The Last Emperor - Director's Cut [DVD]

This film, along with 1900, are Bernardo Bertolucci's greatest films (so far). The Last Emperor is one of my all time favorites, safely secure in my top ten list. The late Gene Siskel called this film "one of the greatest films I've seen since I became a film critic" (I'm paraphrasing here). It's one of the most mysterious, beguiling, and transendant epics ever made.The film is remarkable for many reasons. Bertolucci's career was on the wane at the time. He's a marvelous filmmaker, but he's been erratic his whole career, going for long periods without making any films, and making uneven films as well. This film came at a time when Bertolucci wasn't really respected by critics at large. His previous two films, Luna and Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man, were pretty much dismissed by critics and audiences alike (especially the latter). Somehow, Jeremy Thomas, a fabulous producer, managed to scrap together funds for this film, and after the film was completed, Bertolucci had returned to his top form, making arguably his best film. The film, on paper, is a recipe for disaster. It had no known stars, it's directed by a filmmaker who doesn't make blockbusters, it's about a little known Chinese emperor (little known in the West, anyway), it's a long film, and it's a long, costly shoot (though not as much as other epic films). Yet, it's a rare film where everything seems to work.The film is also remarkable that it's one of the few Best Picture Oscar winner that not only deserves its wins, but is a real work of art. The Best Picture Oscar, unfortunately, has been known to go to films of dubious or questionable quality, or to films that are safe and non-controversial (remember the Brokeback Mountain vs. Crash controversy). Very rarely does an artistic work like this even get nominated, much less win in every category it's nominated in. The film isn't a feel good, easy to digest Best Picture. It's a demanding film, one that you have to use every portion of your eyes to adore. It's so immensely challenging visually and thematically. Perhaps the Academy was so overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of this film that they felt compelled to give it the awards it so richly deserved.The Criterion version of this film does it complete justice. You get two versions of the film. You get the original 164 minute, theatrical version and the 218 minute TV version. Bertolucci said that the director's cut of this film is the 164 minute version, not the longer version. I was always under the impression that the 218 minute cut was his film. It wasn't. Bertolucci was under contract to deliver a longer version for Chinese television, and that's what the longer version is. It's not a director's cut. Many assumed (including me) that since the 5 1/4 hour version of 1900 was a director's cut (which it is, and it's available on DVD now), that the television version of The Last Emperor was as well. It is not.As for the controversy of the "new" framing, it isn't like Bertolucci wasn't there to approve this transfer. He's very much alive and I know that Bernardo isn't going to let his film be squeezed and butchered by his cinematographer, Vittorio Storario (one of the best ever). When they both say the film was intended to be shown in a 2:1 aspect ratio, I believe them. The transfer for the 164 minute version is the best I've ever seen it. The early Artisan DVD is an abomination. Colors and textures are butchered, which is insulting, considering how beautiful this film is. I accept that this is the proper framing. When Berlin Alexanderplatz was restored, it was overseen by Xaver Schwarzenberger, the original cinemtographer. Many were angry at Xaver for "tinkering" with Fassbinder's film, but Xaver knew the material better than anyone (except maybe Fassbinder himself), and he was the only one who really had any credibility over the transfer. There is no discernible reason as to why a cinemtographer would butcher his own work, and that includes Xaver and Vittorio.This set has many, many extras, almost as expansive as the film itself, and a 90 page booklet with interviews, essays, and articles about the film, the production, and Chinese history. This set (and the film) are endlessly fascinating, and for any serious cinema person out there (and you know who you are), this is a must film. It's one of my top ten films, and it's so ravishing and enthralling I never really get tired of seeing it.

A rather long but beautifully done movie of important event in Chinese history. Having been to China it was wonderful to see the places I visited.

