***INTRO***
The story of the final Emperor of China from a biography by Aisin - Giori. My DVD came free with the Times, I watched before doing a little research and was later surprised at the significance of its content. Filming on location in China, Bertolucci and producer Jeremy Thomas ... Read review
Following Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his birth in 1908, through his ... more
childhood in the fortress-like Forbidden City and his later misguided collaboration with the Japanese in World War II, The Last Emperor tells the history of modern ...
Bernardo Bertolucci's epic film tells the incredible story of Pu Yi who in 1908 at the ... more
age of three became ruler of nearly half of the world's population. He was the "Son of heaven" "Lord of Ten Thousand Years" and the last emperor of China. His r...
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Bernardo Bertolucci does the nearly impossible with this sweeping, grand epic that tells a ... more
very personal tale. The story is a dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the emperors of China. It follows his life from its elite beginnings in the Forbidden C...
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The Last Emperor, director Bernardo Bertolucci's epic tale of Pu Yi, the exiled final ... more
potentate of China's 3,000-year old Qing dynasty, was the big winner at the 1988 Academy Awards, taking Oscars for (among others) Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Score. The composing trio of Sakamoto/Byrne/Su was an unusual one to be sure, but it's clearly Sakamoto who carries the day here. The avant-garde trained/former Yellow Magic Orchestra pop mastermind crafted a seamless fusion of grand Western themes, Asian shadings and his own deliciously distinct timbrel sensibilities; an accessible if deceptively modern classicism. Not surprisingly, given his Talking Heads roots, Byrne's efforts are more rhythmic and minimal, yet his consuming passion for world music thoroughly evidences itself as well. His lyric and lilting "Main Title Theme" (one of the film's unusual elements was its use of two main themes by separate composers) may offer a pleasant surprise to listeners overly familiar with his pop work. The composer Cong Su is represented by just one cut; but it's a gentle, ethereal spin on Chinese folk influences that fits well with his fellow composers' work. --Jerry McCulley
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For the first time ever, Bernardo Bertolucci's nine-time Oscar winning masterpiece is ... more
brought together with the Director's Cut of the film on this special double-disc DVD.Following Pu Yi, the last of the Emperor's of China, from his birth in 1908, through his childhood in the fortress-like Forbidden City and his later misguided collaboration with the Japanese in World War II, THE LAST EMPEROR tells the history of modern China through the eyes of the man brought up to believe that he was the country's divine ruler.
Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Giles Foster - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Emily Mortimer, Joanna Lumley, Peter O'Toole
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: HISTORY Disadvantages: Are there any ?
***INTRO***
The story of the final Emperor of China from a biography by Aisin - Giori. My DVD came free with the Times, I watched before doing a little research and was later surprised at the significance of its content. Filming on location in China, Bertolucci and producer Jeremy Thomas were the first western film - makers to be allowed access to hitherto forbidden locations. The cast includes Peter O'Toole (Reginald Johnston) amongst ... ...15 years or over by the censors, although in other countries this maybe lower. Genre : biography/drama/history.
***THE STORY***
He was the Lord of Ten Thousand Years, the absolute monarch of China. He was born to rule a world of ancient tradition. Nothing prepared him for our world of change. A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from the lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden city, the ... more
***INTRO***
The story of the final Emperor of China from a biography by Aisin - Giori. My DVD came free with the Times, I watched before doing a little research and was later surprised at the significance of its content. Filming on location in China, Bertolucci and producer Jeremy Thomas were the first western film - makers to be allowed access to hitherto forbidden locations. The cast includes Peter O'Toole (Reginald Johnston) amongst others (see below).The film is deemed suitable for persons of 15 years or over by the censors, although in other countries this maybe lower. Genre : biography/drama/history.
***THE STORY***
He was the Lord of Ten Thousand Years, the absolute monarch of China. He was born to rule a world of ancient tradition. Nothing prepared him for our world of change. A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from the lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden city, the object of worship by half a billion people. Made Emperor at the age of 3 in the Forbidden City, through his abdication and decline. Exploited by the invading Japanese and his term as Emperor of Japans Manchguo, put to work as a peasant worker (gardener) at the Botanical Gardens of Peking. Eventually released back to public life in 1959. The story starts with the prisoner (The Emperor) departing from a train at a train station.
***CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE***
Directed.............Benardo Bertolucci. Writing credits...Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci.
CAST :
John Lone............Pu Yi (adult) Joan Chen............Wan Jung Peter O'Toole......Reginald Johnston Ruocheng Ying....The Governor Victor Wong.........Chen Pao Shen
AWARDS : 9 Oscars
1988......best art decorations, cinematography, costume design, director, film editing, music and original score, picture, sound, writing.
