422 The Last Emperor
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- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am
422 The Last Emperor
The Last Emperor
[img]http://criterion_production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/893/422_box_348x490_w100.jpg[/img]
Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor won nine Academy Awards, unexpectedly sweeping every category in which it was nominated—quite a feat for a challenging, multi-layered epic directed by an Italian and starring an international cast. Yet the power and scope of the film was, and remains, undeniable—the life of Emperor Pu Yi, who took the throne at age three, in 1908, before witnessing decades of cultural and political upheaval, within and without the walls of the Forbidden City. Recreating Ching dynasty China with astonishing detail and unparalleled craftsmanship by cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti, The Last Emperor is also an intimate character study of one man reconciling personal responsibility and political legacy.
- DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FOUR-DISC SET FEATURES:
- All-new, restored high-definition digital transfer of the extended television version
- Audio commentary featuring director Bernardo Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, and composer-actor Ryuichi Sakamoto
- The Italian Traveler: Bernardo Bertolucci, a 53-minute film by Fernand Moszkowicz tracing the director's geographic influences, from Parma to China
- Video images taken by Bertolucci while on preproduction in China
- The Chinese Adventure of Bernardo Bertolucci, a 52-minute documentary that revisits the film's making
- A new, 47-minute documentary featuring Storaro, editor Gabriella Cristiana, costume designer James Acheson, and art director Gianni Silvestri
- A 66-minute BBC documentary exploring Bertolucci's creative process and the making of The Last Emperor
- A 30-minute interview with Bertolucci from 1989
- A new interview with composer David Byrne
- A new interview with Ian Buruma examining the historical period of the film
- Theatrical trailer
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by David Thomson, interviews with production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti and actor Ying Ruocheng, a reminiscence by Bertolucci, and an essay and production-diary extracts from Fabien S. Gerard
ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
4-Disc DVD:
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
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Single-Disc DVD:
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
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Blu-ray:
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[img]http://criterion_production.s3.amazonaws.com/release_images/893/422_box_348x490_w100.jpg[/img]
Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor won nine Academy Awards, unexpectedly sweeping every category in which it was nominated—quite a feat for a challenging, multi-layered epic directed by an Italian and starring an international cast. Yet the power and scope of the film was, and remains, undeniable—the life of Emperor Pu Yi, who took the throne at age three, in 1908, before witnessing decades of cultural and political upheaval, within and without the walls of the Forbidden City. Recreating Ching dynasty China with astonishing detail and unparalleled craftsmanship by cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti, The Last Emperor is also an intimate character study of one man reconciling personal responsibility and political legacy.
- DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FOUR-DISC SET FEATURES:
- All-new, restored high-definition digital transfer of the extended television version
- Audio commentary featuring director Bernardo Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, and composer-actor Ryuichi Sakamoto
- The Italian Traveler: Bernardo Bertolucci, a 53-minute film by Fernand Moszkowicz tracing the director's geographic influences, from Parma to China
- Video images taken by Bertolucci while on preproduction in China
- The Chinese Adventure of Bernardo Bertolucci, a 52-minute documentary that revisits the film's making
- A new, 47-minute documentary featuring Storaro, editor Gabriella Cristiana, costume designer James Acheson, and art director Gianni Silvestri
- A 66-minute BBC documentary exploring Bertolucci's creative process and the making of The Last Emperor
- A 30-minute interview with Bertolucci from 1989
- A new interview with composer David Byrne
- A new interview with Ian Buruma examining the historical period of the film
- Theatrical trailer
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by David Thomson, interviews with production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti and actor Ying Ruocheng, a reminiscence by Bertolucci, and an essay and production-diary extracts from Fabien S. Gerard
ALSO AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY
4-Disc DVD:
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
Feature currently disabled
Single-Disc DVD:
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
Feature currently disabled
Blu-ray:
Criterionforum.org user rating averages
Feature currently disabled
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- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:02 am
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- cafeman
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:19 am
Again, I have to disagree. It`s the only available DVD with correct colors out there.flixyflox wrote:(not guaranteed with Criterion given their treatment of le Cercle Royge ).
That said, the French Le Samourai disc is a task to match for Criterion, but it doesn`t have any subtitles on extras, and has also been out of print for a while now and only available from xploitedcinema for a prohibitive price.
- pzman84
- Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 4:05 pm
Doesn't Lions Gate own the rights to "The Last Emperor?" They did buy the Artisan catalogue and rereleased "The Crying Game recently.
