Such a frustrating disappointment

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Since the name Scorsese has cropped in a couple of recent reviews of mine I thought I'd go the whole hog and review one of the few films of his I hadn't seen . In many ways KUNDUN remains the unknown film by Scorsese . I remember it being released but I very much doubted if it played outside established art house cinemas in big cities . I also remember it being very difficult to get on VHS/DVD which led me to wonder if it was ever released on this format . Despite being made almost twenty years ago I can't recall it ever being broadcast on even the more obscure and unwatched TV channels . Therefore I was somewhat surprised to see it uploaded on perhaps the most obvious platform - youtube . After watching the movie all I can say is that it probably deserves much of its obscurity Now I've got to put my hand up here and say I have militantly atheist views . As Richard Dawkins is fond of pointing out "You're only one God away from being an atheist" and so it is with all religions . I have done a bit of travelling to exotic lands and I'm often amazed how Westerners are quick to reject the idea of the Abrahamic God but are extremely open to the suggestion of Eastern mysticism along the lines of Hinduism and Buddhism . It's understandable in many ways because people are superstitious by nature and a belief in karma is only a slight extension of this superstition . Bad things happen in life and they are as common as air . Good things happen and they are as rare as the most precious commodities and we're all wondering why this must be . I'm digressing but what I should point out is that the reason I disliked this movie was not down to it being a biopic about the 14th Dalai Lama but simply because it is a badly told story regardless of its subject matter Scorsese isn't really someone who cares much for plotting . You could never see him making a high concept plot movie along the lines of MOMENTO . Instead his movies are character driven with those characters trying to find an aim in life ( Often an illegal aim ) having it all , losing it and at the end being worse off than when they started . A story like KUNDUN should be easy for Marty to develop in theory . In practise however he doesn't even try and you never for a second get the feeling you're watching a film directed by America's greatest cinema auteur According to the trivia section on this page Melissa Mathison's screenplay went through fourteen different drafts . Some people might claim the story has been rewritten to death but it's impossible to think any of the drafts could have possibly been worse than the final product . It contains two distinctive parts of the Lama's life - his childhood and then his escape from Tibet which is annexed by Red China . Both parts contain a whole lot of nothing . The screenplay drags at a snail's pace which makes for a very boring and totally uninvolving film Scorsese seems unable to improve upon the very poor material as though his heart isn't in the story . The worst aspect is that he's made a film with a totally amateur cast . Worse than that despite being an obvious amateur cast it's an amateur cast who don't speak English as a first language which means they deliver their lines in an absolutely dreadful way . You've probably seen less wooden acting at a primary school play . To give the director his due he has given the cinematography gig to the legendary Roger Deakins so at least we have a good looking movie and the costume design is very impressive but at the end of the day KUNDUN is all about faith and our faith as a cinema audience is left unpaid regardless of our religious views

Martin Scorsese recounts the official version of the Dalai Lama's biography from his birth until the onset of his exile in India in 1959. In stunning images. That's it. And that's not enough. None of Marty's extraordinary narrative style is apparent here (although the movie is a showcase for cameraman Roger Deakins, who has since become the cinematographer of choice for the Coen brothers). Since the Dalai Lama is a real, and really ambivalent, political as well as religious figure, offering up a glossy 2-hours commercial on him simply isn't enough. The most egregious example of the movie's intentional superficiality is when the deposed Tibetan regent Reting Rinpoche perishes in the dungeons of the Potala palace and the Dalai Lama reacts to this by ... erm, performing a noble blessing gesture and then doing feck all. Was he in on it himself, or at least aware that there was a conspiracy, which he chose to ignore? But for what reasons? This movie won't tell you. It just wallows on in beautiful images.

OK. Lately I've watched nothing but horror movies and silly comedies so I thought I would broaden my horizons somewhat and grab a more serious film and perhaps try to learn something for a change.I've now done that and can't say I feel that appreciably better for the experience.It must be a pretty weird feeling for a 2 or 3 year old kid to be told he is to run a country, and one that I might never experience - given I am nearer 40.The problem with Kundun is the subject matter. The movie concerns the discovery and life of the 14th (and current) Dalai Lama, and of course there is a fair amount of time focusing on the Chinese invasion and occupation of Tibet. Now I am not saying this isn't a worthwhile and amazing life, only that most people with a 7th grade education know this already, and unlike say "Saving Private Ryan", where we know the story but go for the ride because of the action, there just isn't much action to be found in Kundun.We meet the 14th Dalai Lama when his folks still call him his given name, which I don't remember hearing. Once he is chosen, he is immediately taken from his parents for training over the ensuing years to be the spiritual leader of Tibet. Being a pre-pubescent leader of a nation has its disadvantages believe it or not, at one point the young Dalai Lama is being briefed on the less than friendly intentions of neighbouring China, being reasonably practical he asks:"How many soldiers (does Tibet have)?" "5,000" "So many! That's a lot, well we are safe here."Of course then China decides that when you are a billion strong "No" doesn't necessarily mean "No", they invade and commence an occupation of Tibet. They attempt to influence the people and grease the wheels through manipulating the Dalai Lama - who initially fled for his safety, only to return to face the music and be a figurehead to his people.According to the film the discussions and dealings between the Chinese and the Dalai Lama were cordial and mostly above board, again in reality history has not been so kind to the Chinese where the dealings with the Tibetan people are concerned. I am amazed with the access that the Chinese people had that they never killed him, regardless of the backlash from a people that already resented their presence.As we all now know the Dalai Lama is one of the most revered pacifists on the planet, and unfortunately relations between Tibet and China are still frosty at best. Throughout the entire period of exile - which now spans many decades - he has maintained that China must leave Tibet but has never suggested violence or aggressive action of any kind. His teachings are followed (more than) fervently by millions and in reality the world would be a far better place if even more people lived a little more like him. But I am not discussing his life or existence, merely Martin Scorscese's representation of it, and unfortunately while it is a worthwhile story that deserves telling, if you are aware of the basics it doesn't bring much more to the table than a Movie of the Week.Final Rating for the Dalai Lama – 10 / 10. Great bloke. We should all try to be more like him in our daily lives.Final Rating – 7 / 10. If you don't know the basics of the 14th Dalai Lama's life, watch it for the information. If you do it doesn't bring much more to the table.If you liked this review (or even if you didn't) check out oneguyrambling.com

The story is of how His Holiness Dalai Lama was found as a child until teenage years as he he faces exile escaping Mao's invading People's Liberation Army. The pace may be slow but the views stunning and the moral dilemma compelling. Scorsese poses the question: faced with violence, how does a leader fight for survival with Buddhist compassion? With the growing violence we see on the international headlines, this film is highly relevant both spiritually and ethically for all countries and peoples.Seen on a large screen, with a brush of the sands and my tears, this film changed my life. I support many first nations that have suffered killings and wish we can redress the wrongs. Seven Years in Tibet was also good but this movie changed my life and made me study the different branches of Buddhism and found much peace in meditation. Not bad for a few hours by an under-rated master, Scorsese.