Little Buddha
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Dylan
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:28 am
Big Bertolucci fan here, but I have never seen "Little Buddha." I believe that the original 143-minute cut is available on DVD, but I have no information as to where. Miramax usually treats their releases with better care, and I'm surprised the DVD reportedly looks so awful. Does anybody have further information on the different versions of "Little Buddha?"
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Lino
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:18 am
- Location: Sitting End
- Contact:
The german will be getting a 2xDVD on April, 19th. It will be the 135 minutes version.
Originaltitel: Little Buddha (Deutschland / Frankreich / Großbritannien 1993)
EAN-Nummer: 4006680029665
Genre: Drama
Studio: Arthaus
Vertrieb: Kinowelt Home Entertainment
Veröffentlichung: 19.04.2005 [Kauf-DVD]
Altersfreigabe: ab 06 Jahren
Ländercode: 2
Filmlänge: 135 min
Inhalt: Der tibetanische Mönch Lama Norbu glaubt, in dem kleinen Amerikaner Jesse die Reinkarnation seines Lehrmeisters gefunden zu haben. Er reist nach Seattle, um ihm von den Lehren Buddhas zu berichten. Er erzählt dem Jungen die Geschichte Siddhartas, der vor 2.500 Jahren allen Luxus und Reichtum aufgab, und auf dem Höhepunkt seines asketischen Daseins zu Buddha wurde. Norbu überredet Jesses Eltern, ihr Kind ein Kloster nach Buthan zu schicken, wo er einer Prüfung unterzogen werden soll…
Schauspieler: Alex Wiesendanger, Bridget Fonda, Chris Isaak, Greishma Makar Singh, Keanu Reeves, Raju Lal, Ruocheng Ying, Sogyal Rinpoche, Ven. Geshe Tsultim Gyelsen, Ven. Khyongla Rato Rinpoche
Regie: Bernardo Bertolucci
Produzent: Jeremy Thomas
Kamera: Vittorio Storaro
Musik: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Drehbuch: Bernardo Bertolucci, Mark Peploe, Rudy Wurlitzer
Bild
Format: Widescreen (2.35:1 - anamorph)
System: PAL
Ton / Sprachen
Tonformate / Sprachen: Dolby Digital 5.1 in Deutsch
Dolby Digital 5.1 in Englisch
Untertitel: Deutsch
UT Fremd-
sprachige
Dialoge:
Ausstattung
Medientyp: DVD-9
Medienanzahl: 2
Verpackung: DigiPack
DVD Art: Kauf-DVD
Kapitelanzahl:
Besonderheiten:
Bonus-Matrial: - Making of
- Trailer
- Dokumentation “Die Reinkarnation des Khensur Rinpoche” (ca. 67 Min.)
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Lino
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:18 am
- Location: Sitting End
- Contact:
Here is the cover:
http://www.dvd-inside.de/db/details.php?id=20320
and a link to its publisher, ArtHaus:
http://www.arthaus.de/detail.php?id=1049&art=khe
http://www.dvd-inside.de/db/details.php?id=20320
and a link to its publisher, ArtHaus:
http://www.arthaus.de/detail.php?id=1049&art=khe
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Lino
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:18 am
- Location: Sitting End
- Contact:
I have mixed feelings about this one as for me this is kind of a mixed bag film of sorts. I would much prefer that the story revolved around the whole Siddharta thing instead of intercalating it with a sub-plot taking place in recent time.
Storaro's work is nothing short of astounding in the Reeves scenes and throughout the movie I always feel that that's where the story should go. The other part involving the american kid (or canadian, I'm not sure anymore) drags the film and seems to be written for those who are not aware of what buddhism is all about.
But hey, that's what scene selections on a DVD are all about, right?
Storaro's work is nothing short of astounding in the Reeves scenes and throughout the movie I always feel that that's where the story should go. The other part involving the american kid (or canadian, I'm not sure anymore) drags the film and seems to be written for those who are not aware of what buddhism is all about.
