Kundun

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: I am a big Martin Scorsese fan. I have liked almost every single one of his phenomal films (although I'm not so sure about "Bringing out the dead" but I could be wrong) but the thing I liked more about this film is the topic. I am a strong Buddhist who follows the Dalai Lama, and this movie fascinated, captivated, and moved me. Like I said before, I like this film not so much as a film, but because of the topic. This is a complete departure from the streets of New York, for Scorsese, I still think "Raging Bull", "Taxi Driver", "Goodfellas", "The King of Comedy", "Life Lessons" and almost every other film he made are some of the greatest films ever made. The music, natural acting, photography, this world now gone, and emotions are completely fascinating and touching. I have seen this movie countless times. However, some won't like it, because this is not the typical Scorsese where you can relate to the characters, but I am sure that this movie will inspire most about the great Dalai Lama. So just forget everything, and be prepared to be taken to a whole new world, like none other seen before and I am sure that you will love it. It is a pity that this film was a flop, and was dominated by Hollywood "Titanic."

Rating:
Summary: Melissa Mathison's script was Oscar material
Review: Yes, this is a beautifully photographed film, well acted and moving. One must note, though, that none of this could have happened without Melissa Mathison's script. Her ability to explore, deeply, the human spirit never fails me. And her research is impeccable. I know because I met her while she was researching at the Little Bighorn Battlefield for the movie, "Son of the Morning Star." She knows how to protray historical events in poignant human terms. Melissa should have received an Oscar for "Kundun".

Rating:
Summary: Not a Scorsese fan - until Kundun
Review: Scorsese is a genius we know, although until now his subject matter has held little appeal for me. I am trying to find out all I can about Buddhism, Tibet and the Tibetan Government in Exile (they have their own website). Kundun is a fantastic primer for anyone with a remote interest in this subject. Read the review from the CA guy to see why this movie didn't clean up at the box office and at the academy awards. Buy this movie, because you will want to play it over and over again. This is a work of ART! Thank you Mr. Scorsese!

Rating:
Summary: A NEW LANGUAGE
Review: This is truly the kind of film that only comes around once or twice in anyone's lifetime. Kundun is cinema as a language, pure and simple. To watch it is to see something blossom, to actually feel something blossom. What Scorsese accomplishes with this film is just a miracle, and I am continually amazed at his ability to go in new directions. The fact that critics and others rag it for its so-called lack of narrative is absurd; the film isn't about narrative at all. It's a different kind of gift altogether. And when you consider that Scorsese began this decade with Goodfellas and ended it with Kundun, you have to realize he's the greatest living director out there. SEE THIS IN WIDESCREEN, DEFINITELY!

Rating:
Summary: Simply Beautiful
Review: This is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. The story, the direction, the music, all blend together so well. I usually don't care to see a movie more than once or twice, but I've watched this one six times already. My only regret is not having seen it at the theater, as it should be seen. Wow!

Rating:
Summary: A great movie, fascinating story
Review: One of the greatest movies I've ever seen. A movie about the life of The Dalai Lama of Tibet contains so many interesting anecdotes about The Dalai Lama. Great accuracy was used in this film. A GREAT film!

Rating:
Summary: powerful film
Review: great stuff i disagree with maltin if you can't see the scorcese edge in this movie you don't know his work get the widescreen the thought of this movie formatted makes me ill

Rating:
Summary: Scorsese, the Dalai Lama of movies
Review: I have to say that I'm a big fan of Martin Scorsese, the five-time Academy Award nominated director of great films such as Raging Bull and Goodfellas. But here comes Kundun, a true story of Tibet's Dalai Lama. I thought that it would be just another boring drama film based on an Asian true story. I was also surprised to know that it was from Scorsese, and making a movie like this isn't like him. I then watched it, and realized that he never fails to impress movie-goers. Using unknown actors, and hiring music composer Philip Glass made Kundun one of the best pictures of 1997. If it's a Scorsese movie, no matter what the subject, chances are it will turn out to become a great movie.

Rating:
Summary: A MASTERPIECE FOR THE AGES
Review: I worked on this film while I was an executive at Disney, so I am of course biased. I believe this will be seen as one of Scorsese's most important films. It deals with themes that have preoccupied Scorsese from the start: religion, death, violence, morality. It is a film about how to deal with violence when your culture views non-violence as the supreme good. The temporal structure of the film tries to convey the importance of Tibetan's view of time -- their belief in reincarnation and their circular view of time. It connects these ideas with their moral worldview - it is very subtle, but -- at the risk of sounding pretentious -- very profound, the kind of thinking one rarely sees in movies anymore. David Lean/Robert Bolt time. The fact that this movie was largely overlooked during the Oscars says more about the Academy than Scorsese. The Academy ignores films that are not commercially successful, and KUNDUN was basically buried by Disney because they had been threatened by the Chinese with commercial reprisals. It was not hard to do. This is not an easily accessible film. There are no stars. The actors are all real Tibetans. A remarkable achievement. THeir performances are more honest than 99% of what you'll see in you average movie. In addition to being my favorite film, working on this movie will be a personal experience that I will never forget.

Rating:
Summary: Visual music
Review: Stunningly gorgeous. More than a movie, this is art that can be viewed repeatedly, like great music can be enjoyed again and again. The culture is fascinating, and the story intensely moving.