Cinema: Down the Old De Mille Stream

Buddha. Shudder at the spectacle of human sacrifice! Thrill to the dance of the temptresses! Cringe as the prince's eyes are poked out! Weep as the princess commits harakiri! Marvel at the miracle of the thousand lamps! Tremble while the mammoth, four-armed idol splits asunder! Do a double take when Buddha says: "Do not overdo anything."

Japanese Moviemaker Masaichi Nagata takes a ride down the old De Mille stream and soon finds himself up Spectacular Creek without a paddle. This footless, episodic epic on the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha tries to crowd...