Plot

First Emperor of China, originally presented in IMAX theaters, has been remastered and is now available on DVD for home viewing. Starring Robert Duncan and Bo Guan Jun, this stylish documentary tells the story of how Qin Shihuang united the Chinese land and people through diplomacy and force. Directors Tony Ianzelo and Liu Hao Xue have presented a masterful piece of filmmaking that is aptly supported by a musical score from Eldon Rathburn and Zhao Ji Ping which combines both the modern and the ancient.

He Founded the Great Kingdom of China - His name was Qin Shihuang, The First Emperor

In 221 BC, after conquering six powerful warring states, Qin Shihuang declared himself "Emperor of all China." During his reign he introduced sweeping reforms, built a vast network of roads and connected the Great Wall of China which to this day stretches over 2400 kilometers.

Emperor Qin not only gave China its name, but also founded the longest enduring nation-state in the history of the world. The imperial system he created endured for thousands of years, proving to be one of the world's most durable political structures and this movie chronicles the period of his rule.

Delving deeply into the history of the first imperial reign with dazzling re-creations of major events and wars, the film also includes modern views of amazing sites like the inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace as well as the first documentary footage of Qin's life-sized terra cotta army, constructed almost 2,200 years ago for his tomb.

Considering the age of the Chinese culture, much of its history has never been revealed before and few Westerners are aware of Qin's awesome achievements. With the rise in curiosity about ancient China, this film will help many people understand the pride many Chinese hold regarding their culture.

First Emperor of China offers viewers a unique opportunity to increase their understanding of the nature of ancient Chinese civilization and its extraordinary history. From the grandiose inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace to fierce battles with feudal kings, this lavish historical drama presents both the glory and the terror of the Qin Dynasty.

Related Links

• IMDb Page
• DVDLaser review

Customer Comments

• Reviewer: Dan on 07-Sep-2006

  First Emperor of China is a great educational but also entertaining film regarding the brief but crucial Qin dynasty in china. China is a chaotic place before Emperor Qin conquers the land; it is split up into segments that are at constant war with one another. Though his stern rule and determination Qin unites china and brings peace to the land. The film is rather short but it seems to tell a fairly detailed account of the time period. Actors reenact various events and a narrator explains and recounts the history of the time. Being converted from an IMAX film I though that it would have that somewhat odd IMAX feel where there are lots of shots that are meant to make things epic and loud, however there are either not to many of these parts or they edited it differently. This movie is really great especially if you are interested in ancient Chinese history.

Additional Information

• Country: United States
• Language: English, French, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese)
• Format: NTSC
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (standard TV)
• Color: Color
• Sound: Dolby Digital