The Last Emperor (1987)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Film C

  
  Its an okay movie, i can see why it won best picture as it is visually stunning and the costume and makeup artists did a brilliant job! Its interesting to a point about the last emperor however it just failed to engage me, i think over 3.5hours is asking a lot of the audience but to… More
  Its an okay movie, i can see why it won best picture as it is visually stunning and the costume and makeup artists did a brilliant job! Its interesting to a point about the last emperor however it just failed to engage me, i think over 3.5hours is asking a lot of the audience but to have a movie that is moving at a glacial pace and doesnt have any action and quite frankly isnt the most dramatic movie ive seen before it just left me thinking , 'well ill never get those three hours of my life back' I think a very overrated movie, and not engaging enough for me to rate this movie any higher!

• Chris W

  
  A sweeping historical epic like no other. I sometimes forget how amazing films like this are, especially when they are made in the pre-digital era when you couldn't fake stuff, so you had no choice but to hire 19,000 extras and that sort of thing. Okay, that little diversion… More
  A sweeping historical epic like no other. I sometimes forget how amazing films like this are, especially when they are made in the pre-digital era when you couldn't fake stuff, so you had no choice but to hire 19,000 extras and that sort of thing. Okay, that little diversion aside, this is a tremendous and wonderful film chronicling the life of Pu Yi, the last emporor of China before the tumultuous events that led to experiments with being a republic then a communist state. Covering the years of 1908-1967, this film, despite being a bio pic, is really a great glimpse at the history of a country during some very turbulent but fascinating times. In a way it's like a serious Forrest Gump sort of thing, though I don't mean to trivialize this by making that comparison. I've watched both the original and extended "director's cut" (though Bertolucci maintains that the theatrical cut is his prefered version and that the extended cut was just something he assembled for Italian TV) and I think they are both brilliant films. I think I might like the original more though. The extended cut is an hour longer, making the film clock in at 3 hours, 38 minutes, but some of the added material, like extended backstory are pretty good. The bulk of the additions though, are more political machinations and stuff involving Pu Yi in pre-WWII Manchuria. If you are into socio-political issues during this time and place, then the extended cut will probably please you. If not, then you might just want to stick with the original cut. Regardless of the version, this is a gorgeous film filled with excellent cinematography, beautiful costumes wonderful music (the main title theme will forever be stick in my head), and just great artistry. This is an art film that is both mindblowing because of the technique and storytelling, and the story itself. Pu Yi's life was rather tragic, and not just because of the Shakespearean way his empire crumbled around him. At no time did he ever truly have any real power, and it wasn't until most of his life was over that he was finally living without being told what to do. The scenes of his "re-education" are more painful because for him, it wasn't "re" but just regular education. Yet, from a symbolic standpoint, and for the first few years of his life (before the Chinese Revolution), yeah, he was something special. I know that the Chinese government has a certain reputation about them when it comes to portrayals of the country and its history, so it made me happy to know that when Bertolucci approached them with two projects he wanted to shoot in China, this was the one they chose. It's like they knew that telling this story was important, especially because all parts of a country's history deserve to be known to the masses. Plus, this film made history by getting unprecedented access to film all over the Forbidden City, and the results are just great. Well, I've gushed a lot, but I don't thnk this film is perfect. It is long, and sometimes boring, but I found myself so intrigued and moved that I can't really hold any ill will towards it. It was nominated for like 9 Oscars and won them all, and they were definitely deserved. You should definitely give this one a watch. It's quite something.

• Jameson W

  
  Wow! Beautful, beautiful film to watch. With perfect cinematography, an epic story, and a magnificent musical score, The Last Emperor takes the audience where few films have. An epic, elegant, must-see, film. My absolute favorite thing about the movie is the cinematography. This… More
  Wow! Beautful, beautiful film to watch. With perfect cinematography, an epic story, and a magnificent musical score, The Last Emperor takes the audience where few films have. An epic, elegant, must-see, film. My absolute favorite thing about the movie is the cinematography. This film literally transports you into historic China. The settings, costumes, scenery, appearance....it's simply unreal. It's also interesting that this film is the first film to be given permission to shoot in the Forbidden City. This emphasizes my second favorite thing about the film, the grand scale of the story itself. The story covers over 60 yrs. of Puyi's life. It's important to try to make the film realistic and to include as much history and experiences as possible. Wow, this film delivers. The pacing of this film is absolutely fantastic. Every scene is just the right length and every scene transitions nicely with the rest, especially the transitions between the past and the present. However, there are times the film drags. It's never boring, but there are definitely moments where I sort of wanted the scene to change or move on. The acting was not the greatest, but it was mostly do to the child actors needed for the first 90 minutes of the film. However, the second half of the film delivers much better performances. I thoroughly enjoyed John Lone's performance as the adult Puyi. Peter O'Toole also gives a good supporting performance. The Last Emperor is a film everyone should see! Winner of 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, this film delivers. Yes, it drags here and there, and the acting is not as finely tuned as I had expected, but I was completely taken in nonetheless. Check out this incredible classic film!

