This movie was surprisingly watchable. I was understandably alarmed when I realised it was nearly four hours long, and though I told breaks between every hour or so, I found myself really enjoying it. I didn't really notice myself looking at the time more than once to see how far along we were. Despite how long it was, it wasn't slow; it moved fast and was full of cool cinematography and sudden plot twists and amazing historical characters. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
I've always loved Chinese culture, and this movie was more aesthetically pleasing than I hoped. I loved how pretty the harem was, ironically; I'd like to go there. Not for the consorts, of course. For the water. Also, I thought it was amazing that they got permission from the republic to film in the real Forbidden City. It was so cool to see what it really looked like in all its genuine majesty. It was a little humbling to see something so amazing made by humans. It was just such a cool thing to see and grow close to through the eyes of the emperor.
The ending simultaneously broke my heart and made my day. It was so sad that he had to buy a ticket into his own home as an old, ordinary man when he died, and the part with the cricket made me endlessly happy. But that was one massive cricket. Are all Chinese crickets that big? Like, dang.
I learned a ton from this movie that I had always wanted to know. I definitely recommend watching it, if not for information, than for entertainment and beauty. It really is a nice movie. I enjoyed it a lot.
Warnings for The Last Emperor: Sad, death, sex, some nudity, more sad. Immortal cricket
Warnings for The Last Emperor: Sad, death, sex, some nudity, more sad. Immortal cricket