The Last Emperor review

 Number 482 on the top 1000 films of all time is the epic biographical period-drama 'The Last Emperor.'

The Last Emperor tells the life story of its titular character - Pu Yi, the Last Emperor of China from his childhood where he was played by Richard Vu and then Tiger Tsau to his adolescence where he was played by Wu Tao and all the way to his adulthood, where, played by John Lone, he becomes a political prisoner of the Chinese Communist Party.

Bernado Bertolucci's story about Puyi felt very much like a Chinese version of Laurence of Arabia. The Last Emperor was almost four hours long and it also starred Peter O'Toole who played Pu Yi's Scottish tutor Reginald Johnson. Granted, I had unknowingly watched the extended cut, but I think even the one hundred and sixty-five minute theatrical cut would have still had me struggling to stay awake.

Obviously the academy didn't agree with me as they awarded The Last Emperor nine Oscars including Best Film, Director, production and Costume. The latter two were well-earned. Bertolucci was granted unprecedented access to film in China's Forbidden City and he made brilliant use of this opportunity. The production in this film was absolutely breathtaking especially in the early scenes within the city itself. It's just a shame the story itself wasn't very interesting.

The story is told from the adult Piyu's perspective - now a prisoner of the CCP, as he looks back on his life as China's last emperor. Although this part was interesting, his earlier life was less so. Considering how he was very much just a figurehead with no real power, it's no surprise that he was little more than a spoiled and lazy character, but he also became a tedious one too.

This is a film for true cinophiles. Although it looked great on-screen, the actual story left me cold and in desperate want of my bed.