Seven Years in Tibet
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.29 You Save: $10.70 (71%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.31 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Seven Years in Tibet
Movie Review: A Movie that Moves Viewers Heart
Summary: 5 Stars
7 Years in Tibet is about a German-Austrian Mountain Climber - Heinrich Harrer's spiritual journey and his meeting with the young Dali Lama during his journey.
Although I am not a big fan of Brad Pitt, I thought he did an excellent acting job as the character Heinrich Harrer, who many of us can identify and relate to - The goal oriented and egoistic person who life brought him down to his knees feeling separated and isolated in the foreign country - Tibet (to not spoil the story, I will let you watch the movie to figure out what happen to this character). I am also happy the main character Heinrich Harrer was acted by Brad Pitt because he is a famous movie star (that makes many others want to watch the movie and be aware of the issue Tibet has suffered).
After I watched the movie, I also went on a google search to see a biography of Heinrich Harrer. I was surprised on how the costume and the make-up of the movie of the main characters match what I saw on the internet. It shows that the movie must have been made with great care of details to match the culture, the history and the times.
I love the story of this movie (and probably will buy the book to read some day) because it is different from the standard "love story" comedies or the violent victory movies portraying some heroes out there saving the world. The movie is made from a true story about Heinrich Harrer's friendship with the young Dali Lama and how the wisdom from Dali Lama helped Heinrich Harrer to grow spiritually as a human being (you have to watch the movie to experience this inspiration).
As a Chinese, I am ashamed of what the Chinese Government at the time did to Tibetans, yet I have no right to vote against their behavior and violence. I am ashamed of what the Chinese Government has done still today about not freeing Tibet, yet, I do not have a right to vote of a government that listens to my voice. My own parents suffered from separation, despair and sorrow from the same Chinese Government during Chinese Cultural revolution in the 60s. Therefore, even though I am not a Tibetan, I can understand what Tibetans must have been through - physical and emotional torture from this unconscious, egoistic entity.
I am writing this review to let others know that not all Chinese out there are ruthless and insensitive about this issue. I care about this issue and one could only hope the nation of Tibet can find its political freedom some day. Maybe political freedom will come later. However, may I humbly ask for healing, forgiveness Tibetans have suffered all these years because resentment, hatred, if any, can only poison ourselves further and these poison can be passed on to many more generations. All I can say is if I were ever a Chinese Government official, I would have been one/want to be one who can stand up representing the Chinese Government to say, "I apologize for what my government has done. Human beings are all one. Let us show respect, compassion, integrity just like the way the Tibetan culture have shown us - Compassion, non-violence, peace." May that time come soon as the global consciousness is awakening of itself.
Thank you for reading my review.
Movie Review: This movie did all it could
Summary: 5 Stars
I was expecting the worse afterrenting this movie one night. I had seen how quick this movie exitted the movie theatre's. I had seen how quickly it came and went with barely a flick of the public's eye. I hadn't talked to anyone who had even saw it. I only knew it from previews that left me shaking my head, 'Oh Brad please' and rolling my eyes. ANd I knew it also from hearing the latenight talk shows make fun of it. I can completely understand how and why this happened. No-one wants to be preached to by a hollywood moviestar or worse have to endure a movie to serve a moviestar's ego or sense of righteousness. However times change and so did I. I learned about the horrors of Tibet through another source from an actual Tibetan Monk who had been imprisoned and tortured and still spoke of love with out boundaries. His message was extremely powerful in this form. That was two or three years ago. Since then, when I chose to awake to the horrors of the world, I have kept Tibet ever in my thoughts and prayers. I try to spread the word but I know how difficult it is in this sleeping world of America. For I was part of it. We'd all rather not know and just watch TV or go to the