I think the rights go like this
Live-Artisan-Lions Gate
I think the rights go like this
Live-Artisan-Lions Gate
Last edited by pzman84 on Sun Sep 11, 2005 11:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Dylan
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:28 pm
In my opinion, and I adore this film, the only version to watch is the director's cut. I've only taken a look at the theatrical cut (sans commentary) and the amount of scenes/shots/moments that are missing is kind of a travesty (in particular, many of Peter O'Toole's scenes). I'm sure the film works well in its theatrical cut, as that is the version that won all of the Oscars, but I just can't imagine this film without the scenes that are not present in that version. Also, it is gravely important to note that for the director's cut, the color schemes of some sequences have been modified deliberately by Bertolucci and cinematographer Vittorio Storaro to reflect the hero's moods, and when I watch the theatrical cut, a lot of brilliant color is missing in the composition. As a fellow Italian film fanatic, I highly recommend you watch the director's cut first, then the theatrical version with Bertolucci's commentary.
Dylan
Dylan
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- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am
The transfer for the theatrical is flawless, but I did notice that the director's cut has a few problems, the contrast is maybe a little too high, but this could be a problem with my all region player, and not the disc. either way, this is the best version of the last emperor out to date, with an hour long documentary on the making of the film, commentary by bertolucci and the producer, and the films theatrical trailer.
well, Since Lions Gate acquired Artisan's Catalogue, I would assume a special edition is on the way from them on region 1, but the optimum 2 disc is under 10 pounds. which is well worth it for now.
Edit: I looked into this further, when comparing the 2 discs side by side, one on my brothers cyberhome, and one on my cyberhome, the directors cut has more grain than the theatrical and is not as sharp. there are also some weird line things going on on the directors cut in some cases, which leads me to beleave that the theatrical is a progressive transfer, and that the directors cut is interlaced.
well, Since Lions Gate acquired Artisan's Catalogue, I would assume a special edition is on the way from them on region 1, but the optimum 2 disc is under 10 pounds. which is well worth it for now.
Edit: I looked into this further, when comparing the 2 discs side by side, one on my brothers cyberhome, and one on my cyberhome, the directors cut has more grain than the theatrical and is not as sharp. there are also some weird line things going on on the directors cut in some cases, which leads me to beleave that the theatrical is a progressive transfer, and that the directors cut is interlaced.
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- Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:06 am
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- Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:43 am
In the directors cut of this film alone, the part where his mistress leaves him I believe (when she goes down the stairs and into the rain, telling the servant she doesnt need the umbrella) , the music is just absolutely astonishing. I pop the disc in on a regular basis just to listen to it over and over again. Does anyone know if a directors cut soundtrack was released, or if there is any way i can obtain this piece of music in its entirety?
- thebedbreakinkid
- Joined: Wed May 17, 2006 3:32 am
- Antoine Doinel
- Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:22 pm
- Location: Montreal, Quebec
- Contact:
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- Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:16 am
- Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
According to a trade magazine Criterion will issue a 20th Anniversary Edition of The Last Emperor. According to the same source this edition will include a new 4-hour cut prepared by Bertolucci exclusively for Criterion.
EDIT: [Here is Buttery Jeb's announcement of this news a couple of weeks ago in another thread. -- Jeff]
EDIT: [Here is Buttery Jeb's announcement of this news a couple of weeks ago in another thread. -- Jeff]
- justeleblanc
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:05 pm
- Location: Connecticut
So essentially, Criterion is producing a new film? Is that technically correct?videozor wrote:According to a trade magazine Criterion will issue a 20th Anniversary Edition of The Last Emperor. According to the same source this edition will include a new 4-hour cut prepared by Bertolucci exclusively for Criterion.
- Jeff
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:49 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
Pretty much. Here is what the Video Business article said:justeleblanc wrote:So essentially, Criterion is producing a new film? Is that technically correct?
I don't think that this is the first time this has happened. Wasn't the director's cut of Picnic at Hanging Rock a Criterion premiere too?Bertolucci will tentatively deliver a four-hour director's cut of Last Emperor expressly for the Criterion set, which also will include the original theatrical version
- Gigi M.
- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:09 pm
- Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep
The new Spanish edition is cropped with Storaro's Univision system format 2:1. Possible the same shit will happen for the upcoming Criterion.
- Jeff
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:49 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
I would say that it's virtually guaranteed to be reformatted for 2:1. It's going to be a new transfer, and if Storaro is involved in it, I don't see how they can avoid it.Gigi M. wrote:The new Spanish edition is cropped with Storaro's Univision system format 2:1. Possible the same shit will happen for the upcoming Criterion.
- dadaistnun
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 8:31 am
- Cronenfly
- Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:04 pm