I can see why some people would hate this film and others would love it. It is beautifully directed, beautifully filmed, and beautifully acted. The story line is complex and, yes, disjointed. But this, to me, is "The Tree of Life."
If I did not understand all of the film, so much the better -- I certainly do not understand all of life. Those that did not like this film probably also dislike "2001, A Space Odyssey" (1968). They probably also would not sit through the Soviet version of "Solaris" (1972). Both have stayed in my head for more than 30 years and I know I will be thinking about "The Tree of Life" for quite a while.