The Last Emperor

Rating: 7/10 (30 June 2011)

From Oscar and Golden Globe winning, and BAFTA nominated director Bernardo Bertolucci (1900, Little Buddha, Stealing Beauty), I mainly wanted to see this because it was the big award winner the year I was born, 1987. Based this tells the true story of the last Emperor of China, Aisin-Gioro 'Henry' Pu Yi who was made ruler of the Forbidden City at only three years old (Richard Vuu), idolised by over half a billion people. We see him growing up over the years, three year old, eight years old (Tsou Tijger), fifteen years old (Tao Wu) and eventually Pu Yi as an adult (Rush Hour 2's Golden Globe nominated John Lone), being advised by Reginald 'RJ' Johnston (BAFTA nominated Peter O'Toole), gaining more responsibility, confidence, wishing to go other places than the city, and much more besides. Eventually he is able to leave the Forbidden City after he unexpectedly abdicates from the throne, he tries his best to become a regular man, exploitation of invading Japan, and existing as a peasant worker. Also starring Joan Chen as 'Elizabeth' Wan Jung, Ruocheng Ying as The Governor, Victor Wong as Chen Pao Shen, Dennis Dun as Big Li, Ryûichi Sakamoto as Amakasu, Maggie Han as Eastern Jewel, Ric Young as Interrogator, Vivian Wu Jun Mei as Wen Hsiu, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Chang and Jade Go as Ar Mo. Tha acting in this film by the four stars playing the Emperor is rather good, the story does have some good ups and downs to keep you more or less hooked, and the use of colour, costumes and locations are wonderful to watch, so while it may be a little long and at times I drifted a little, it is a worthwhile epic biographical drama. It won the Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Music for Ryûichi Sakamoto, David Byrne and Cong Su, Best Sound, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium and Best Picture, it won the BAFTAs for Best Film, Best Costume Design and Best Make Up Artist, and it was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Score, Best Sound and Best Special Effects, and it won the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Original Score and Best Screenplay. Very good!