Kundun Reviews

Absolutely wonderful

I have seen this film several times, its one of those films you can watch over and over again.

Kundun is the story of the 14th Dali Lama, the most peaceful, truthful human being on this earth. The story follows how he is discovered then goes through his teachings and how he tried to keep the chinese out of tibet. Also it covers the german guy that taught him many ways of the west.

Martin Scorsese has directed this film showing how the buddist monks live and how the dali lama was brought up.

You just have to see this film to learn.

Give peace a chance

This is a remarkable film that illustrates beautifully the struggles of a nation and its people in an ever-changing world.

The film charts the life of the 14th Dalai Lama and his rise to lead the people of Tibet in a struggle with neighbours China. There are imaginative dream sequences, a soundtrack of disturbing Eastern music, colourful Buddhist ceremonies and the continual thread – Tibet’s fear of losing their heritage to domineering Communist China.

It makes you angry and bewildered how the rest of the world could sit back and allow a sophisticated, spiritual and peace loving nation be over-ruled by its bullying neighbour. This is a deeply thought provoking film that achieves more than just entertainment.

[Highly rated reviewer]

That Radio Times Review Misses The Point

Okay, it's a biopic about the Dali Lama, but it's done by Scorcese and I found it to be quite an underrated little film. A story which I didn't really know that much about, it was more than interesting to watch as the Nepalese gradually crumble under the threat of voilence from the Chinese. I didn't find that the film dragged thanks to a fantastic visual style that evoked many of the visual landscape/people documentaries like Baraka, Koyaanisqatsi and many photographs of such. It was that photography that really lifted this film over and above what I was expecting and not even yet another dreadful Philip Glass score could stop me from enjoying the look of the film. As for the Radio Times review above, the film does give gentle and subtle suggestions that the new Dali Lama was indeed ready to challenge the standard hierachy within Buddism so ignore what it says above because it's for you to judge.

mellow movement

if you expect a film that tells you all about buddhism, or the political events around chinas invasion of tibet, look elsewhere. If you think you'd enjoy a couple of hours portrayal of beautiful temples, rich ceremonies and fantastic himalayan landscapes then this could well be the film for you. I don't imagine life over there ever moves particularly fast and neither does this film, but if you're in a meditative mood, i can't think of anything more relaxing.

Great story, poorly told

I didn't know the history of the un-liberation of Tibet and what happened prior to the Dalai Lama's flight from the country into exile, so I found the story interesting and compelling.

Unfortunately I was very disappointed by this film. I was most surprised to learn at the closing credits that it was directed by Martin Scorsese, as throughout I'd been thinking it must be the work of someone fresh out of film school (and having only just scraped a pass at that).

The quality of the acting, with a few exceptions, is the worst I have seen in any 'professional' film. Using non-professionals is no excuse, good direction and good casting should get better results than this (compare with Shortbus).

The editing is shoddy. Rather than a smooth flow through peaks and troughs of action, it feels disjointed.

There are repeated attempts at 'arty' scenes, very few of which are pulled off successfully; most just stick out as if the director has watched Citizen Kane too many times and tried to jazz up a dull film by, well, doing something 'arty'. I can't believe another reviewer has described the direction as 'understated', to me it's massively overstated, repeatedly pulling attention away from what should be a great story to do some over-designed 'look at me!' set-piece.

Finally, Philip Glass's soundtrack, to my ears, utterly failed to capture the true essence of Tibetan music. It sounded like a synthetic copy, a bad sample, stripped of its spirituality and shoehorned into a western repetitive style with which it has no connection.

Very very disappointing. I hope someone else tells this story, which is a story that needs to be told, and does a better job of it. Only the underlying story and a handful of worthwhile moments saves Kundun from a 1-star rating.

Wonderful

A wonderful, satisfying experience. The acting, all amateur, most convincing, spectacular scenery, a fascinating story. Although non-religious I felt spiritually enriched by it. Definitely a film for that Desert Island.

A BEAUTIFUL FILM!! BUT RATHER EMPTY!!

The story about the incarnation of the 14th Dali Lama is; for the first 40 mins; a masterpiece. The last 40 mins isnt bad either but you are left with the feeling that you want to know more about this man, after all he has lived 14 lives, there should be a few tales to tell. I did enjoy this movie but I was left wanting more! Maybe that is the point!

Classic

Well writte, directed and acted account of the life of the last Dalai Lama. I've seen this film several times. I personally believe its a modern classic.

Unmissable!

I have waited for this movie for a long time and, I am glad to say, it was worth the wait. Having watched "Seven Years in Tibet", this film was recommended to me and rightly so. The film concentrates on the life of the Dalai Lama and of the Chinese occupation. The story is told with breathtaking backdrops of Tibetan scenery... you can almost smell the Yak butter and incense!! Martin Scorese's most under-rated film, not to be missed!!!

A kaleidoscope of colour

This film is sensitive and very moving and beautiful to watch. It is full of rich colours and amazing compositions, its almost as if it was made by a painter.