9 BAFTAS : 1989
Told in an interesting flashback/flashforward style. This was the first feature film granted permission by the Chinese government to be filmed in the Forbidden City and the western film made in and about the country to be produced with full Chinese government cooperation since 1949. Pu Yi's eldest brother Pu Chien Li Wenda who helped Yi write his autobiography were brought into act as advisors along with the prison governor and his manservant in an unofficial capacity. 19,000 extras were needed over the course of the film. Hairdresser 'Giancarlo di Leonardis' imported 2,200 pounds of human hair to make the elaborate wigs needed for the court. For the coronation scenes, his staff spent ten days training fifty Chinese to pin wigs and plaits onto two thousand extras in under two hours. 1,100 schoolchildren were brought in to play Red Guards who composed the Cultural Revolution march (1967). The 250-acre Forbidden City, built in the early 15th century with high walls up to 50 feet thick, provided an excellent soundproof filming environment - although the Chinese crews were unused to making films with live sound recording. During filming of the immense coronation scene in the Forbidden City, Queen Elizabeth II was in Beijing on a state visit. The production was given priority over her by the Chinese authorities and she was therefore unable to visit the Forbidden City. The costumes & decorator in the Forbidden City are stunning and the images visually colourful. The dialogue is slow to start with. And in English. The eloquence of the dialogue improves with the introduction of Johnson (Peter O'Toole) the teacher.
Notable quote from Reginald Fleming "RJ" Johnston : if you cannot say what you mean, your majesty, you will never mean what you say and a gentleman should always mean what you say.
***MY OPINION***
The movie struck me as having a documentary style about it, its flashback/flashforward style helps to maintain the dramatic feel of the film. The picture quality is rather good. This is a film for a Saturday afternoon. I thought O'Toole was exceptional as R.J.
Advantages: Historical movie, great actors, touching movie Disadvantages: Few monotonous moments
...several reasons
Short description. The movie is about the life of the last Emperor in China. The movie describe the solitude of the young Emperor Pu Yi, that at the age of three years became the last Emperor. the Emperor grows under the supervision of Westerner (Peter O'Toole), a great teacher who shows him the western culture beauty. He marries a marries a beautiful princess (Joan Chen). Eventually to cope have more power he collaborates with the ... ...a communist re-education camp when the war is over. The film ends in a moving and touching way...
The story is real after all, captivating but has few monotonous moments, really worth viewing The actors are few but great. Peter O'Toole is just magnificent, plays an outstanding role, Joan Chen also makes a great acting show and the small Emperor is great. The decors are breathtaking, beautiful Chinese history, customs and architecture.
Conclusion. ...
neo1983 19.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Last Emperor (DVD)
Advantages: Very attractive to look at. Disadvantages: Not interesting enough plot, too long.
...Tango in Paris, The Conformist) but seems to have become too grandiose for his own good. Still there is enough to keep the eyes very happy, with beautiful photography by Bertolucci regular Vittorio Storaro. Gorgeous to watch but you'll find yourself shifting in your seat a lot. ...
JSpencer 16.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Last Emperor (DVD)
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The true story of Pu Yi, who at the age of three toddled to the Imperial Throne to become 'Lord Of 10,000 Years', China's very last Emperor. Filmed entirely in China, this is the first Western film to be made about modern China with the full co-operation of the Chinese Government.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT; SONY DADC, SECOND SIGHT FILMS LTD.; ARVATO SERVICES
Release date
10/07/2006, 18/10/1999
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
OPTD 0572, 2 NDVD 3001
Barcode
5060034576259, 5028836030010
Cinematographer
Vittorio Storaro
Composer
David Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamato
Director of Photography
Vittorio Storaro
Music
David Byrne
Languages
Main Language
English
Award information
OSCAR
Best Director 1987 (Bernardo Bertolucci)
OSCAR
Best Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced Or Published 1988 (Mark Peploe, Bernardo Bertolucci)
Professional reviews
Review
There's no faulting the use of genuine locations, the magnificent costumes of Vittorio Storaro's breathtaking cinematography (Total Film, 13/09/2006)
A film of unique, quite unsurpassed visual splendor, THE LAST EMPEROR makes for a fascinating trip to another world (Variety, 13/09/2006)
Technical information
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Special Features
Trailers, Interactive Menus, Scene Selection
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital Stereo
DVD Description
The story of Pu Yi, who ascended to the Imperial Throne in China at the age of three and became the country’s last Emperor. Although it is 160 minutes long and shot with breathtaking scope and sumptuousness, Bernardo Bertolucci's film is a story about claustrophobia. Pu Yi is a prisoner in the palace he rules over. Outside, real power changes hands with each coup d'etat. Pu Yi grows to manhood, is tutored by a Westerner (Peter O'Toole), and marries a gorgeous princess (Joan Chen). However, the adult Pu Yi (John Lone) is destined for a communist re-education camp when the war is over. From start to finish, Pu Yi is a passive antihero who can never come to grips with the idea that the absolute power conferred on him as a child was only a mirage. The mistakes Pu Yi made trying to realise that power--especially collaborating with the Japanese during the war--provide Bertolucci with the chance to explore his familiar theme of collaboration and its moral consequences (as he did in THE CONFORMIST and 1900). In the end, Pu Yi seems to have reached a kind of peace, and the terrible waste of a special man's life disappears into a drab, grey-clad Beijing.
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