Elegance within Honesty

Rating: 9/10 (8 January 2008)

I must say this film is very well done. It shows a deep respect for the book it followed "From Emporer to Citizen" written by Pu Yi himself. Everything from the Elegant screen captures to the Actor's that portrayed Pu Yi. I believe no one could have directed or accomplished anything better on screen about the Forbidden city and Pu Yi's life better than Bernardo Bertolucci. The movie kept me well informed and emotionally concerned for the Emporer's life and what would happen to him. His life was a sad one i believe but not forgotten (in my opinion). Most of the Movie was completely flawless, i do think though that the sexual imagery could have been dimmed down a bit, obviously in scenes where Pu Yi did not witness such acts, so how could he write about it. The movie could also have moved more faster, Believe me when i say i loved this movie but it took me 2 days to watch because it took my attention away at times, especially when you know whats going on, ... you do not need 5 minutes of watching someone in bed or slowly roaming down the length of entire loooooong table. Those moments should have been avoided. But none the less this film brings out much history of that era and remains to be a beloved story as well as a witness to sympathetic tragedy.
Very rarely do you get to see the whole life of someone and their struggles - from child to death. So much information, so much Beauty and so much Old culture, this still is not a movie to ever be missed, definitely see it as it is sure to captivate your imagination.