• Jennifer D

  
  Review to come.

• paul o

  
  Overall, it was an ok movie. The strong points such as the music, costumes, and cinematography make up for some decent acting with sometimes flimsy plot lines. It was entertaining but not a best picture winner.

• Jim H

  
  At the age of three, Pu Yi was crowned emperor of China, and this film tells his story and, by extension, the story of China in the early twentieth century. There can be nothing negative said about the technical aspect of filmmaking here; Bertolucci's shots are exquisitely… More
  At the age of three, Pu Yi was crowned emperor of China, and this film tells his story and, by extension, the story of China in the early twentieth century. There can be nothing negative said about the technical aspect of filmmaking here; Bertolucci's shots are exquisitely framed, the art direction is superb, and the film makes Joan Chen more beautiful than she could possibly be in real life. What is more, most of the story is subtly advanced using images rather than dialogue and voice over. I think my favorite is a party scene in which Japanese dignitaries and the emperor hobnob while the empress silently eats the decorations; empiric rule is heading to the shtter, and she's the only one who sees it coming. I guess it's nit-picking to lament that the history of China is portrayed in broken English, but oddly enough, I thought that subtitles would add to the verisimilitude of the film. Also, there are moments when <i>The Last Emperor</i> degrades into mere costume drama, and as a result, by the end of the film, which itself was quite anti-climactic, we don't feel like we got to know any person, even the eponymous emperor, but we did learn a bit about China. Overall, I have to recommend the film based on technicalities, but you should probably read up on Chinese history or you'll get lost.

• Dan S

  
  A fabulous movie. A very long, sometimes demanding movie about one of the last Emperors of China, but a sure classic. John Lone is outstanding as the grown-up version of the Emperor, who ruled from a very, very early age and eventually declined due to his ego. Don't watch this if… More
  A fabulous movie. A very long, sometimes demanding movie about one of the last Emperors of China, but a sure classic. John Lone is outstanding as the grown-up version of the Emperor, who ruled from a very, very early age and eventually declined due to his ego. Don't watch this if you hate long movies, it clocks in at almost 4 hours, but if you're interested in the history of China and love shots of beautiful settings, go for it.

• Mark H

  
  It certainly looks good, but I defy you to stay awake during this 218 minute snoozefest. Perhaps the editor fell asleep too.

• Lanning :

  
  A visually stunning piece. Probably best suited for history buffs who might like to debate the accuracy of the story. If you're looking for pure entertainment value, however, this one might not be for you. I'm bothered, as usual, by English being the primary language of… More
  A visually stunning piece. Probably best suited for history buffs who might like to debate the accuracy of the story. If you're looking for pure entertainment value, however, this one might not be for you. I'm bothered, as usual, by English being the primary language of communication among non-English-speaking people. I'm never too lazy to read subtitles, and I'd have appreciated that kind of historical accuracy myself.

• Robert C

  
  Another Epic film, beautifully shot and impressivly acted. A treat for the eyes that is not an insult to the mind.

• Lafe F

  
  A powerful empire is depicted in this scenic movie. It's a glorious time, while it lasts. Cute kid too.

• Steve K

  
  Long but very worthwhile. An amazing story.