movies. In this light it is clear why pretty much no one wanted to see this movie, even with Brad Pitt in it. The movies are what we escape with. So now I watched it and I now then expected to be dissapointed in a completely different way. I thought it was going to be too hollywood and not portray the beauty of Tibet, the wisdom, and especially the tragedy that is bieng forced up on them. But this movie delivers. It is a personal story focusing on Brad Pitt's Henry who is pretty much a selfish jerk. He journeys and falls into some very bad luck and is abandoned by everyone and everything adn eventually he learns to abandon the jerk that he is. He develops a wonderful friendship with the Dalai Lama and slowly begins to open his mind to TIbet and it's heart. The movie is beautiful both in scenery and movement. It moves pretty slow but keeps a nice storytelling pace. This movie is great for anybody whether you know about Tibet or not. It's a nice story. The imagery and the music make it that much better
I think this was Brad Pitt's best chance to win an Oscar. I guess he's just too good looking to win one. Like it matters anyway. The oscars hasn't represented the Best of Anything in over a quarter of a Century. It sold out a long time ago as evident by the beautiful Iranian gem of a few years ago The Color of Paradise not even getting a best foriegn film nomination. I guess you have to be from Italy or France or Japan or Brazil to even get consideration. Bunch of SNobs don't even get me started. But this is a great movie. A movie that makes you say why doesn't Hollywood make more of these Movies that focus on Good Stories instead of glitter. But I guess my answer is found in the success that this Movie had. Or better yet what success it didn't. I'm talking ofcourse about the Holy AMerican Dollar.
Movie Review: Reconciliation...
Summary: 5 Stars
I've seen this movie more times than I can count, but still wanted to review it here for those that haven't seen it.
Seven Years In Tibet is based on the true story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian adventurer whose primary focus in life was mountain climbing. The movie begins with him leaving his wife, pregnant and distraught, to run off to northern part of India to climb the Himalayas .
Upon arrival he climbs various heights, and at one point reaches a base camp where police British police are waiting to arrest him and his compatriots. They are immediately sent off to a prison camp. Heinrich gets right to work on ways to escape, but gets caught over and over again. Unbeknown to him, his fellow prisoners had been planning their own escape for a while. This time the escape works, and Heinrich and his closest partner on the trip, Peter Aufschnaiter, head towards Tibet.
As the enter the majestic country, they are met by locals who ask them to leave Tibet, more than once . Heinrich and Peter don some disguises and area able to scoot in the city of Lhasa.
From here on out the story plays out like this. Heinrich and Peter are eventually welcomed, after much apprehension, by the local Tibetans. His Holiness The Dalai Lama, being as young as he was at the time, is very curious about the foreigners in his town and invited Heinrich to come and talk to him.
His Holiness and Heinrich hit it off and become good friends. His Holiness starts taking brief lessons from Heinrich on current events outside of Tibet and general curiosities he has with the world he has not seen.
There are a couple of funny parts, at least I got a chuckle out of them. His Holiness asks Heinirich to make his a place to view movies. Locals are asked to help with the work and at one point, they find a mass of works under the ground where they are to put the foundation of the building. Being Buddhists, they refuse to work because it may harm or kill the worms. Eventually an agreement is made and they carefully go through the dirt, pulling each worm out by hand and moving them away to a "safer" place.
While there is a brief chuckle for a moment, there are also two serious events playing out in the background. World War 2 is in full swing and the Chinese are working there way into Tibet, proclaiming the new to free the Tibetans (we all know how that plays out). One other event is the fact Heinrich is 1,000's of miles from his newborn son. As time passes and he writes more and more letters to his son, they get returned to him telling him the son no longer wishes to communicate.
All in all, Seven Years In Tibet is a wonderful movie, filled with beautiful scenery. As great of an actor Brad Pitt is in the movie, at times his accent is a bit hokey. Other than that I have no complaints and nothing but compliments for this movie.
