The Last Emperor (1987)

Yeah, what he said.
I agree 100% with Nix Pix. He said it all. I only wish to reiterate here. Amazing film but world's worst DVD transfer. Shame on ARTISAN for releasing such an inferior product. DO NOT waste your time or money on this version. Even if you find it in a bargain bin for 99 cents, leave it alone. Unless you need a new coaster or something.

Instead buy the new Criterion 4 disc remastered version. A little more expensive but well worth it. The preservation of excellent cinema alone justifies the expenditure. Better picture, better sound and finally the correct aspect ratio. Criterion is where it's at.

Wait for the Criterion Editon!
It comes out at the end of February and well worth the wait. Search it out!

The Twilight of the Middle Kingdom
"The Last Emperor" tells the amazing true story of Pu Yi,the Middle Kingdom's last emperor. From its gripping opening sequence in which the young Pu Yi is torn from his mother's arms to his life as a nobody in the gray blandness of Communist China, it is a powerful spectacle. Ryuichi Sakamoto&David Byrne's soundtrack captures the epic sweep of the movie. Bernardo Bertolucci's direction is superb&his international cast is perfect.

"The Last Emperor" begins with Pu Yi being taken to the Forbidden City. He grows up under the shadow of the menacing Empress Dowager; he is incredibly dependent on his voluptuous wet nurse,who still breastfeeds him when he's older. Eunuchs surround him. When he is enthroned as emperor,he's worshipped as a living god. All very heady stuff for a young child. Growing up,he is naive to the eunuchs robbing him blind;he's as much a slave as his own slaves are. Reginald Johnston (Peter O'Toole) comes into Pu Yi's life as the first father figure he's ever had,instructing him in Western culture. In accordance with royal norms, Pu Yi takes a wife Wan Jung (the luminous Joan Chen) and a concubine. When the Chinese Empire is overthrown, Pu Yi is vulnerable to Japan's offer of Manchukuo. They prey on his weakness,his desire for power. Pu Yi's life crumbles around him. His concubine is impregnated by his taxi driver (she gets a forced abortion);his wife carries on a passionate affair with a beautiful female Japanese spy&succumbs to a fatal opium addiction. Pu Yi's life goes from one form of imprisonment to another. From being imprisoned in the Forbidden City,he goes to being a prisoner of Communism. Communist China is just as oppressive,though it proclaims uniformity&equality. Instead of spectacles of lamas sounding horns, Pu Yi beholds the spectacle of the Red Army dancing as they wave Mao's Little Red Book. A kindly jailer befriends Pu Yi-only to be killed arbitrarily during the Cultural Revolution. Pu Yi survives Communism; it doesn't save him.

"The Last Emperor" succeeds in painting the portrait of an era. It shows how much China changed over the course of nearly a century. However,there are some interesting details that got lost,for logical reasons. Bertolucci depicts Pu Yi as a passionate heterosexual man,joyously making love to his wife&his concubine. In fact,Pu Yi never consummated any of his marriages,abandoned his Empress on their wedding night&there's compelling speculation that he was in fact gay. Reginald Johnston is depicted as a celibate bachelor. It's true Johnston never married. However,when he returned to Scotland,he had two different girlfriends there,one of whom burned his letters to her after his death.

"The Last Emperor" is a ravishing,sensual spectacle. It inspired me to write an "alternate history" in which Wan Jung finds solace&love in Reginald Johnston's arms instead of getting addicted to opium. One can only wonder what sort of rating this movie would've had if Ang Lee had choreographed love scenes between Peter O'Toole and Joan Chen. Lust,caution indeed. "The Last Emperor" is a powerful,superb spectacle. Enjoy!