Product Description

Rudyard Kipling's exciting tale of adventure and intrigue in colonial India is brilliantly brought to the screen. Peter O'Toole stars as the Lama, a Tibetan holy man who befriends the mischievous, free-spirited orphan Kim and takes him on a mystical journey. When the British Secret Service's Mahbub Ali (Bryan Brown, The Thorn Birds) recruits Kim as a spy, the boy must use all his cunning to foil a plot to overthrow the British regime. Torn between two cultures and two very different mentors, Kim embarks on the ultimate journey - to find himself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67513 in DVD
• Brand: O'TOOLE,PETER
• Released on: 2006-09-12
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 150 minutes

Features

• Rudyard Kipling's exciting tale of adventure and intrigue in colonial India is brilliantly brought to the screen. Peter O'Toole stars as the Lama, a Tibetan holy man who befriends the mischievous, free-spirited orphan Kim and takes him on a mystical journey. When the British Secret Service's Mahbub Ali (Bryan Brown, The Thorn Birds) recruits Kim as a spy, the boy must use all his cunni

Customer Reviews

Boy's Adventure in India; Great Location, and It's Faithful
Though less known than the 1950 Errol Flynn version, this made-for-TV adaptation of the famous Kipling story is in fact a pretty good one, being faithful to the book in spirit and in story. The main episodes of the original are not changed much, and still the film manages to realize the world of Kiping's India, where some adventure is waiting for you around the corner.

Kim, or Kimball O'Hara is the orphaned son of an Irish soldier in India, and Kim spends his time as vagabond in Lahore, where he climbs upon the big cannon of the town. From this famous opening, in which he is taken up as a guide by a travelling Tibetan lama (Peter O'Tool, in bald-head wig), the film follows the boy's adventures in the country, meeting colorful characters, the best of whom are the dashing Muhbub Ali (Bryan Brown) and suave agent Babu (John Rhys-Davies).

Assisting the jourey of the lama who tries to find out "The River of the Arrow," Kim also learns the life of the people in India through the mission given to him from the higher officers. The episodic story of Kipling remains basically the same, and you will find the major episodes from the book, such as the two Russians from the north.

The greatest thing about this "Kim" is its location. As it is shot in India, the picture can really show the hot and humid climate of the place (the Planes), or the cold and chilling air of the mountains (the Hills). You will understand why the lama could regain his health after going back to the mountains if you see the film, for you can feel the great contrast between the two places.

The original Kim is slightly enigmatic boy (or a teen?), whose growth is implied between the lines. The Kim here played by an Indian young actor is fairly good though the fact remains that he is virtually an amateur. Still, he looks great, and the supports are effective, especailly Brown as the horse-riding, menaceful (but somehow humourous) Ali. As to Peter O'Toole, at first you might find him miscast, but I think no one can really play the role of the lama exactly as the book shows.

This newer "Kim" is slightly overlong, but its faithful adaptation with realistic Indian background is certainly worth your money, especially when you find the original book charming.

KIm reaches DVD at last
As a great fan of Rudyard Kipling's great novel Kim (I have at least 5 copies, including a first edition) I watched this second movie version with interest, first on the original VHS tape and again recently on the DVD transfer. The first movie, made in the 30s with Dean Stockwell as Kim, focused almost entirely on Errol Flynn as Mahboob Ali, completely destroying Kipling's story. But this 1990s version, with the excellent - if slightly too old - Ravi Sheth as Kim, follows the story much more closely, though rather strangely inserting a sub-plot not in the novel involving a British soldier and his Indian wife.
It's a good re-telling of Kipling's story with excellent characterisations of all the main characters (Kim himself, Mahboob Ali, the Babu and Lurgan Sahib) except one - the Lama. The Lama is central to the whole story and is played here by the great Peter O'Toole, but - somehow - to me it just doesn't work. O'Toole adopts a stumbling English, sounding out each syllable, and while I presume he is indicating the Lama's difficulty in speaking the local language it just sounds silly! He's a wonderful actor, but, I'm sorry, it just doesn't work for me.
The DVD is a good transfer, bright and colourful, and thoroughly enjoyable whether you know the novel or not. Highly recommended.

One of my favorite movies ever!
This movie is based on the Rudyard Kipling classic and was an all-time favorite of mine growing up. Peter O'Toole is fantastic!