Every time I mention to someone that I hadn't seen The Last Emperor, the first reaction is disbelief, and the second is `It is such a good movie'. And indeed it was. I'm not sure what the non-director's cut was, because the version I saw was the director's cut, but it was absolutely fantastic. Not once did I think that the nearly four hour run time was too long because the story was so compelling, the direction brilliant and the acting engaging. I find it hard to believe that it took me this long to see this film, and I also find it hard to believe it is not in the IMDB Top 250. Its Best Picture and Director honors were well-deserved, and the Oscar-winning score is amazing. I'll admit that I was left hanging a bit in regard to the Emperor's wife, but that is the only thing that I can remotely find slightly lacking in this film. An outstanding film, The Last Emperor is entertaining, informative and important.

--Shelly

'The Last Emperor' tells the story of Pu Yi, as an adult played by John Lone, the last emperor of China. He was three years old when he first sat down on the Dragon Throne. He didn't know anything. The movie tells his story from that moment in flashbacks. We also get to see Pu Yi when the Chinese Communists have the power and he is imprisoned. Because people have taken care of him the rest of his life, from three years old to the moments inside the prison, it still feels he knows nothing.

To tell you about the life of Pu Yi would be a mistake. You have to see this movie to learn more about it. The strange thing is that Pu Yi can not do and decide much for himself. He is a hero of a movie where he is controlled by rules and other people. That is one of the reasons not many real things happen. We see the emperor grow up, we see him take an empress and a concubine, and then he has to leave the Forbidden City because the enemy is at the gate.

The impressive thing here are the locations and the costumes. Everything looks fabulous and it is not a surprise to find out that the movie was shot on location. With all the extras in those beautiful costumes there are a lot of very impressive scenes. May be the movie is a bit too long for some, it didn't really bother me. Director Bernardo Bertolucci has made a terrific movie.

I can say very little about The Last Emperor that hasn't been said already, though it is for me my favourite Bertolucci film along with Last Tango in Paris.

The Last Emperor is a visually opulent film. The cinematography is stunning, as are the scenery, editing, costumes and sets. In fact, it is one of the most visually beautiful films I've seen, and I've seen a lot. Not only that, it wonderfully juxtaposes the pre and pro-revolutionary Chinese worlds.

The music is beautiful and adds to the charm of the film as well as having an authentic flavour. Bertolucci's direction is superb, the story is engrossing and I rarely found it dull over the (almost) 3 hour duration and the dialogue is thought-provoking.

The acting is most excellent. John Lone is truly remarkable in the lead, it is a very difficult and multifaceted role and he copes brilliantly with it. Also remarkable, perhaps even more so, is the great Peter O'Toole, whose is very charming, graceful and eloquent.

Overall, a beautiful and arresting film, one I found myself admiring rather than adoring first time, but now it is becoming a favourite. 10/10 Bethany Cox