But hey, that's what scene selections on a DVD are all about, right?
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Lino
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:18 am
- Location: Sitting End
- Contact:
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Dylan
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:28 am
One Amazon reviewer doesn't seem very enthused.
Yesterday I purchased the Special Edition (2DVDs) and must say that I was very disappointed! I also own the old DVD version and must say that the old version has incomparably better picture quality than this new edition. Who has then this DVD verhunzt? At some places, there are seem believes incorrectly ran white edges and many scenes to have an extreme red sting, so that one here what.. One compares recognizes is gave to the old DVD one unambiguously; here what incorrectly run, for there it no such repulsive red sting. So makes look that no joke!! The Doku over Khensur Rinpoche is also worthwhile, but the picture quality of the film is MISERABEL!!!!
FINGER WAY!!
What a weird review. I'm assuming the red sting this guy is complaining about are the red suffusions flixy was describing when mentioning Storaro's intended look of the film (which was truncated on the Miramax, but it sounds like it was restored here). So, take this review with a grain of salt, as the reviewer seems ignorant of the film's intended look. It surprises me that there hasn't been any remotely extensive reviews of this release anywhere else though (I'd love to see some screen captures).
And with that said, I look very forward to what flixy has to say.
Dylan
Yesterday I purchased the Special Edition (2DVDs) and must say that I was very disappointed! I also own the old DVD version and must say that the old version has incomparably better picture quality than this new edition. Who has then this DVD verhunzt? At some places, there are seem believes incorrectly ran white edges and many scenes to have an extreme red sting, so that one here what.. One compares recognizes is gave to the old DVD one unambiguously; here what incorrectly run, for there it no such repulsive red sting. So makes look that no joke!! The Doku over Khensur Rinpoche is also worthwhile, but the picture quality of the film is MISERABEL!!!!
FINGER WAY!!
What a weird review. I'm assuming the red sting this guy is complaining about are the red suffusions flixy was describing when mentioning Storaro's intended look of the film (which was truncated on the Miramax, but it sounds like it was restored here). So, take this review with a grain of salt, as the reviewer seems ignorant of the film's intended look. It surprises me that there hasn't been any remotely extensive reviews of this release anywhere else though (I'd love to see some screen captures).
And with that said, I look very forward to what flixy has to say.
Dylan
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Dylan
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:28 am
It's available at amazon.co.uk for a reasonable price of £6.97, but as you indicated, there isn't a single review of this disc online yet that I can find. I think we can safely assume the picture quality is very good, particularly keeping in mind Optimum's stunning release of "The Last Emperor."
Although I'm very likely not going to buy this DVD of "Little Buddha" for quite some time (I need to save the very little extra 'fun stuff' money I have for the Paramount Bertolucci releases next month), but I do have a desire to revisit this film with restored picture quality, the added twenty minutes, and the bonus features.
Although I'm very likely not going to buy this DVD of "Little Buddha" for quite some time (I need to save the very little extra 'fun stuff' money I have for the Paramount Bertolucci releases next month), but I do have a desire to revisit this film with restored picture quality, the added twenty minutes, and the bonus features.
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Murasaki53
- Joined: Sun Jul 02, 2006 6:54 am
I think this movie is awful. It's utter, utter dreck, a failure on every level. The acting is spectacularly poor, Bertolucci's decision to retain all the mythical features of the Buddha's life rebounds disastrously, the children irritate far more than they appeal and the tone is ponderous and unengaging.
I actually teach Buddhism and instead of this garbage I use Groundhog Day to teach the life of Buddha as all the important themes in Siddhartha's story are explored far more successfully: continuous rebirth into a seemingly Godless, inexplicable reality (karma and samsara), the ultimate failure of self-indulgent (raga) and self-destructive (dvesa) approaches to life, and the embracing of selfless behaviour as a means to fulfilment (anatta).
In other words, if you watch Groundhog Day you'll actually learn something about Buddhism.
