1987--The Last Emperor, Bernoardo Bertolucci

 

1987--The Last Emperor, Bernardo Bertolucci

Nominated: Broadcast News, Fatal Attraction, Hope and Glory, Moonstruck

Should have won: Full Metal Jacket

Be sure to see: Bad Taste, Evil Dead 2, The Hidden, The Monster Squad, Predator, Princess Bride, Raising Arizona, Slaughterhouse

“Is it true, Mr. Johnston, that many people out there have had their heads cut off?”--Emperor Pu Yi

“It is true, Your Majesty. Many heads have been chopped off. It does not stop them thinking.”--Reginald Johnston

     The Last Emperor bookends very well. The opening is strong and I became very interested in what was to come of the new emperor, taking control at such a young age. And the final four minutes of the film were so effective I watched them twice. However, though the movie is visually brilliant and the score is perfect, it has to be one of the most boring movies I've ever seen. But boring is a subjective word. I also say 2001: A Space Odyssey is one of the most boring movies ever made and it is considered a masterpiece.

     It is 1908 and 3-year-old Pu Yi is named the new Emperor of the Chung dynasty by the Empress as she dies (in a decent death scene with an unfortunate blooper involving her eye...maybe). Before she dies, she tells young Pu Yi that because the Emperor is dead, he now rides the dragon, a neat metaphor. Even at such a young age, Pu Yi is respected and does as he pleases, including randomly opening up women's shirts and breastfeeding. This continues through half the movie, even when he is in his teens. I could write three or four more sentences, some serious, others not, but I'll just leave it at the fact Pu Yi clearly runs things. Okay, I'll say one, it should be called The Last Pimperor.

     But as Pu Yi grows up, he becomes less tough than he was when he was a toddler and it was about this point I began losing interest in the movie despite its grand style and historic epic feel. There are some aspects I enjoyed. The vivid colors, of course the score, and the acting by the toddler. The scene where Pu Yi unveils his new wife Wanrong reminded me of Christine unveiling the phantom in Lon Chaney's Phantom of the Opera; with a different climax, of course.

  

     I'm torn here because Pu Yi's story is a very good one and deserves to be told. From his early years as Emperor to his later years when he is captured by the Soviets, to his final days as a common gardener leading to that wonderful ending. The movie was just too boring. I recommend the movie but only if you have some time on your hands. I'd also like to note that the opening titles echoed the theme of one of my favorite westerns The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, so that's a good thing.