12 February 2023

Review: The Last Emperor Limited Edition 4K UHD

4K UHD Blu-ray: The Last Emperor (1987)

The Last Emperor, adapted from Puyi’s 1964 autobiography, is without a doubt one of the last BIG epic films – there’s no CGI here, all the silk gowns, landscapes and extras are real. It was the first film ever to be allowed to be filmed in the real Forbidden City in China and it all looks rather glorious.

Telling the story more or less from the beginning, in 1908 when as a 3 year old Puyi’s (John Lone) life was changed dramatically after being taken from his home and family and supplanted into the Forbidden city as the new Emperor of the whole of China.

The storyline jumps back and forth effectively, giving you a sort of fast-forward – flash past the life of an extraordinary life. Helped along by his British Teacher R.J. (Peter O’Toole).

For a three hour film this will be a somewhat short review, as despite this being beautiful to look at and beautifully acted, its flaw is the ‘cram it all in’ of the narrative. SO much happened to Puyi, from being Emperor of China, to abdication and being forced to live in a luxurious prison, to being used by the Japanese and being made Emperor of Manchuria, then being sent back to China as a political prisoner, and they only mention his 5 wives.

To include everything would make this film a mini-series, and who cares, just LOOK at the Forbidden City! And lets not forget the costumes and makeup.

It’s a beautiful looking film, made for 4K and superbly presented in this UHD release by Arrow Films, but I found on this viewing (as I have seen this several times) that I wanted more substance, rather than another sequinned dress.

The extras on the disc are as usual, Arrow-fantastic, two amazing extras: First to Last: The Road to the Forbidden City, a new documentary by film critic David Cairns exploring Bernardo Bertolucci’s career prior to The Last Emperor and Open the Door, a new documentary by film critics David Cairns & Fiona Watson following Bertolucci into the Forbidden City to explore in-depth The Last Emperor and the truth on which it is based, are wonderful and really add insight into the whole package (and you find out a lot more about the ‘real’ Puyi).

SPECIAL FEATURES:

New 4K restoration of the original theatrical version
Original and extended versions of the film presented in their original aspect ratio of 2.39:1
Original uncompressed stereo 2.0 audio, plus 5.1 audio option for theatrical version
Reversible sleeve featuring two artwork options
Eight double-sided postcard sized lobby card reproduction artcards
Fold-out double-sided poster featuring two artwork options
Illustrated collectors book featuring new writing by film critics Kat Ellinger and Philip Kemp, plus select archival material

DISC 1 – THEATRICAL VERSION (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Original uncompressed stereo 2.0 and 5.1 audio options
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
First to Last: The Road to the Forbidden City, a new visual essay by film critic David Cairns exploring Bernardo Bertolucci’s career prior to The Last Emperor
Open the Door, a new visual essay by film critics David Cairns & Fiona Watson in which they follow Bertolucci into the Forbidden City to explore in-depth The Last Emperor and the truth on which it is based
Archive interview with director Bernardo Bertolucci
Archive interview with star John Lone
Archive interview with star Joan Chen
Postcard from China, video footage shot by Bernardo Bertolucci while location scouting in China
Theatrical trailer
Image gallery

DISC 2 – EXTENDED VERSION (BLU-RAY)