I actually teach Buddhism and instead of this garbage I use Groundhog Day to teach the life of Buddha as all the important themes in Siddhartha's story are explored far more successfully: continuous rebirth into a seemingly Godless, inexplicable reality (karma and samsara), the ultimate failure of self-indulgent (raga) and self-destructive (dvesa) approaches to life, and the embracing of selfless behaviour as a means to fulfilment (anatta).
In other words, if you watch Groundhog Day you'll actually learn something about Buddhism.
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Dylan
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:28 am
Although "Little Buddha" isn't altogether successful, I strongly disagree that it's a 'terrible' movie.
I think the problem with "Little Buddha" is that it doesn't really know who its audience is. Much of the Buddhist elements come off as simplified and scripted when they're explained, but this surely wasn't Bertolucci's intention. He studied Buddhism (even wrote an introduction for a book on the religion) and delved into it personally long before making this film, and over the years had developed a passion for getting these ideas on film in a way children and young adults would understand.
His intention from the get-go was to make the presentation intelligent and yet easily comprehensible, but I imagine that earlier drafts of the screenplay reveal a more complex, even more ambiguous work, and not as spelled out as it is now. Watching it, is is apparent that he struggled to find the correct presentation and staging to address these ideas, and in turn resorted to explaining the relgion through the dialogue in way that just wasn't particularly inspiring.
The casting is reasonable, though Chris Isaak is sort of a roaming hole throughout. At the moment, I believe this is Miramax's fault...apparently (and this is discussed above) some very important emotional scenes involving his character were cut out of the American release, scenes that may or may not illuminate Isaak's overall tone of his performance (which is mismatched now, but might make a lot more sense, or at the very least emotional sense, once certain elements are in place).
The Siddhartha scenes were certainly my favorite part, and my thoughts echo the posters above. I found this part interesting and Keanu is better than one might expect. My only problem with those scenes is that the cutting of the hair is basically the same scene as the one in "The Last Emperor."
Even if it's not a success I admire Bertolucci's intentions. I must say though that it has been over a year since I last saw this and I'm interested in seeing it again (if anything for the added footage, bonus features, and to once again gaze at Storaro's lovely 'Scope cinematography).
Once again, I'm interested in thoughts about this release if anybody has picked it up. I'm also interested in more thoughts about this film if anybody has them.
I think the problem with "Little Buddha" is that it doesn't really know who its audience is. Much of the Buddhist elements come off as simplified and scripted when they're explained, but this surely wasn't Bertolucci's intention. He studied Buddhism (even wrote an introduction for a book on the religion) and delved into it personally long before making this film, and over the years had developed a passion for getting these ideas on film in a way children and young adults would understand.
His intention from the get-go was to make the presentation intelligent and yet easily comprehensible, but I imagine that earlier drafts of the screenplay reveal a more complex, even more ambiguous work, and not as spelled out as it is now. Watching it, is is apparent that he struggled to find the correct presentation and staging to address these ideas, and in turn resorted to explaining the relgion through the dialogue in way that just wasn't particularly inspiring.
The casting is reasonable, though Chris Isaak is sort of a roaming hole throughout. At the moment, I believe this is Miramax's fault...apparently (and this is discussed above) some very important emotional scenes involving his character were cut out of the American release, scenes that may or may not illuminate Isaak's overall tone of his performance (which is mismatched now, but might make a lot more sense, or at the very least emotional sense, once certain elements are in place).
The Siddhartha scenes were certainly my favorite part, and my thoughts echo the posters above. I found this part interesting and Keanu is better than one might expect. My only problem with those scenes is that the cutting of the hair is basically the same scene as the one in "The Last Emperor."
Even if it's not a success I admire Bertolucci's intentions. I must say though that it has been over a year since I last saw this and I'm interested in seeing it again (if anything for the added footage, bonus features, and to once again gaze at Storaro's lovely 'Scope cinematography).
Once again, I'm interested in thoughts about this release if anybody has picked it up. I'm also interested in more thoughts about this film if anybody has them.