“Opera Primas” usually falls in two categories: failed exercises (“fear and desired” as kubrick´s own s remarks) or artistic gems (“Un chien andalou”, “Citizen Kane”; this movie)
Terrence Malick came from screenplays and short films, and also philosophy and journalism, and this movie takes on the same subjects. It´s an account of a series of horrible acts (almost yellow journalism) told with the objective-subjective approach some philosophers (Schopenhauer came to mind) use for matters of violent death, and peaceful life…
but this movie also had a very detailed (architectural almost) sense of pacing, a rhythm akin to some classic compositions (Mozart´s adagios, especially the one of the piano concert no. 23 comes , maybe as a new musical world, to mind) as Mozart´s best pieces, this movie, moves us by the very complex interjection, the unveiling of a veil… better yet the conforming of a single, multilayer ed but ultimate thin line, that reflects ways of life, the human condition on the face of a cosmos that keeps “it´s” mysteries to itself, Mozart’s (and Malick´s) gift seems to rest on a vision of human life as a whole, and a profound control of the expressive means of their medium, even from a very early moment of their careers.

“Badlands” works as a foundation stone for the rest of Malick´s career. His love of nature, fauna, flora and of rivers and of people appear here; and some say better than his other movies; his (not very well trained; “three cinematographers one of them making his first feature) camera; moves, gently, between people that doesn’t love their neighbors; and landscapes of serene beauty, while some very XX century music. (Even a leit motif by Carl Orff). Counterpoints sometimes or enhances the meaning t hat Malick tries to convene; some would say conjure; and certainly evoques…
Warner´s DVD had just the movie, without a worthwhile transfer; that is almost painful to watch, knowing how good this movie should have looked at the theater. But the power of this film cannot be appreciated easily any other way; so I´d like to recommend you make a suggestion to Criterion for a blu ray joint venture release (a la “Days of Heaven” with paramount and “the thin red line” with fox) If you want to support Warner Bros go see “Inception” or buy a Stanley Kubrick´s Blu-ray; that´s of course if you had already seen “badlands” , if you haven´t, try to pick this DVD (borrow it or rent it) don´t wait much longer.