Product Details

• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: CINEVISION
• DVD Release Date: April 20, 2010
• Run Time: 540 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B0033HKDYA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,317 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

INSIDE THE FORBIDDEN CITY:500 YEARS - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive look at China and it's Imperial Palace., October 22, 2011

By 

JAG 2.0 (IN United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inside The Forbidden City - 500 Years Of Marvel, History And Power (DVD)

This is an excellent video about the "Forbidden City" - China's palace of the Emperors for roughly 500 years. I was surprised by how many facets of China were covered by this three-disc set.

The DVD series covers China during the period of the Forbidden City - roughly 1421 AD to 1912 AD. Each disc contains four segments relating to the Forbidden City:

Disc One:
Birth Of The Forbidden City
Age Of Prosperity
Governing The Country
State Affairs

Disc Two:
State And Family Relations
Porcelain Masterpieces
Paintings And Calligraphy
Jade Objects

Disc Three:
Western Fever
Palace Transformation
Treasures Lost
The Forbidden City Endures

As one can tell by reading the titles of these segments, the DVD series covers a lot of ground, from the history of the building of the palace complex to government administration during the period to life at the Chinese court, history of Chinese arts during the period. So much is covered - and covered well - that I was greatly impressed by the series' comprehensiveness.

This video series gives the viewer so much about China and they did it in a very entertaining fashion. The cinematography is excellent, the CGI recreations and animations are well done, the musical score is reasonably good and appropriate...there are just so many good things about this series! I found the price to be very reasonable for the 540 minutes on three discs.

If you have an interest in Chinese history, government, architecture, art (jade, porcelain, painting), or culture, this video covers just about everything pertaining to the Emperors and the Chinese elite.

I am not an art afficianado, but even I was spellbound by the beauty of Chinese porcelain and jade works. I was surprised that Chinese emperors did not marry members of the Chinese royalty, but from the common people. As I have already stated, there's so much more than just the Palaces in this DVD series.

The only fault I found with it is that it seems to have been created for a Chinese audience. All legends on maps, signs, paintings, etc. are in Chinese characters with no translation at all. Interviews with Chinese experts are subtitled, but go so quickly I could not read them fast enough. It is narrated in English, but I got the feeling I was missing out on a lot.

This is a very well-made series and I would recommend it to those interested in China or the Forbidden City.