A rave after seeing the "director's cut."

Rating: Null/10 (5 December 1999)

Having walked out on this movie when it was in theatres, I recently saw on video a four hour version (the theatrical release version was two-and-a-half hours) that totally changed my earlier impression. I was bitterly critical of the shorter version because it seemed to make no sense; the continuity was impossible to follow. The "director's cut" reveals an enthralling movie that flows beautifully. I once called "The Last Emperor" a self-indulgent piece of over-produced piffle. Now I consider it a masterpiece.