Kundun | | Cast : | Philip Glass, Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Tethong | | Director : | Martin Scorsese | | Studio : | Touchstone Video | | Format : | Color, Widescreen, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | December 25, 1997 | | DVD Released Date : | May 06, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 29, 2005 | | Summary | Underrated... (but thats changing) | Content
 | I'm really happy to see so many positive reviews! I love this movie. Martin Scoresese. Phillip Glass. The Dali Lama. How can you go wrong? I remember watching this the first time and liking it, but feeling like it lacked cohesion. It does take awhile for the Kundun to mature to an adult so we can identify with him and care about him.
But now I look at the film as being almost two seperate parts. The first half shows us the Dali Lama as a child who must take on the role of Kundun and gives us a very slow (and beautiful) sense of envioronment and atomosphere. It also queitly sets up characters that will grow in importance as the film continues. The second "adult half" of the movie focuses on the Kundun having to deal with an agressive communist China closing in on him and his people.
I feel like many people (including Ebert who said this is the only Scorsese movie he would not want to see again...) watch it once and say it was slow and they didn't care about the Dali Lama character enough. Well if you only watch it once you won't be able to see the detail (like the shot of the Kundun looking at Mao's shoes, or the baby Kundun separating the fighting beatles) , and depth that make up the fabric of this movie. There are all kinds of great shots and quick edits (the 3 seconds of violence in this film are more powerful then the lengthened violence in other films) , and symbolism that you simply can't get your mind around the first time you watch this movie. Having said all of that, the cinematogrophy alone would make this movie worth getting. And at $10, you make out like a bandit. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 12, 2005 | | Summary | Incredible | Content
| This movie is a tremendous addition to my collection. The cinnematography is phenominal. It portrays the story of the Dahli Lama in a way no other film could. Phillip Glass' music for the movie is equally stunning. It is a must see for anyone who loves a good art film. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 19, 2005 | | Summary | Educational | Content
| Martin Scorsese has a reputation for being an excellent director. He also has a reputation for taking risky gambles and seems to have a special passion for religious themes. This risky gamble (Kundun) is a visual feast, but the action is too slow to excite most American viewers. If you enjoy great films, stay away from this one. If you enjoy action, suspense, or entertainment, stay away from this one. However, if you, like me, enjoy walking away from a film with the realization that you have learned something and probably are a slightly deeper person because of it, this is a film you will want in your library. I watch many films, but purchase only a few. This one is on my purchase list.
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| Rating | | | Date | February 27, 2005 | | Summary | *Pretty near* perfect | Content
| 5 stars + infinity
First, let me explain that I absolutely love the film Kundun.
I beleive it is a true work of art/ labor of love that didn't receive the recognition it so much deserves.
Let me skip to the big point-- the last 10 minutes of this film is a near perfect blend of music, film and editing that is spot- on for the subject matter, which is enlightenment.
My guess is that a *very conscious* person had a lot to do with the creation, blending & timing of the music, script and film, especially for the last ten minutes-- OR that it was a total coincidence that it came out to be so near perfect. (either is very much in keeping with the movie's theme, which IMHO is NOT the Dalai Lama at all, but enlightenment)
Not for everyone, and I'm afraid I may have built it up in your mind too highly, so that you'll feel let down by the actual experience of the film & music itself, I can say that *everytime* I watch or listen to the last ten minutes (titled Escape to India), I cry for joy at *experiencing* a few minutes of the most sublime enlightenment, insight, sorrow & simple wonder at being alive in this dance of life myself, with you.
... and I'm not even Budhist.
Thank you, Martin Scorcese, Phillip Glass and all involved in this brilliant study of how a culture's focus on a single individual being assumed to be & treated as enlightened-- and his training to actually act the part, resulted in a person of great compassion, richness and insight.
In other words, their culture made him enlightened by treating him as enlightened.
What if we were all assumed to be enlightened and treated as such-- what difference would that make to you, at this very moment, dear reader, to live in such a world, as you absorb these words, now?
If that sentence has any impact on you at all, then you'll likely be *deeply moved* by both the movie and soundtrack. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 21, 2005 | | Summary | Good but ... | Content
| I could have given it a higher rating if the film has more emotional impact and the main characters speak their natural languages. Every time someone opens their mouth, I was constantly and immediately reminded that it is a (made in Hollywood) movie after all. |
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