Lars Von Trier is a risky filmmaker and with Melancholia he has channeled all that risqué factor into a good story with some fantastic visuals. The oddly beautiful Kirsten Dunst leads the film and is pretty much the main character whose wedding takes place amidst an apocalypse event(Earth is about to be hit by another planet!!). The acting is uniform throughout and the pacing is very good. Melancholia is a film that should be seen even if you don't like art movies. This one just might change your perspective.

Boring, frustrating and extremely pretentious. Full of unlikable characters, and oh boy does this movie drag on!! Very forgettable tryhard film, with shaky cam cinematography to poor salt on your wounds. Awful!! Just awful

This is the first Lars von Trier film I watch, and I can see why he is such a controversial film director. This is the most depressing and choking movies I've ever seen, but it's also one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. The using of metaphors and imagery in this movie is unbelievably great. everything begins to make sense towards the end so all the questions and confusion of the beginning makes sense. If you are patient enough and curious enough you will be greatly rewarded. The first act is the most enjoyable act in this movie. Trying to understand the metaphors, I felt like I was putting puzzle pieces and solving a very complicated mystery. The second act suffered at its beginning when the movie changed and became less sophisticated, and the message of the movie became on the nose. The movie picks up at the end of the second act, and seemed to be an intense sci-fi movie. Charlotte Gainsbourg was terrific in this movie. Kirsten Dunst gave her best performance in this movie. I don't like Kirsten Dunst but after watching this movie, I have a completely different opinion about her.Melancholia is pure cinema, and one of the most memorable experiences ever!(8.5/10)

Von Trier mostly tackles issues related to the human condition and social norms rather than telling a straight forward story. He is more insightful and brave than most mainstream directors. Philosophical topics in the movie can be discussed in a much more thorough review.This movie is very beautifully shot and Kirsten Dunst it outstanding. The purpose and some of the intents in the movie are well planned and deliberate. Yet they are not on the form of slaps to the audience's face. This makes the movie a better experience whereas the pretentiousness, benignity or meaninglessness of a person or a social act is put on display. Still the movie does not insult these acts or label these acts neither moral nor immoral. People with conservative worldviews or moral values might find some parts repulsive. While more liberal audience can empathize. Thus makes the movie even more appealing. It is the type of the movie where everyone can find something to discuss on their terms of perception of the world.Also there are scenes that are referencing literature and artwork which are in my opinion are more like bonuses rather than adding the narrative.The problems with the movie in my opinion is the unnecessary anticlimactic parts that ruin the pace maybe deliberately but not for the positive. The depression aspect may have been reflected differently. It feels some parts are disconnected and may it be the filmmakers intent this creates boredom rather than the expression of depression or anxiety.The film demands quite a lot from the audience and the pauses might be for the purpose of giving time to the audience. But some references are only apparent to an informed audience. In my opinion biblical references could either have been left out or expressed more understandably.Some of the vagueness in the movie also makes me question the courage of the director. It is as if some points were not expressed as strongly as it could have been. To briefly summarize this movie is about depression and anxiety but may it be because of a very a specific case or that I couldn't empathize completely due to the blanks in the narrative.Some people resemble the movie to a symphony and I agree with the analogy. It is like a partly beautiful but not completely satisfying symphony.