MovieChat Forums > Kundun (1998) Discussion > Fast edits

Fast edits

posted 16 years ago by pirate266
6 replies | jump to latest

I have to say I found this film quite disappointing, and would definitely put it amongst Scorsese's weaker films.

Although the cinematography was beautiful throughout, I was often put off by the way it was edited. There seemed to be way too many quick cuts, almost becoming distracting at times. I think that most parts of the film would have been suited to some nice long takes, but instead seemed to be chopped around too much.

It reminded me of a quote I heard once by Werner Herzog, where he said that many short cuts are a clear sign that what is being filmed isn't interesting in itself. Sadly I feel this applies somewhat to this film.

[–] conductor71-2 16 years ago

You must be very blind; there indeed are not that many cuts in this film, and certainly no "quick cuts." There are a few moments in which there are rather quick successions of dissolves, like at the climax of the Kalachakla, or during the building of the Sand Mandala, but that's about all.

[–] thj-3 16 years ago

The only Quick cuts I can recall are when The Dali Lama sees how children are made to kill their parents and such. And that worked great for the movie. The slow tempo elsewhere, and when there was a quick Cut it was something very horrible.

[–] ShutterShocked 16 years ago

I actually did notice the fast cuts. Most people probably won't notice the cuts because they are disguised by cross dissolves. Scorsese usually makes good use of cross dissolves, but I didn't feel like these ones were necessary.

I loved the story behind the movie, but I don't feel like the story matched Scorsese's talents. However, there were several shots that were quite memorable.

[–] bastasch8647 16 years ago

I had a problem with one part... not a fast cut, but a montage (I think that's the correct term) when his Dad dies amid powerful, sorrowful soundtrack music, involving the viewer empathetically... but then it skips ahead a few years. I would have rather seen his full reaction to Dad's death, as well as his family's reaction and adjustment. I found the sudden leap from buzzards-consuming-Dad's-corpse to Kundun-several-years-later quite jarring, as well as an emotional "cheat" - felt it didn't give me enough time to grieve along with Kundun and his folks...

[–] freshboy3001 15 years ago

The topic creator is completely right. The editing and directing cheapened the film so much. It's a good film, but I couldn't believe how fast the film makers skimmed over the material. Scorsese should not have applied his techniques from his crime films to this one. It's a bit embarrassing.

Never depend on others for your rating on a film. Watch it, then judge it.

[–] franzkabuki 15 years ago

There were a few instances of too fast editing, but overall I think Scorsese restrained himself commendably. Beautiful picture, among the better ones of his post-Goodfellas output. As for the issue of not staying longer with the Dalai Lama when he grieved the loss of his father, raised by another poster, I think it may also have had something to do with the fact he was using non-actors and the dude just may not have had the acting chops to pull it off.

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