Bernardo Bertolucci's epic comes in two different versions here: the original, near-three-hour version for wimps, and last year's near-four-hour Director's Cut. Go for the latter.
The first Western film to be shot in China, it sucks you into the story of Pu Yi, the last emperor of a country going through huge political changes. Yes it's long, but it's also a compulsive, grand, tragic saga of a man imprisoned for life by history, made immersive by Bertolucci's sumptuous, poetic direction.
DVD Extras:
A detailed commentary on the original manages to balance producer Jeremy Thomas' practical insights with the director's softly spoken meditations. Composer Ryuichi Sakamoto pitches in, too. The Making Of feature is intelligent, while the completists' corner is taken by Postcard From China, featuring location-scouting home-movie footage. Good stuff, but it's a shame there's nothing on the details of the extended cut.
