Name Discs
The Last Emperor
15 Feature
The Last Emperor - Bonus Features
15 Bonus

DVD Information

Run time: 2 hours 36 minutes
Rental release: 18 Oct 1999
Main languages: English
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Most helpful review The Last Emperor

  • An interesting view on an individual piece of history

    Rated - 4.0 stars  
    By a customer from Epsom, England , 09 Jul 2004

    [Highly rated reviewer]

    An interesting cross between a character piece and historical documentary. It follows the life of the Last Emperor from spoilt childhood through partying early adulthood to liason with the Japanese and eventual imprisonment by the Communists.

    We are often viewing his life either from the perspective of his English tutor or from him remembering his early life from prison. So the early years are also treated with the perspective of an outsider either in time or station in life. A long film but one that will keep your interest in the detail of his life.

    If you have children ignore the 15 rating this was before 12 certificates were created and I remember being taken to see it by my parents when I was 12 and finding it facinating and not at all shocking. There is only a very small amount of breast feeding and other minor nudity consistent with the story.
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  • True Epic

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By a customer , 03 Apr 2013
    Although a little slow, visually stunning and a compelling series of storylines. . This is a true epic in which Peter O'Toole has a powerful cameo. Returned to it after 20 years...wished I'd watched it earlier.
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  • A film not about history, but institutional mindsets

    Rated - 3.5 stars  
    By prach (11 reviews) , 26 Apr 2012
    I watched this film to learn about history. And on that front, I didn't get what I wanted. But I got even more interesting things. Rather than telling us about hard historical facts, the film tells us about the mindsets of people in different institutions.

    Emperor Pu Yi, crowned when he was three and raised within the confines of the Forbidden Palace and its strict traditions, is portrayed as a man whose life was determined by events much greater than himself, a man who was the channel of all forces, both internal and external to the institution he occupies - forces so great that they allowed no room for him to have any initiative of his own.

    Occasionally he has the illusion that he can have some initiative and realise it. But this was only when it was convenient for institutions around him to allow him to do so. So Pu Yi's life is a sorry one. It is defined and fated by the position it was born in. It's a fate that Pu Yi could not escape even by abdication.
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  • Award winning classic

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By o0_PsyMonk3y_0o (2 reviews) from Hove , 26 Mar 2012
    A really great historical film based on the life of the last emperor of china and even though this film is long its not noticed as your so engrossed in the story and the life of the last emperor from child to graying old man.

    I would recommend this film to anyone as its one film i'd say everyone should watch at some point so give it a watch. ;)

    9 Academy Awards , 3 Baftas , 4 Golden Globes
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  • the last emperor

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By lukasz84 (75 reviews) , 17 Aug 2011
    it is quite a task to insert an intimate, detailed psychological study of a character at the centre of a sweeping historical epic. but such challenge, precisely, seems to be the ambition of mr bertolucci in the last emperor. once the canvas achieve such gigantic size, one must be super cautious not to lose focus and studying the director's struggle makes for a very engaging viewing. the mere scope of the enterprise is breath-taking. the film's political commentary is nicely restrained, whislt sophisticatedly bitter-sweet. visual indulgences are extravagant and thoroughly worthwhile.

    an important lesson in history and movie-making alike.
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  • "I am the son of heaven"

    Rated - 5.0 stars  
    By a customer from Orpington , 30 Jan 2011

    THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

    The Last Emperor is an epic period drama, a look into the weird and wondeful world of the Chinese dynasty of the Last Emperor, a grand and powerful time of the now fallen and once powerful kingdom, before falling from within. The story of Pu Yi, a non-linear narrative, told in flashbacks, starting in 1950 when Pu Yi is a middle aged man looking back at his life. I feel sorry for him as he was taken from his mother and given all that responsibility so young. It is an interesting human study as he has so much power yet none at the same time. He is thought of as the son of heaven, yet he was not even allowed to leave his palace. As he gets older he is able to have more freedom, but he starts to go off the rails. The actor who plays Pu Yi as an adult does a fantastic job.

    This film has brilliant sets, beautiful traditional Chinese music, based on a true story, and fantastic direction. Peter O'Toole does a great supporting role as Pu Yi's English tutor. Everyone who made this film did a bang-up job. This film also becomes very Shakespearian. Pu Yi's subjects say they are loyal to him and would do anything for him, yet in the end they just wait for him to be killed so they can try and seize his power. I guess when someone has more than you, you'll go to any lengths to get it.

    The Last Emperor is pretty much a flawless film. Some people may feel it might be a bit stereotyped about Chinese people, and also might be angry that it wasn't directed by a Chinese director, but a white European. But apart from that this is a great film, two thumbs up, another great film of the 80s, and of all time. Watch it!
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