In my opinion this movie is good, but not great. I saw it years ago - but forgot I'd seen it. Now, on DVD re watching it - I decided to review it.
I think it's a good movie. It is a beautiful movie. But it simply is not great now. Regarding the time it was made ('86-'87) it was probably great. I read several glowing reviews - but all the 5 to 7 star reviews mostly say the same thing I found issue with - the way the movie goes back and forth between the times of Puyi's life. And also how the film is shown seems to infer that I know some of this history.
So, I momentarily stopped watching at about 20 minutes in. I researched Puyi and his history, which is also somewhat confusing - he is both a good & bad guy, a victim of circumstances but by necessity a manipulator - all at the same time - basically trying to stay alive. It certainly is very interesting to try to imagine & understand that he saw & lived this unique childhood & history in his short life.
Unfortunately, my major problem with this movie was my DVD - no captions. And a lot of the dialogue was either mumbled or in Manchu or something. I don't know why the film makers didn't at least caption those words!
I also think this movie could've benefited vastly by having narration. Someone explaining the story so when the decades change back & forth the story teller/narrator explains some background of what's going on.
I wish they would remaster it with a really great narrator.
I think it's a good movie. It is a beautiful movie. But it simply is not great now. Regarding the time it was made ('86-'87) it was probably great. I read several glowing reviews - but all the 5 to 7 star reviews mostly say the same thing I found issue with - the way the movie goes back and forth between the times of Puyi's life. And also how the film is shown seems to infer that I know some of this history.
So, I momentarily stopped watching at about 20 minutes in. I researched Puyi and his history, which is also somewhat confusing - he is both a good & bad guy, a victim of circumstances but by necessity a manipulator - all at the same time - basically trying to stay alive. It certainly is very interesting to try to imagine & understand that he saw & lived this unique childhood & history in his short life.
Unfortunately, my major problem with this movie was my DVD - no captions. And a lot of the dialogue was either mumbled or in Manchu or something. I don't know why the film makers didn't at least caption those words!
I also think this movie could've benefited vastly by having narration. Someone explaining the story so when the decades change back & forth the story teller/narrator explains some background of what's going on.
I wish they would remaster it with a really great narrator.