StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Reno Rangan Just said wow after a watch, this was the true masterpiece. One of a must see biography movie from Japan. This movie is more than entertainment, about life, faith, honesty. It sets in time 12th century when Japan is obsessed with the evil power by the strong and powerful samurais where poor people pays for it when they are suffering from poverty.It was the story of Dogen Zenj, a Japanese monk who brought the true Buddhism to his country. You might remember the Indian monk Bodhidharma, father of Shaolin who passed Hindu herbal medicine system and martial arts to China. In this case it was like similar quest by an another person from the Japan. The movie tells a young man from Japan travel to China in order to find and learn the true Buddhism and take back to his country to spread it among his people.The movie was inspiring, Dogen Zenj is one of a great man lived on the earth. I am not a religious type but I liked this movie very much. This movie might be about Buddhism but there is a lot everyone to learn from it. You no need to travel to India to discover yourself or if you are already in India (an Indian), this life story of Zen master Dogen will teach something good. Some scenes and its meanings were so good especially when Dogen handles his ruler (king) and when he sends a mother of a dying baby to everyone's house in the village. Hope you will love it as much I did.

micropotato This is a very interesting movie. And it runs rather deep into the culture and religious background of Japan around the 12th century.I know a bit about Buddhism and the Chinese culture and so this movies comes as quite a stunner. The simplicity of it is incredulous. Starting with a young boy seeking Buddhism because of his mother and later meeting a wise man on the road; ending with a girl taught by Dogen teaching young children to understand Buddha and walking on the same road. Everything comes full circle. Like the teaching from Buddha. And the idea of Dogen's new Buddhism is also very simple. Sit. Meditate. Give up other thoughts and focus on experiencing the Buddha in you. Which brings us to the core differences in values between the Eastern and Western culture. The eastern (Chinese/Japanese) way is to self reflect and discover the inner self and in time discover the goodness in yourself. The western way, however, men are sinners from birth and need to rely on a supernatural source to convert the person, making men good.One of the more important themes of the movie is influencing other people and passing on the wisdom and knowledge. Like a spark it grows into a larger flame and its heat draws more and more people in. There are quite a few subplots on that theme and they are executed very well and ties onto the circle flawlessly.There are however quite a lot of references and symbolic meanings (for instance, butterflies and moths are considered spirits) that people who have no experience with the Chinese/Japanese culture may not understand, which may make the movie less inspiring than it is.

dbborroughs Medatative story of a monk in search of enlightenment.Based upon a novel which is based upon the life of a monk named Dogen who left Japan and traveled to China. He returned to Japan bringing with him a form of Zen teaching.A good film that I think is going to be of interest to people with an interest in Zen and Buddhism. Others I think are going to be bored and wonder what its all about.If there are any real flaws its some of the visual motifs-the moon for example are used a bit too much.If you're interested in the subject give it a go.

Ben Z I just finished watching this movie at the UW screening before it is released nationwide. I have to say that I am deeply moved by it despite the fact that some of the Chinese characters are played by Japanese.There are several scenes that are so captivating, leaving my heart filled with excitement, joy and at the same time sorrow. The last few scenes really made this movie stand out. I especially enjoyed the little girl's explanation of what she is doing and how this is reflected in the Buddha in her heart. I believe that the Buddha in everyone's mind might be different from one another. The pursuit of the truth, tranquility and beauty might take different pathways. But what this movie reveals is the eternal power of what a man can achieve and what a man should give up. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in some of the concepts conveyed so beautifully and profoundly.