The Last Emperor (1987) Starring John Lone Informs Us "It's Lonely At The Top."The Last Emperor (1987) starring John Lone, Joan Chen, and Peter O'Toole won the "Best Picture" Academy Award for 1987, and is a curious departure from movies which usually win that honor.The movie is about China and a man chosen by the Chinese Empress Dowager in 1908 to be the next Emperor of China (the little boy named "Pu Yi" was one of many princes the polygamous and dead former Chinese Emperor left behind, and was not the son of the Empress Dowager).The toddler aged little boy begins his life in the monster royal palace in Peking (later renamed "Beijing") in a royal building complex called the Forbidden City, and grows to early manhood there.China becomes a Republic in 1911, and the Chinese Monarchy ends, but the young Emperor is allowed to continue life in the Forbidden City into his early manhood in the 1920's when he and his two young wives are evicted by the unstable, warlord dominated, constantly changing government system which had replaced the monarchy.The young evicted monarch and his wives keep their considerable fortune, and move to a coastal city in China and live "the good life" as rich people there until 1931 when the former Manchuria (NW China) becomes a newly named country called "Manchukuo" and the young ex-Emperor of China is installed as the new monarch of the new country.He remains in that job as Head Of State until the end of World War II, and is taken prisoner by the invading Russians who turn him over to the Chinese Communists who gain control of China in 1949, and keep the former Emperor of China and Monarch of Manchuria (aka Manchukuo) imprisoned for 10 years until he is released in bad health in 1959, only 53 years old, but looking much older, and clearly a broken man.His final years are spent in Peking (Beijing) where he dies in 1967 during the Chinese Cultural Revolution Chairman Mao organized to delay the invasion of capitalist money into China and the start of China as a huge sweatshop for WalMart and other western business enterprises.The Emperor had a rich and glamorous life up to 1945, and a hard life from 1945 when the Communists were about to take over China, which they achieved in 1949.The movie starts out showing the Emperor as a prisoner in 1950, and we see his former expensive "easy living" life in flash backs. The Communists who imprisoned the Emperor throughout the 1950's demanded that the Emperor confess his crimes, sins, shortcomings, etc. etc., and the movie alternates between his time in the 1950's as a prisoner when he recalls his past, and flash backs of his memories of it.The prison life he lives is dull and gray and awful and ugly. The previous life is colorful and attractive in most ways.The Last Emperor (1987) starring John Lone is a visual treat since most of the movie centers around "the good old days" of the Emperor's pre-1945 life in the Forbidden City, as a rich civilian in a coastal Chinese city in the 1920's, and as Monarch of Manachuria (aka Manchukuo)from 1931 through 1945.The colors, particularly the gaudy use of red and gold, are dazzling.The music score and presentation in the movie are very well done.The movie is a 1980's Reagan era "rich is best, greed is good" testimonial. The Chinese Emperor lives like Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas who won a Best Actor Academy Award in 1987 for his portrayal of an Ivan Boesky type character...wheeler dealer sleezebag Wall Street type rich guy famous for being ruthless) did in the movie titled "Wall Street" (1987) also starring Charlie Sheen and Daryl Hannah. Rich and happy."I've been rich and I've been poor," Mae West was once quoted as saying. "Rich is better."---------------------------------Written by Tex Allen, SAG Actor.

Thank you very good packaging !!!

Based on the true events of china at the begining of the 20th century and the unready little boy who would become Emperor of china and its terbulent fight from empire to republic.Henry Puyi or Manchu Aisin Gioro as he was also known 7 February 1906 - 17 October 1967)tried everything too retain power and even setting up a puppet state supported with the assistance of the japanese Empire,A State called Manchukuo that was in exsistance from 1934 - 1945,trying too flee Manchukuo he was captured by Soviet paratroopers and imprisoned in china and finally released after being re - educated by the Communist Chinese Government.Excellent film and great historical film.10 out of 10.

Complete disappointment. I could not get the sound when I get it on other DVD.If it is not too late I would like a refund and can send it backAlbert Gabizon

I was disappointed with the picture quality of this disc it was almost VHS quality not sharp and grainy !beware the Directors cut is three and half hours long !! fascinating look at old China and epic film with all its costumes, many extras and locations.

Long film but totally mesmerising. Probably more so as I had visited China in March 2016 & had learnt much of the history covered with n the film.