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
0
CorenDOct 19, 2006
Awful. Disturbing and depressing. Jennifer Tilly is the best part in a minor role.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
bobc.Oct 29, 2006
This is one of the films that you "get", or don't get... It's beautiful, creepy, smart and morbidly hillarious. But it is definitely not for the popcorn crowd. Fans of Gilliam will love this film, and in many ways it is his best This is one of the films that you "get", or don't get... It's beautiful, creepy, smart and morbidly hillarious. But it is definitely not for the popcorn crowd. Fans of Gilliam will love this film, and in many ways it is his best treatment of the absurd since "Brazil". The film goes in some directions that will make almost any viewer uncomforatble - and some of the material will certainly be viewed by many as stepping over the line - that is unless you approach the film as intended - through the eyes of a child. Brilliant work.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
ThomasWJan 25, 2008
Maybe everybody expected another "Brazil"..., something similar in visual style (me too!). I had differences while viewing "Tideland", was bored sometimes. I think it happens in her mind, the fantastic landscapes we wanted to see are in the Maybe everybody expected another "Brazil"..., something similar in visual style (me too!). I had differences while viewing "Tideland", was bored sometimes. I think it happens in her mind, the fantastic landscapes we wanted to see are in the head of that child, and that means you have to feel into her. Thats for sure far away from normal movie consumption, and so many people failed. The story itself is comparable to "Brazil", I think, it points into another world..… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
JayJan 31, 2008
Nice surprise, as I forgot about this and rented it. Great performances and Gilliam masters another fantasty world come to life. Bridges is great in small role(when isn't he) and Jodelle Ferland just shines as the lead and makes this Nice surprise, as I forgot about this and rented it. Great performances and Gilliam masters another fantasty world come to life. Bridges is great in small role(when isn't he) and Jodelle Ferland just shines as the lead and makes this movie her own. Brave. Very brave.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
PaulDec 25, 2007
In my opinion Tideland is a really great movie. It might not be Gilliam's best one but surely one of the most interesting and eclectic movies I watched in the last years. It misses some of the qualities cinema visitors might want - such In my opinion Tideland is a really great movie. It might not be Gilliam's best one but surely one of the most interesting and eclectic movies I watched in the last years. It misses some of the qualities cinema visitors might want - such as strong excitement, a happy end or something. But that would just distract us from the interesting points of Tideland.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
HighPriestesaMay 18, 2014
One of my favorite movies. Memorable.

It's sick, it's shocking, it's bizarre, disturbing. And I love it. It reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth, but I must say I like this one just a little bit better.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
slider1983Feb 27, 2019
The push/pull, the ‘tideland’ between the fantasies of Jeliza-Rose’s mind and the pointlessly cruel, sick reality ultimately ruins the film with Gilliam’s irresponsibility when what is presented suggests the audience would rather side withThe push/pull, the ‘tideland’ between the fantasies of Jeliza-Rose’s mind and the pointlessly cruel, sick reality ultimately ruins the film with Gilliam’s irresponsibility when what is presented suggests the audience would rather side with one or the other. While I myself do not believe films should be produced around demographics the evidence presented in this movie leads me to feel that had it been aimed more towards children it perhaps would have gained a better reputation not just with critics but audiences. The potential for a tonally better movie is there that’s why it’s so annoying. Tideland is a haunting tale of how innocence of youth deals with disturbing reality but the nature of the film’s title meaning; it’s combination of imaginative childlike fantasy and the uncaring, and often unnecessarily disgusting, twisted reality is ultimately its own downfall.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
Peter_DenmarkApr 20, 2019
One of my favorite movies, where the leading actor is a young girl(others are The Fall (2006) and El Laberinto Del Fauno(2006)and El Espiritu de La Colmena(1973) and La cité des enfants perdus (1995)).
In portraying childish innocence andOne of my favorite movies, where the leading actor is a young girl(others are The Fall (2006) and El Laberinto Del Fauno(2006)and El Espiritu de La Colmena(1973) and La cité des enfants perdus (1995)).
In portraying childish innocence and escape into imagination as the preferable alternative to reality, as the sanity of adult world fades, Gilliam is a master.
This film opened my eyes to Jodelle Ferland, although this movie set a high bar of expectation, which Ferland has yet to crawl over. Give her time- I love her talent. And Bridges dreamy, elusive character of a junkie, leaves room for her to take the lead. Well, the duality of adult world decay and childish hope just keeps me watching and forgetting time. Love it...… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
DawdlingPoetNov 26, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This film features elements of a few genres, namely fantasy, drama and horror. It has quite an unsettling feel to it generally, being particularly spooky in some key scenes perhaps moreso than others. The film covers themes including isolation and childhood imagination.

