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The Last Emperor Reviews

1987

70
from 7945 members

The Last Emperor is the true story of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi, the last ruler of the Chinese Ching Dynasty. Told in flashback, the film covers the years 1908 to 1967. We first see the three-year-old Pu Yi being installed in the Forbidden City by ruthless, dying dowager Empress Tzu-Hsui (Lisa Lu). Though he'd prefer to lark about like .. Read more

Starring	John Lone, Joan Chen, Peter O'Toole, Dennis Dun
Director	Bernardo Bertolucci
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of The Last Emperor
View all critics' reviews (4)
- A lavish spectacle which caught the imagination of audiences, though many found the compression of 60 years of Chinese politics baffling.
- 29969
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:38
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Most helpful member's review of The Last Emperor
View all members' reviews (20)
- - 10
  - 0
  An interesting view on an individual piece of history
  
  An interesting cross between a character piece and historical documentary. It follows the life of the Last Emperor from spoilt childhood through partying early... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 9994
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Epsom, England
  - 09 Jul 2004 at 22:15
Most recent members' reviews of The Last Emperor
View all members' reviews (20)
- - 0
  - 0
  the last emperor
  
  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... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1030322
- - lukasz84
  - 58 reviews
  - 17 Aug 2011 at 14:43
- - 0
  - 0
  "I am the son of heaven"
  
  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 ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 958825
- - a customer
  - Orpington
  - 30 Jan 2011 at 12:46
- - 0
  - 1
  The Last Emperor
  
  This beautifully made film provided useful background for my first trip to Beijing.
  
  Report this review
- 764183
- - a customer
  - Cambridge
  - 30 May 2009 at 09:01
- - 0
  - 0
  Lavish costumes
  
  I enjoyed watching this film. It gave an account of what life was like for the Last Emperor of China and how little control he had over it. It had some heart-... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 703735
- - Lizzie30K
  - 2 reviews
  - St. Albans
  - 07 Feb 2009 at 10:42
- - 0
  - 0
  Great Movie
  
  Just returned from visiting China, seeing the Forbidden City and observing the impact on the people of all the social changes that are portrayed so well in this... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 663314
- - a customer
  - Droitwich
  - 23 Nov 2008 at 16:20
- - 6
  - 0
  Tedious, but some insight
  
  An incredibly tedious, slow moving film with hidden gems and insights into old Chinese culture.
  
  Only bother if you are interested in learning about ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 605137
- - a customer
  - Cardiff, Wales.
  - 29 Jul 2008 at 15:59
- - 0
  - 0
  Simply Superb
  
  They rarely make movies like this nowadays. I remember watching the 1st half of this when i was about 10yo, and it took me another 13yrs before i managed to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 527446
- - Mark
  - 9 reviews
  - Liverpool
  - 17 Feb 2008 at 11:21
- - 4
  - 1
  Didn't go anywhere
  
  I was looking forward to this movie with anticipation but in the end was quite dissappointed with the outcome. The film never really got going and I ended ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 492109
- - a customer
  - Preston Lancs
  - 07 Nov 2007 at 10:29
- - 1
  - 0
  Be careful with any negative reviews
  
  I felt I needed to put this review here after seeing that someone gave this film a one star rating. Everyone has their own personal favourites but if you ever ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 475803
- - a customer
  - England
  - 16 Sep 2007 at 12:24
- - 0
  - 0
  LAST EMPEROR
  
  Has it really been nearly 20 years since this film was released? How time flies. What an absolutely cracking film, certainly in my top 10.
  
  Report this review
- 391175
- - Billy P
  - Arlesey, England
  - 02 Dec 2006 at 17:27
View all members' reviews (20)

- - 10
  - 0
  An interesting view on an individual piece of history
  
  An interesting cross between a character piece and historical documentary. It follows the life of the Last Emperor from spoilt childhood through partying early... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 9994
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - a customer
  - Epsom, England
  - 09 Jul 2004 at 22:15
- - 6
  - 0
  Tedious, but some insight
  
  An incredibly tedious, slow moving film with hidden gems and insights into old Chinese culture.
  
  Only bother if you are interested in learning about ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 605137
- - a customer
  - Cardiff, Wales.
  - 29 Jul 2008 at 15:59
- - 4
  - 1
  Didn't go anywhere
  
  I was looking forward to this movie with anticipation but in the end was quite dissappointed with the outcome. The film never really got going and I ended ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 492109
- - a customer
  - Preston Lancs
  - 07 Nov 2007 at 10:29
- - 1
  - 0
  The Last Emperor
  
  Superb drama and spectacular scenery.
  
  Report this review
- 94521
- - a customer
  - Plymouth
  - 20 Apr 2005 at 08:02
- - 1
  - 0
  Be careful with any negative reviews
  
  I felt I needed to put this review here after seeing that someone gave this film a one star rating. Everyone has their own personal favourites but if you ever ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 475803
- - a customer
  - England
  - 16 Sep 2007 at 12:24
- - 0
  - 0
  Superb!!
  
  I first saw this a while ago a on TV and since then have been looking for it ever since, Finally I own it. It is probably the best film I own and I dont own any... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 118627
- - a customer
  - Cumbria, England
  - 28 Jun 2005 at 15:21
- - 0
  - 0
  A beautiful story
  
  A wonderful interpretation of a wonderous part of cultural history, portraying the traditional wonder of Chinese Imperial life, and the pain of war and power. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 142481
- - Melanie Salmon
  - London, England
  - 21 Aug 2005 at 17:50
- - 0
  - 0
  SUPERB
  
  Amazing, historical account based on the true events of the Last Emperor of China.
  
  Not the usual sort of thing we would view. But this was Brilliant... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 166164
- - a customer
  - Scotland
  - 26 Oct 2005 at 13:27
- - 0
  - 0
  Timeless
  
  I have seen this film before and really should just buy it because I will see it again. I love the feeling that I have spent the night reading one of the best ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 175692
- - Shona
  - Peterborough
  - 18 Nov 2005 at 16:31
- - 0
  - 0
  Fantastic!
  
  What an amazing film! The acting is superb by all the cast who play the emperor, the mood of that era is captured really well.
  
  It's one of those... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 273115
- - Clare Thomas
  - Bristol, UK
  - 09 Aug 2006 at 10:56

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Critics' reviews
- A lavish spectacle which caught the imagination of audiences, though many found the compression of 60 years of Chinese politics baffling.
- 29969
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:38
- "...A film of unique, quite unsurpassed visual splendor, THE LAST EMPEROR makes for a fascinating trip to another world..."
- 7270
- - Variety
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58
- It won nine Oscars in 1987, but at the time Bertolucci's epic life of Harry Pu Yi seemed like a beautiful but hollow... read more on Time Out
- 43073
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:13
- "...Numbingly beautiful....Sumptuous chinoiserie..." -- Rating: B+
- 7269
- - Entertainment Weekly
  - 11 Mar 2005 at 12:58

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Last Emperor - Blu-ray
  
  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 ...

- - Buy
- The Last Emperor
  
  The Last Emperor is the true story of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi, the last ruler of the Chinese Ching Dynasty. Told in flashback, the film covers the years 1908 to 1967. We first see the three-year-old Pu Yi being installed in the Forbidden City by ruthless, dying dowager Empress Tzu-Hsui (Lisa Lu). Though ...