The Last Emperor (Criterion Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: B+
Film: A-
Despite
winning 9-Academy Awards in 1987, very few people are familiar with Bernardo
Bertolucci’s biographical film The Last
Emperor, or at least have never seen the film properly. Poor home video releases over the years, a
lack of revival screenings and trimmed versions or poor broadcasts have
hindered the film from enduring the way that it should or could. There have also been a variety of lengths
associated with the film as well, but the film remains a superb piece of
filmmaking that chronicles an interesting period of history that is told
through a series of flashbacks and constructed in such a sweeping and epic
fashion that has captures the hearts of those fortunate enough to see the film
through the years.
The story
involves the last emperor of China named Emperor Pu Yi/Henry and chronicles his
life as tradition meets modern day changes and it’s often sad as we see customs
and traditions get thrown to the wind by certain ‘progress’. The film begins with the emperor’s coronation
ceremony and ends with his imprisonment and details the life in a spectacular
fashion as Bertolucci remains consistent with the historical aspects yet brings
in some dramatic elements to help humanize the story in a poetic fashion.
Here we
get the shorter theatrical version of the film that runs 165-minutes and while
I have seen the longer version of the film, this one seems to have a pace that
works more efficiently. While the longer
version is certainly more detailed, it’s also a bit more drawn out and harder
to engage in for that period of time. I
prefer the shorter version and since this version is approved by Bertolucci, it
would seem that was sufficient for him as well.
Blu-ray
fans and movie enthusiasts who have followed the Criterion label since back in
the day of the 12” Laserdisc are finally rejoicing with the first few titles
released onto the High Definition format.
The marriage between these two seemed like a match made in heaven from
the initial phases of HD since Criterion has always been a company that stands
behind getting the best quality available for releases. Blu-ray won out the HD war, Criterion soon
joined up and now we are getting releases on both DVD and Blu-ray from the
company. The Last Emperor gets the treatment as one of the first in a batch
of releases and the results are as expected…phenomenal.
The first
initial question that many people might be wondering is in reference to the
overall quality since Criterion has always tried to make their DVD releases
optimal, how much greater can the Blu-ray be and will there be a price jump to
pay for the superior format? Criterion
may have shocked many when the decided to keep the price points even stating
that their resources to release on either format are already part of their
premium price to begin with, most people are aware that Criterion titles
typically cost $10-$15 more than the average title, but again you are getting
first-rate material.
There are
many things that must first be discussed with this particular film, the first
thing is that it has been released in many butchered versions to home video,
and has always looked dark, murky, muddy, and downright ugly for home viewing. I recall seeing this film several times on
broadcast and the colors were inconsistent throughout and majority of the times
it looked like you were watching the film through a veil of yellow smoke. Then there are the many debates over the
actual correct aspect ratio of the film, which has been released through
Criterion in the 2.00 X 1 aspect ratio and presented in a 1080p transfer for
Blu-ray. The film was shot masterfully
by Vittorio Storaro, which should explain to many why the film has the
particular look that it does. He has
used multiple aspect ratios before for films like Francis Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979 in 35mm anamorphic
Technovision) and like that film (at 2.35 X 1), 70mm blow-ups (2.20 X 1) were
also made, so the issue of only a single aspect ratio is mute for the most part. Most of the film does have a very sepia-like
quality with vibrant colors at times, while other times a more muted palette
and natural-ness. Here we know that the
transfer and overall release of this film was approved by director Bernardo
Bertolucci so regardless of what aspect ratio may seem correct or not, we can
assume that this is the preferred version of the film, despite arguments that
the film should be closer to true scope at 2.35 X 1.
The
overall picture quality here is a bit of an enigma until you really start to
understand some of the intentions of the film.
Immediately fans will notice how superior the picture is to any previous
home video release, this is a fact for sure.
However, those who are used to some of the truly remarkable HD
presentations that have now hit the Blu-ray format may notice that the film has
a grain structure to it as well as a slightly softer image than some of the
really sharp, crisp, and high resolution demo-quality discs are out there. That being said, this is a film that was
always meant to appear a bit grainy with a softer lens, especially the earlier
portions of the film. However, scrolling
through the rest of the film and into the later sections you will quickly see
that the portions of the film that have a more natural lighting scheme are far
sharper and demonstrate the best that Blu-ray has to offer. Colors in particular look magnificent with
loads of oranges, yellows, and reds that jump off the screen. Previous home video releases had bleed
problems, but those are resolved here, even in the softer scenes. Video Black is particularly strong as well
and the overall print seems free of artifacts and looks highly
three-dimensional.
Audio
treatment has also been bumped up here with a stunning DTS-HD master audio
presented in a 2.0 channel configuration, which keeps in tact the films
original audio track of English with some Mandarin and Japanese sections
throughout. Because there is a lossless
audio track the film quickly feels more natural with its sound design and highs
and lows are effectively heard in the mix.
The mix is free from any artifacts as well and showcases the films
exquisite music score and dialogue with ease.
Not only
do Criterion/Blu-ray fans want high quality picture and sound, which is
definitely the case here, but they also want high quality extras, and again
Criterion does not disappoint. For this
release they have featured a commentary track with Bertolucci and producer
Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, and composer Ryuichi Sakamato. There is also a 53-minute long feature on
Bertolucci in a film by Fernand Moszkowicz, plus video footage taken by
Bertolucci while on the set in China. There
is another 50-minute short film by Paolo Brunatto that deals with the creation
of the film in general and a 45-minute documentary detailing the cinematography
of the film, the editing, the costumes, and art-direction, which are all key to
this films success and especially with winning Oscars for these categories. Even still there is yet another 60-plus
minute documentary on the creative process behind the making of the film and a
BBC interview with Bertolucci taken from 1989 that lasts about 30-minutes. There are also two interview segments with
David Byrne on the composing of the film and cultural historian Ian Buruma, who
helps put the context of the film into a historical perspective. The films
original theatrical trailer is also provided making this a superb wealth of
extras that are all worthwhile and in depth.
Overall,
Criterion has delivered the goods yet again and have made a significant mark
early on in the Blu-ray format, we are excited to see that else is in store and
are glad to see the combination of a terrific studio with a superb format. The Last Emperor is a film that has always
remained one of the most brilliant and detailed of it’s kind, even with other
films like Martin Scorsese’s Kundun
or the incredibly problematic Seven
Years in Tibet, Bertolucci’s films has endured incredibly well and now with
it’s release into the world of Blu-ray the film yet again gets refreshed in a
much-needed way to restore the film back to it’s original beauty and splendor
that captivated audiences around the world back in 1987 and now future
generations can enjoy the film and see why it was able to garner as many awards
as it did. A disc certainly worth adding
to any collection!
- Nate Goss
