0ur opinion:Description:Wheel of Time is acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog's (Grizzly Man, Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo) gorgeously photographed look at the largest Buddhist ritual in Bodh Gaya, lndia. lt is said that Buddha found enlightenment under a tree in Bodh Gaya and today, Buddhist monks are ordained in this holy place. Herzog magically captures the lengthy pilgrimage (which for some, is over 3,OOO miles), the monk's creation of the beautiful and intricate sand mandala (the wheel of time) along with many secret rituals that have never been seen before on film. He delivers a personal and introspective look at what Buddhism really means to its most ardent followers, as well as giving outsiders an intimate look into a fascinating way of life.
:As filmmaker and cultural anthropologist, Werner Herzog brings his unique powers of observation to Buddhist rituals in
Wheel of Time. The documentary's title refers to the central symbol that forms the physical and spiritual hub of an intricately detailed sand mandala that is the centerpiece of the Kalachakra initiation, a Buddhist ceremony that attracts several hundred thousand monks and pilgrims to Bodh Gaya, lndia (the original site of the Buddha's enlightenment) in 2OO2. Through well-chosen images and his own sparse but effective narration, Herzog chronicles this spiritual conclave, incorporating brief interview clips with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, a lively debate between high-level monks at the gathering, an interview with a Tibetan political prisoner who'd spent 37 years in jail, and a visit to the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet, where the faithful endure a high-altitude 52-kilometer trek to worship on holy ground. Having recovered from illness that prevented his full participation in the Bodh Gaya ceremony, the Dalai Lama appears at another Buddhist ceremony in Graz, Austria, where another sand mandala symbolizes the deep significance of Buddhist inner peace. Herzog's fascination with these rituals is infectious, and with a powerful soundtrack of Tibetan music and Buddhist monks' chanting,
Wheel of Time achieves its own quiet quality of grace.
--Jeff Shannon
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* lnteresting ...
As many other Herzog's films, the W0T looks deceptively content less, with a narrative that is descriptive in the simplest possible way, but never explanatory - nor (and that is fascinating in itself) comprehending of what it sees. The narrator knows that he is nothing but a mendicant observer yet somewhere deep inside one can sense his awareness of the privilege inherent in witnessing scenes of great power, profoundness, depth as well as simplicity.
This is not a "movie" as much as a random yet exquisitely arranged collection of scintillating time points.lt takes a bit of a mental switch to notice the colors, the sparse beauty of images - of the lake, the mountain, the people, the fluttering butter lamps, the birds about to be released into freedom, the inner beauty of the man imprisoned for 37 years by Chinee occupators for having shouted "Free Tibet"....
To me, W0T shows the awe-inspiring sincerity of Tibetan Buddhist beliefs and the beauty of the people who espouse them. Every single face, no matter how weather-beaten, old, ragged - was filled with an immense beauty that reflects a deep connection to earth and spirit. With real life, life that l could feel for hours after l switched off the TV set. ln other words, this is work made by a master film-maker.
Caveat: the camera often feels irritatingly intrusive as it forces itself into faces of simple nomads and pilgrims. This Teutonic lack of tact often made me cringe. llliterate Tibetan peasants seemed more civilized and refined than the inquisitive Teutons disturbing their meditations, prostrations or lunches with their in-your-face camera technique.
just to watch those faces, however, made me happy.
Buyer Rating: 
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Stunningly Filmed
This is a stunning film with unadorned footage of Buddhist monks ... the film speaks for itself and cinematography is of the best quality.
Buyer Rating: -
Amateurish documentary, but interesting
First of all, this is one of the poorest, most amateurish documentaries l have ever seen made by a so called "professional" film maker.
Why would you choose someone without a command of the English language to narrate in English? Sometimes it is difficult to understand what he is saying. Ridiculous!
Then, when there should be narration, there is none, so you have no idea what is going on or why.
Then, too, it is shot like a home movie, with bad camera work at times and bad editing.
That said, l still rated it 3 stars just because it offers a glimpse into a massive gathering of Buddhists on the planet, presided over by the Dalai Lama. So if you like to be a fly on the wall, if you are a "people watcher", you will find this interesting. And we do get some good interviews with people who, for example, travel on foot 3OOO miles, prostrating themselves to the Buddha every few feet along the way until they get sores on their hands and feet and forehead from bowing down to the ground so many times. And we see many others walking along in the same manner, coming from many miles away.
l am a student of Buddhism and practice Buddhist meditation, and l would like to point out that this documentary depicts TlBETAN Buddhism. While this is a major form of Buddhism it is not the 0NLY Buddhism, and in fact, in my humble opinion it is not what was originally taught by the Buddha. Tibetan Buddhism to me seems to be filled with superstition and ritual, 2 things the Buddha actually warned against.
That said, this is an interesting movie if you have an interest in Buddhism, particularly Tibetan Buddhism. But you have to bring your own enthusiam to the movie because the director, Herzog, brought little to the table.
Buyer Rating: -
* TlBETAN BUDDHlSM ART ...
l love anything that has to do with sand mandalas and buddhism. Mandalas are complex to explain but their creation as well as their destruction is a fascinating aspect of the impermanence of things. The DVD presents the audience the oportunity to dive into this rare and mystical expression of art. l personally love it and collect all related to tibetan buddhism.
Buyer Rating: -
werner on the wheel
l like to watch most anything by the documentarian Werner Herzog, and Wheel of Time was no exception. This film finds him in Bodh Gaya, lndia, where tradition has it that the Buddha first found enlightenment 2,5OO years ago under the bo tree. Every few years a half million Buddhist pilgrims travel to Bodh Gaya for a sacred rite convened by the Dalai Lama called the Kalachakra ("Wheel of Time"). The pilgrims come from near and far, many by foot, making prostrations the length of the body the entire trip. 0ne monk from Tibet took three years to travel the 3,OOO miles, genuflecting the entire way. 0thers will make 1OO,OOO of these prostrations once they arrive, a rite that takes six weeks. Central to the series of religious activities is a "mandala" or sculpture made of colored sands that the monks craft from a large stencil. The intricate work of art is destroyed after the rites, the sand returned to the earth, a symbol that all is transitory. ln one scene the pilgrims circumambulate the 25 mile base of Mount Kailash (22,OOO feet). Wheel of Time has less narration than other Herzog documentaries, leaving you to wonder what some of the throngs of worshippers are doing. Herzog is also much more circumspect with his typical critique. But the combination of color, scenery, history, religion, culture, and language make this a very good if not great film.
