An Epic - One of the Best of Genre

Rating: Null/10 (9 May 2014)

The Last Emperor is the story of China's tumultuous last century seen through the eyes of it's last emperor who takes over the throne in his infancy. He sees China go through intense change from Conservative Monarchy, Democratic Revolution, WWII/Japanese Occupation, Civil War, Communist Takeover and finally Mao's Cultural Revolution. In the course of these seven decades, his own life goes from immense privilege through much upheaval and tragedy.
From the magnificent beauty of the Forbidden City and the cloistered life behind its walls through the ensuing decades, the screenplay, acting, cinematography and costumes all rise to the level of China's incredible 20th century. Bertolucci is a master storyteller who reveals the tragic personal story of the young emperor while giving a fascinating Chinese history lesson for all the ages.
If you have the slightest interest in Chinese history, the movie will amaze and educate. The fact that China began a major resurgence since the movie's release in 1987 only makes The Last Emperor even more relevant to global audiences. I don't know whether The Last Emperor deserves Top 100 or Top 500, but it certainly deserves much more respect. I think viewers who prefer American themes with faster pacing might be disappointed.