• danny d

  
  very intersting, boring at times but a very good movie

• Tom E

  
  A Must for history buffs

• Byron B

  
  First, let me recommend the Director's Cut though it is 3 hours and 20 minutes. There is so much historical and political content that I found a second viewing helpful too. The costumes, sets, cinematography, and music are all sumptuous. The movie covers almost 60 years of… More
  First, let me recommend the Director's Cut though it is 3 hours and 20 minutes. There is so much historical and political content that I found a second viewing helpful too. The costumes, sets, cinematography, and music are all sumptuous. The movie covers almost 60 years of Chinese history from the perspective of one person. The last emperor, Pu Yi, lived through so much history during the first half of the 20th century. I don't know how much of the story is completely historically accurate, but the changes of the decades and major historical events seem to be presented authentically. The story reminded me at certain points of the movie and book, The Good Earth. While that story shows some of the cultural changes in Chinese history from the perspective of peasants out in the fields, this story is told mainly from within the walls of the Forbidden City or the walls of a Communist re-education camp. There is a strong imprisonment theme! The story is told in flashbacks, and I thought this device was well crafted with interesting parallels. Pu Yi's life is incredibly tragic and yet I found all the drama enthralling. He becomes Emperor at 3 years old and so hasn't formed any ideas for himself. Even later in his life you can't really say that he ever gained much experience as a leader. Earlier in China's history this might have worked out better to have a leader start so young without much conflict, but with all the changes preparing to take place in the 20th century it is inevitable that Pu Yi would become a tragic figure. He becomes spoiled because every want and need is taken care of for him. He's a puppet controlled by many others through his life. Early in his life China becomes a Republic and he no longer has any real power, but traditions stay the same inside the Forbidden City. Just before WWI O'Toole arrives as a Western tutor and Pu Yi begins to learn about the modern world. Eventually he tries to reform the traditions of imperial China, but he still takes a wife and a consort (a second wife). China then becomes a Communist country and some people turn against the Manchurian part of northern China. Since Manchurian is the Emperor's heritage, he and his remaining staff are kicked out of the Forbidden City. He ends up being welcomed by Japan in the early 30's before WWII and they feed him some misinformation. At this point he still craves the power of being Emperor and there is a lot of political intrigue as Manchuria becomes independent (but, Japan is really pulling the strings). He has relationship issues with his wife and consort, one feeling like a third wheel in the more westernized Japan and the other becoming addicted to opium. After WWII the Communist powers in China change a bit and in 1950 we catch up to the "current" events where Pu Yi and all the other imperial supporters are being re-educated. Ying gives an impressive performance and human face to the "Governor" of the camp. It is an amazing, in depth, dramatic conflict from the American audience perspective when you realize that Pu Yi was working with the Japanese, one of the Axis powers of WWII, and the Communists are trying to turn him into a comrade. Between a rock and a hard place. There's a good portion of Americans that wouldn't see either side of this conflict as worth cheering for. But still I found it very engaging to watch John Lone portray the struggle. One of my favorite quotes: The Governor- "You are responsible for what you do! All your life you thought you were better than everyone else. Now you think you're the worst of all!" There's also a quote about how all the new generals and changes in the communist regime are just like the battling war lords of tribal society. There's a sense that the differences between the old and young in society will lead to history repeating itself, and in fact power keeps on shifting but nothing in history really changes.

• Cinema F

  
  Documentary, history and monumental epic rolled into one. The film takes us into the life of Pu YI, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. As a three-year-old he ascends the throne as "Emperor for 10,000," eventhough his empire is unstable and crumbling beyond the palace… More
  Documentary, history and monumental epic rolled into one. The film takes us into the life of Pu YI, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. As a three-year-old he ascends the throne as "Emperor for 10,000," eventhough his empire is unstable and crumbling beyond the palace walls. Oscar-winning director Bernardo Bertolucci's film was produced at great expense, as he employed a huge cast of extras, and was made entirely on location in China. It's an exotic and fascinating film that would overwhelms Westeners: eunuchs populate the palace, concubines offer themselves, food tasters control the emperor's nutrition, and doctors study his stool. Individual characters are carefully hidden behind faces covered in stereotypical make up. Pu Yi also remains a stranger, even when he dances the Charleston or climbs into bed with two women at the same time. Taking him to Manchukuo, where Japanese set up a puppet regime in an effort to oppose communism, Pu Yi becomes a toy in the hand of the new powers, and, ultimately, their victim. He ends up in a Communist re-education camp for ten years, from which he gains an early release, and returns to Beijing as a gardener. The film is a story without a happy ending. Exploring the evolution of a human subject by depicting the transformation from "a dragon to a butterfly" syndrome, Bertolucci has explored a more intimate world of personal relationships affected by the conflicting worlds of different cultures. At the end of his life, Pu Yi reduced to a broken man in Mao uniform. Although tragic, one cannot help but feel that somehow he is responsible for his own fate.

• Mike T

  
  The scope of Bertolucci's enormous epic is, in itself, something to be admired. The photography is stunning. Storaro's color scheme and majestic camera movement bring texture and visual power to the film. Spanning over several decades, The Last Emperor never loses the viewer… More
  The scope of Bertolucci's enormous epic is, in itself, something to be admired. The photography is stunning. Storaro's color scheme and majestic camera movement bring texture and visual power to the film. Spanning over several decades, The Last Emperor never loses the viewer because its common thread is the examination of a person's painfully unorthodox life. This technical gem is also an emotionally effective and very tragic story. Breathtaking.

• Nicolas K

  
  Like always, beautiful cinematography from the master of it's kind.

• Marcus W

  
  This is a sumptuous, epic film. The scope is massive and the film is gorgeous. All very well, but there's no drama. It's as though we're expected to be impressed simply by how good it looks. All it has going for it are the visuals. I struggled to stay awake more than… More
  This is a sumptuous, epic film. The scope is massive and the film is gorgeous. All very well, but there's no drama. It's as though we're expected to be impressed simply by how good it looks. All it has going for it are the visuals. I struggled to stay awake more than once.

• James B

  
  A stunning look at Pu Yi, the last emperor of China. Bertolucci has created a wonderful film, with stunning cinematography and a gripping storyline! One of the great films on the 1980's!

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