There's nothing you get from this picture that you don't get looking at the video box.

Rating: Null/10 (26 July 2004)

A fascinating central situation: a six year old is told they're almighty ruler of a thousand years (so the kid eventually figures out he can do anything he wants), but for six years more he's kept in a secret city sealed off from the rest of China, and no-one tells him that outside that city, China is no longer a monarchy, and he is no longer an emperor.
This central situation has to be enough to sustain your interest: because there isn't much story further than the central premise here, like in most Bertolluci films. At 50 minutes it starts flagging, so Peter O'Toole is introduced. After another 25, another character is introduced - you get the idea.
Luckily the concept is fairly intriguing - but honestly there's nothing you get from this picture that you don't get looking at the video box cover. Not as interesting visually as Bertolluci's The Sheltering Sky, but certainly a more comprehendable story, mainly because its much simpler. The other main interest in watching this is the great Peter O'Toole. I'm always curious to follow Peter wherever he crops up in moviedom. He's wonderful to watch here, as always.
3/5. Probably the most widely-accessible of Bertolluci's movies, but like the rest of them, its high on style, with a big concept, but low on plot.
Disclaimer: only for adult audiences. 3 sex scenes. Violence: the most brutal scene i've ever seen, one hour in, a real mouse is thrown against a hard surface and its body pulverised. The Emperor is approaching the gates of the city when it happens. You've been warned.