Product Details

• Actors: Artist Not Provided
• 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
• Rating: 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.com Sales Rank: #42,035 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #13 in	Movies & TV > Documentary > Series & Studios > Ancient Mysteries
  #50 in	Movies & TV > Television > A&E Home Video > A&E DVD Archives

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In this mesmerizing program from A&E, discover some of the enchanting secrets behind the mystical Forbidden City, and how the spell of its enormous power finally collapsed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

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

By	L. Baxter "Retail Consultant" (Minneapolis MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

2 of 6 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.