Squirrel Butts Don't Glow, Tideland Does! (Tideland (DVD))

Member Name: lisa2062

Product:	Tideland (DVD)
Date:	17/05/08 (170 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Jodelle Ferland's performance, stunning scenery, and captivating storyline.

Disadvantages: Choppy editing.

After her mum dies of a drugs overdose, young Jeliza-Rose and her father Noah go to stay in his deceased mother's farmhouse in Texas. Jeliza -Rose like she has always done fixes her father up so he can go on one of his 'Vacations', but this time Noah doesn't return to the land of the living. Not realizing that her father is dead because she's used to seeing him unconscious, Jelzia-Rose descends deeper and deeper into a fantasy world. Her only 'friends' are Barbie doll heads, which sit on her fingers, and together they explore new adventures. It's not long however before she meets Dickens who's mentally challenged, and his sister Dell, the crazy bee lady. For Jeliza-Rose, the fantasy world in which she surrounds herself maybe the only world she'll ever know.


Released in 2005, Tideland received many negative reviews, and it was almost a year before it was screened in America. Many critics described it as bizarre, awful and disturbing, and compared to other comments on the film they were being kind.

As Terry Gilliam said himself about this film, Some of you will love this film. Some of you will hate it. Others won't know what to think- and that's okay, as long as you are thinking. I fall into the latter, and having been largely disapointed by his previous film 'The Brothers Grimm', I wasn't holding out much hope for his latest film.

When watching this film like Gilliam states it is important to try to see it through the eyes of a child. Those of you unable to do this will most likely be sickened by the films subject matter, and stop watching it immediately. For it's 2 hour duration Tideland covers drug abuse, death, taxidermy and what some might consider as an age-inappropriate romance between Jeliza-Rose and Dickens. While I'll put my hands up and admit that some of the scenes aren't easy to stomach, I never once felt include to reach for the remote.

Tideland is essentially about the world as seen through the eyes of a child. Take for example Jeliza-Roses relationship with Dickens, while many people have described it as sick, it is no more than an innocent friendship between two childish minds. At know time is their relationship a sexual one, and a quick kiss on the lips is as far as it goes.
Many people will be able to relate to the fantasy world in which Jeliza-Rose creates, and how hard it can be to rejoin the real world.

Like Gilliam's previous film 'The Brothers Grimm', Tideland is a feast for the eyes. Filmed on location in Canada, the scenery is simply breathtaking. Likewise, the costumes that the main characters wore were stunning.

The very talented Jodelle Ferland (Silent Hill) played Jeliza-Rose, and did an amazing job at carrying most of the film. I would agree though with other critics that her accent sounded peculiar at times, but overall Ferland was very entertaining throughout.

Jeff Bridges doesn't have a lot to do in this film, as just looking stoned and shouting is all that's required of him. The same can be said for Jennifer Tilly who is in the film even less. The pair of them put in average performances, but luckily, their characters do not hang about long.

Janet McTeer was quite impressive as the disturbing and scary Dell. There were times though where she over did it and developed into the 'bad guy' at pantos.
Full credit must go to Brendan Frasier as the mentally challenged brother of Dell. Having seen him in other films, it took along time for the penny to drop that he was Dickens. He put in a very believable albeit disturbing performance and I hope that people see more of his talent in the future.

With a running time of 2 hours, there were times when Tideland felt unnecessarily drawn out. Many scenes, particularly in the first half where Jeliza-Rose was playing dragged on for far too long. The second half is the complete opposite and the ending while appropriate enough just felt rushed.

The film's rated 15 for bizarre and disturbing content, including drug use, sexuality, and gruesome situations - all involving a child, and for some language. Believe me when I say that the rating is well justified.

Overall Tideland is engaging, different, and most of all it's thought provoking. While Terry Gilliam's films may be to extreme for some, I for one love the majority of his work, and can't wait for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus next year.


Tideland was released back in 2005, and can be found at Amazon for around £5.

Summary: Try something different for once.