Review of The Last Emperor (1987) by Ethan G — 01 Mar 2008
This gripping epic that stands as Bernardo Bertolucci's masterpiece is one of the perfect historical films of all time. It shows the reign of Pu-Yi, China's final emperor, and documents his downfall along with the downfall of imperial China.
This important and perfectly executed picture doesn't fail to include every detail - Bertolucci's terrific direction of the extras makes you feel as if you are actually in the Forbidden City. And, to top it off, the production values in this film are stellar - as realistic as any historical film I've ever seen.
The lavish sets and costumes are complemented by the beautiful cinematography. Great performances by John Lone, who plays the adult version of Pu-Yi and perfectly documents his downfall and Peter O'Toole lends his strong screen presence to Pu-Yi's tutor.
This is a must-see.
This review of The Last Emperor (1987) was written by Ethan G on 01 Mar 2008.
The Last Emperor has generally received very positive reviews.
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