Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• DVD Release Date: July 26, 2005
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009HMTEE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,801 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

ANCIENT MYSTERIES:FORBIDDEN CITY - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done video, January 16, 2009

By 

PerpetualMotion (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ancient Mysteries - The Forbidden City: Dynasty & Destiny (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

I purchased this DVD immediately after returning home from Beijing. The content and photography were both enlightening and entertaining. A great program for anyone who's been, or is planning to go to Beijing.

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Superficial, but Good Enough, July 1, 2007

By 

Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Mysteries - The Forbidden City: Dynasty & Destiny (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

This work teaches who built the Forbidden City and its present status as tourist attraction and decaying site. I loved seeing ancient Chinese paintings next to modern video recordings of China. However, I hate the way Leonard Nimoy asks questions that he quickly answers, talking just to fill up time.

I'm pleased that the work uses actual Asians in its reenactments. In the West, there is a whole history of European-derived actors "playing Asian," rather than having Asians playing those roles themselves. There are many Asian Americans in Southern California and many of them could use this credit to advance themselves in Hollywood's hypercompetitive environment.

Nevertheless, I hated how the West never comes up. The fact that European countries carved up China during their imperialist periods is never brought up. The work mentions eunuchs, but primarily focuses on the gossip and power struggles. Though lacking your typical male equipment, some say eunuchs did have a sexuality, having relations with both women and men of the royalty. Please read Hirsch's "Passion of the Cut Sleeve" for more information.

I think experts on Chinese history or politics would find this work risible. But if you want to hear a quicky discussion on the Forbidden City, then you'll find this useful.