Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor : Director's Cut [Import, All-region] (1987)

A stunning milestone in the history of cinema, this is director Bernardo Bertolucci's original director's cut, presented for the first time on video, the way it was meant to be seen.John Lone stars as Pu Yi, emperor of China, who comes from a long history of a tradition that is irreversibly altered by two world wars and fierce political upheaval. Guided by his English mentor, Pu Yi is forced to leave the lavish, protective walls of his kingdom and somehow find the strength to build a new life in a strange world he has always longed to explored, but has never really known. Product Description

One of the best films on China

Bertolucci's film details the life of the last Emperor of China (HIM Aisin-Gioro P'u-yi, the Hsuan-t'ung Emperor b.1906-1967) who died during the "Cultural Revolution" in China. His film is superbly balanced between the tragedy of the last Emperor against the backdrop of the upheavals of the 20th century in China. It was filmed on location in the Forbidden City in Peking, and Bertolucci was even allowed by the communist authorities to open up some of the warehouses to furnish authentic period costumes and sets.One of the best films about the subject. This film won Best Picture during the Academy Awards in 1987 in Hollywood.
Also the movie has a haunting musical score.

(See the books "The Last Emperor" by NJ Irons for a more serious discussion. Also, see RE Johnston's book "Twilight in the Forbidden City". Johnston was one of His tutors, 1919-1924).

I only wish someone can do a similar movie about the last Russian Emperor/Tsar Nicholas II.
April 14, 2008

FAKE COUNTERFEIT JUNKY IMPORT!

This is NOT the Artisan Release. This is a COUNTERFEITED ASIAN DVD. Korea, China and Japan do not manufacture any legitimate Region 1 DVDs. Any R1 from these regions are BOOTLEG/CPOUNTERFEITS! AMAZON: remove these illegal fakes! January 12, 2008

An Unjustly Forgotten Classic

Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor has never looked better than in this release, in this format. One of the grandest, most spectacular productions of the 1980's is today mostly forgotten, and that's more than a shame, it's unforgivable. This telling of the story of the final emperor of China, from his boyhood at the tradition-bound court in the Forbidden City, to his pro-western "playboy" years, to his final, once-unimaginable re-emergence under Maoist rule as a humble gardener in Peking, a reconditioned, obedient servant of the People's Republic is far stranger than any fiction. This masterpiece is worthy of greater recognition than it enjoys today, and if you have to see it on the small screen, this is the version to see. December 7, 2007

KOrean COUNTERFEIT

This is an illegal Korean Counterfeit. The Authentic R1 release by Artisan is currently OOP. This is an unlicensed, cheap, Asian Knock-off. Just as many listed Disney DVDs on Amazon are counterfeit Asian Imports...this one is too. BEWARE. November 8, 2007

This is the DVD edition that was meant to be

My comments are solely on this edition, please see my review of the Region 1 edition for the content. The mastering of the Region 1 edition was absolutely terrible. Whoever was in charge should lose their job. My copy of the Korean important just arrived today, and just in the first 45 minutes I can tell a vast improvement. The picture is every bit as rich and crisp as a DVD should be (except for the scenes where the cinematographer apparently wanted things to look dreamy), and the sound is extremely well done. Throw away whatever region 1 copies you have and buy this edition if you want to own a copy of a movie classic that swept the Oscars. November 5, 2007

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