Day 69 - The Monk with a Camera (American)

 

"Nicholas Vreeland walked away from a worldly life of privilege to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Grandson of legendary Vogue editor, Diana Vreeland, and trained by Irving Penn to become a photographer, Nicholas' life changed drastically upon meeting a Tibetan master, one of the teachers of the Dalai Lama. Soon thereafter, he gave up his glamorous life to live in a monastery in India, where he studied Buddhism for fourteen years. In an ironic twist of fate, Nicholas went back to photography to help his fellow monks rebuild their monastery. Recently, the Dalai Lama appointed Nicholas as Abbot of the monastery, making him the first Westerner in Tibetan Buddhist history, to attain such a highly regarded position. "

Not bad, a bit boring but it was a very interesting documentary. The direction could have been better but I enjoyed what I saw. I like the informalness of it but would have preferred better camera techniques. Its quite interesting to see this man balance his two passions in life. If you are interested in a multicultural documentary, then this is the documentary for you. This is proof that you can be whatever you want to be.


3/5

Day 62 continued - Seven Years in Tibet (American)

 

"True story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountain climber who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China's takeover of Tibet"

 

Not the best movie around nor does it feature one of the best main characters but it is a story that should be told. I enjoyed the multi-cultism present in the film and learning more about the history of Tibet. Brad Pitt did a good job just like David Thewlis and Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk. I hate the fact that they tried to make Heinrich Harrer look like a better person in the movie than he really was. So the difference between the real life Heinrich and Brad Pitt's Heinrich is very big. Now the movie appears to move a little fast, poorly written with a lot of good actors present but they were not given a chance even though they played very important people that were present during this time in Tibetan history. I suggest you watch this is you like Brad Pitt or are interested in Tibet. Otherwise its not that good of a movie.

little info

Jetsun Pema is the real life sister of the Dalai Lama thus she acted as her mother in the movie. 

Richard Gere was going to play Heinrich but instead he sent the script to the Dalai Lama for the producers of the film  

Day 59 - The Lady (french)

 

"The story of Aung San Suu Kyi as she becomes the core of Burma's democracy movement, and her relationship with her husband, writer Michael Aris."

 

A decent film about a wonderful lady who fights for the people of her homeland, the memory of her father and for the love of her family. Michelle Yeoh does a wonderful in this role, to me its the best one I have seen from her. Sure the film could have been a thousand times better with better direction and maybe more depth. David Thewlis did a good job supporting Yeoh as her characters husband who battles cancer while his wife's life is endangered in another country. Everyone else could have been a lot better as these two were the only two good actors in the film. This film has a wonderful message and I hope it will enlighten people.

 

2/5

 

 



 

 

 

Day 36 continued - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (French)

"The true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body; only his left eye isn't paralyzed."

 

The reviews for this movie are very positive but for me this movie was completely boring with little value. The first few minutes of the film are completely annoying with poor camera techniques. There is no real heart in this film and I felt nothing from or for any of the characters present in the film. It shows us a kind of dull feeling that you really don't want to see. I suggest you skip this film and maybe watch The Intouchables.

 

1/5

 

little info

Johnny Deep was originally casted as Jean-Dominique Bauby but he pulled out because of Pirates of the Carribean At World's End.

 

 The director successfully got the studio to allow her to shot the film in French in order to stay true with the character. She actually learned French in order to make this film.