My older brother brought this movie for me for a present when i was young and it taught me a lot about self sacrifice and following your heart to what ever end. Many lessons to be seen in the film if you choose to see them. A must watch.

Notwithstanding some of the abrupt transitions within the stories of main characters, convincing and compelling decorations had made their business and the movie evokes a great multitude of emotions within the viewer. The Little Buddha movie describes the story of how a prince Siddhartha became an enlightened Buddha who understood the meaning of life and everything else in this world. Although, from my perspective, this movie would not really convince people about such concepts as reincarnation, and other aspects of Buddhist religion, it definitely provides a massive audience with a positive and bright ideas about the world perception. As a whole, this movie offers a vibrant insight into one of the most eloquent cultures of the world, and leaves a very pleasant sense about the fact that all of the things in this world are relevant, logical, and appropriate just in the way they are. Little Buddha illustrates a fascinating story of a Buddhist monk, Lama Norbu, who is looking for the reincarnation of his teacher. His search has brought him to the Seattle where a little boy -Jesse lives. Jesse's parents are classical upper middle-class, with his father being a successful engineer and mother - a math teacher. While at first they were quite skeptical about the story Lama Norbu told them about the reincarnation of his teacher and its relation to their son, Jesse, to the middle of the movie when Jesse's father loses his close friend and business partner, he decides to observe this 'unrealistic' phenomenon and try to find a future exploration for this story. Generally speaking, the acting of Jesse's father does not seem really convincing, and along with some sluggishness and frequent inconsistencies within the dialogues of the narrative, a massive work for the editing, and directorate had to be done. Fortunately, scenes were filmed from different, and quite interesting perspectives, and this made scenes to work in a way that they it seemed more cohesive, and logical. Majority of the scenes in the movie are exceedingly colorful, and bright. For instance, the moment when Siddhartha realizes that there are not only pleasures in this world, but also sufferings - very realistic images of those in the image of old, and sick people - and his amusement with these parts of the real life, play a tremendously important role in Buddha's story plot. In my opinion, this was one of the most powerful scene in a whole movie. Additionally, the way Siddhartha's servant was explaining him about those was extremely touching, and thought-provoking. Although sometimes the story of Siddhartha becomes quite unclear, not only because of some unrealistic moments (like the one where everyone in the 'kingdom' feel asleep, so he was able to escape from his 'prison'), but because of the undetailed and blurred narrative, as far as I am concerned, his story in this movie is described in a very sophisticated way. One of the things on which, I personally disagree with movie creators, is its inconsistency of the Lama Norbu's and his search for Lama Norju's reincarnation (including three candidates) story plot with Buddha's. However, this would not probably be the issue for most of the people, because it might seem for them that the place of Buddha's story is central within the whole religion anyways. As I have mentioned, it is my personal remark. Another thing that I had not clearly understood was the issuer related with the reincarnation. When Lama Norbu proclaimed that all of the three candidates, were, in fact, the reincarnation of his teacher - I assume that it was because he wanted the homeless child to find his home, and the possibility to get education, and not because all them actually were the reincarnation of Lama Norju. However, just as with the previous case - I may be wrong. In conclusion, I would say that Little Buddha is a very thought-provoking, and satisfying movie. In other words, when a viewer finishes to watch it, there is not a feeling within him that he had simply wasted his time. On the contrary, it leaves a viewer with a pleasant feeling, that there is a crucial reason why the art of the cinematography exists, in the first place. The way by which this interesting and compelling story was showcased within The Little Buddha, really justifies the presence of this expensive art in our world. The story of this movie offers an exclusively sophisticated insight into the lives of people, who as it seems practically live in a 'different galaxy', and describes the concepts by which they perceive this world to be. A viewer would be left with a strong feeling of justification, and satisfaction about the world order, because it is what the teachings of the Buddhism are about. The idea that - Everything in this world is impermanent, and the justice would find its order in the end - is really convincing and satisfying.

A great story, told by an obviously Mahayana Buddhist, where all the mystical elements were applied, but didn't actually take away from the story of Keanu Reeves as the Buddha. I guess that was the only downside for me. Keanu Reeves as the Buddha. I couldn't stop laughing, all I saw when I looked at him in the movie was him playing in Bill & Teds series. "Be excellent to each other". But for real, a good retell of the buddhas life which is what I was looking for when I started watching this movie. I found it interesting that the director chose to through the buddha's whole story in and it compliments well with the present and the little boy in seattle. I think that a lot of Buddhists would enjoy watching this because of the accuracy of the spiritual representation that makes up Buddhism, such as the Mahayana version of buddhas life, as well as how anyone can be the "Buddha" or in this case a "lama", and that's how the connection between the west and the east occur. Very cheesy movie but for those who want to know what Buddhism in its most basic form is all about, I would highly recommend watching it.

Berti's soaring effort gets impinged upon by the money guys.Bertolucci's great moment is the unveiling of Keaunu Reeves. Did any man ever look so ahead of his time in 1993? Sadly, though, the business suits are close by, sipping at flasks and nursing coffees, making sure that a layer of heavy sentiment is laid on here, and only a fragmented picture of Siddhartha's progress into divinity there; and the latter treated with exaggerated reverence. It's a shame they didn't make the whole film tell the life of Siddhartha.The rebirth thing is too bizarre and cultish. I'm as at sea with it as the Dad in the mini-family, played by Chris Isaak. Bad news at the business persuades him to take an absurd two-week trip to Nepal with his boy, while Mum grows pregnantly in Seattle, left out of things. Fortunately, the monks find their lama-laddie elsewhere.It's a mixed film but definitely worth seeing for Bertolucci followers.