This film is quite depressing, in that the plot is quite bleak but then you should realise that given the main plot, of course. Its a tough watch in places and its certainly not a child-friendly fantasy film - if anything, its more of a spooky fantasy about child neglect for adult viewing (not in a pornographic way, of course). I was impressed by the camerawork, as its sudden switching between angles really added to the shock factor - that and the bizarre visuals, when Jeliza's imagination seemed to go in to full effect - or are they real? thats up to us as the viewer to decide, I presume. Also, camera wise, I noticed on a few ocassions that the camera is shown to retreat backwards from Jeliza, or from the scene in general, at a fair speed (as if retreating in fear), a technique I don't notice often in films and it does make the viewer feel perhaps slightly disorientated, if not hieghtening nervousness generally.

As with most of Terry Gilliams work (he co-wrote the screenplay and directed this film) it is fantasy based and there's a question mark in terms of where the border lies between whats in Jelizas imagination and what is reality. This sort of film is hard to review in much detail, its quite hard to describe without giving much away in the form of spoilers. Its got an element of eccentricity but most of the time its more unsettling, rather spooky and somewhat haunting, rather than eccentric in the form of inconsequential childhood fun and games, although there is an element of that as well but I felt on edge, wondering when Jeliza would get the inevitable 'bump back to earth' as they may say.

I felt a bit confused about certain plot developments, or elements, as certain things didn't seem to entirely add up to me but then I suppose thats often the case with these sort of films, which maybe aren't meant to entirely make sense as such(?). Having said that, I did find myself (and this doesn't happen very often) feeling so lost in terms of what was really going on and what was purely in Jelizas head, that after about an hour and a half or so, I stopped paying full attention and got distracted. I couldn't really take it all in, as what happens is quite extreme, not in a graphically bloody way but in an utterly bizarre and confusing way and I like to think I am fairly open minded, certainly to an extent, if that makes sense?.

I felt that this film featured a strange mix of highs and lows, with Jeliza dealing with her surroundings, interacting with various characters. It is hard to explain or elaborate - the presence of various dolls heads to represent people presumably in Jelizas imagination is unsettling - they take up more time on screen than any other character does, other than Jeliza herself. It is a deeply creepy sort of a film and yet there isn't much in the way of bloody, or gory, detail - there is no slasher type killer on the loose or anything like that, like in traditional horror films. If you like Terry Gilliams other fantasy/horror based work then you may well enjoy this but it won't suit everyone.

I'm unsure about this - as I've said, its not for everyone. Its decidedly creepy and haunting but its not a traditional horror film as such and it features a somewhat unnecessary over-use/over-reliance of incidental music at times which I didn't greatly like, plus I felt the plot became too confusing and I lost concentration on it after a while but, on the positive side, it does feature a good performance from the key cast member and some very good camerawork, plus I suppose it was quite immersive to start with, so I'll opt for undecided overall and you can decide if you'd like to see it or not.… Expand
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8
ShootMeReviewsDec 28, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A work of rare genius. Here is a link to my YouTube video review of the movie: https://youtu.be/Jvsy1y4b-nY… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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