Movie Review: Undeservingly Under-rated
Summary: 5 Stars
Seven Years in Tibet is the story of Heinrich Harrer, a german mountain climber, peripheral nazi party member, political prisoner, and egoist. He is off to defeat Nanga Parbet (probably messed up the spelling), a mountain in the Himalayas. Events occur, blah, and he is taken as a POW by some british troops at base camp. Apparently when he was on the mountain, germany declared war on england. He does manage to escape, with the help of a few other of the climbers, to Tibet, finally getting there with only one other, played by David Thewlis, an excellent actor. The two of them spend the titular seven years in Lhasa, the storied capital of Tibet, ancient as the hills, and forbidden to foreigners.Here is where the detailed shadings of Pitt's character are revealed, both through his amazing ability to both comprehend and display the nuances of his character and every half-smile and subtle gesture that bring his character to life. Through his interactions with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, we see Harrer change, slowly, from egotistical and uninterested to close confidant and caring teacher/father/friend. I'm not a Brad Pitt fan, but have you to give credit where credit is due.
The story is based on the true experiences of Heinrich Harrer and the Dalai Lama (who is an amazing speaker, if ever he wanders your way, definately check it out, he has this way of simplifying any problem to a matter of love and understanding no christian ever could). The story is poignant, as we see the impending war with China, the pathetic and futile attempts of the TIbetans to raise a military, and the inevitable conquest. They're still under communist rule, and sometimes you'll see hippies or Rage Against the Machine (RIP) fans with "Free Tibet" bumper stickers on their cars, and this is what they're referring to. Anyway, the story itself is touching and well-scripted. There are a few quibble-able points, though. First, you are told in no uncertain terms how to feel about almost every character and situation. That's pretty much true. Oh, well. Next point. Some would say it's too "hollywood". I would disagree, however, because the only signs of a hollywood influence are the budget and the talent. Both lended themselves perfectly to their parts (Worth mentioning: the scenery, something only attainable with that crazy hollywood budget, is breathtaking. Money well-spent. Absolutely gorgeous, each location in perfect tune with both the story and the seasons).
That's pretty much it. Great story held up by great acting (check out that kid who played the Dalai Lama; he blew me away!) and made to feel lush and alive with astonishing locations. Worth renting if you're not sure you'll dig it, worth buying if you know you do.
Movie Review: A White Silk Scarf
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a story about a stubborn and arrogant man who needs to push his body to its absolute limits, but who dedicates very little of his energy to his soul or intellect. That's the concept the unites this film and the book on which it was based. But ultimately films owe no debt to the books or the reality on which they are based (read the book "Monster" by the late screenwriter and author John Gregory Dunne if you need to get that straight).
Brad Pitt is not unwatchable as Heinrich Harrer, but you may cringe at his Austrian accent. Just remember that this film may not have been made at all without his interest and participation, and it wouldn't have been permitted the sort of budget that gave us the amazing landscapes which dominate the movie.
I suppose once they had their big star, casting went for the very finest actors they could find regardless of their status: therefore, we have two beautifully resonant performances by David Thewlis as Pitt's climbing companion and Lhapka Tsamchoe as the Love Interest.
This movie is about Heinrich Harrer, but there is some focus on his ties to the Dalai Lama. Very little screen time is spent in the camp for enemy aliens (those were YEARS of his life) or the difficult scrabble simply to exist once he escaped. The shots of the Dalai Lama's early childhood are there not only to foreshadow the important role the Dalai Lama ultimately plays, but also to establish a link between the child who befriends Harrer and the son who Harrer does not know.
The authenticity and detail of Tibetan life, dress, buildings, and so forth is rare and overwhelming. Even if it was staged, it is a good record of a lost time.
Further praise to the screenwriter (Becky Johnston) who translated a good book into a good movie. The addition of a few good laugh lines and the general development of character were well done.
Heinrich Harrer is an interesting man and merits a movie about his life. Of course, the elements of living in Tibet and developing a friendship with the Dalai Lama are crucial to the interest. For my part I've watched the movie several times and I always get deliciously lost in the scenery.