Empire Of The Sun [1987]

Its a brilliant film in every way, its thoughtful, moving, and wonderfully performed. Bale gives a superb performance and proves that kids can actually act in films. Some scenes really stand out as stunning such as the bombing of the prison camp and the scenes between Bale and the japanese pilot.

This film ranks as one of my very favourites, because its only one of two films (shawshank redemption being the other) that brings me close to tears every time i watch it, and im a grown man!!!! hehe. Not to be missed. *****


A Spielberg Masterpiece   September 20, 2003
V (Staffordshire)
19 out of 26 found this review helpful

Empire of the Sun tells the moving story of a young British boy living in Shanghai in the early 1940s. Young Jim leads an idyllic lifestyle in an area of China under heavy British influence and control. However in 1941 after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour, the mother country goes to war with the Japanese, the country which has been developing its influence over China since the 30s. At that point Jim's world is turned upside down. He is soon separated from his parents and ends up in the company of an American (John Malkovich from Johnny English & The Man in the Iron Mask). Before long they are placed in a Japanese PoW camp, where Jim's love of both planes and the USA develops. It is a great story of danger, tragedy and in the end some sort of happiness. Jim manages to survive the war in the camp, despite his friends (including Miranda Richardson from the Blackadders & The Lost Prince) dying and suffering around him. It is a happy and moving ending as after America's liberation of the camp, Jim is re-united with his parents. A joy to watch, Steven Spielberg at his best with music by John Williams (Harry Potter, Star Wars & Indiana Jones).


A stunning Speilberg classic with emotion and gritty reality   February 19, 2002
hywel.jones@bigfoot.com (Sheffield, UK)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

Based upon the semi autobiographical story of the author J.G. Ballard's childhood, Empire of the Sun is a stunning yet undervalued piece of Speilberg's work. The central character is 12 year old Jim, from a privileged English family resident in Shanghai during the 1940's. When the Japanese invade Jim (Christian Bale) is separated from his parents. Alone in the occupied city Jim is befriendedup in a Japanese detention camp next to a Kamakazi airfield where he is eventually befriended/exploited by John Malkovich's character. Evetually they are captured together by the Japense and both end up in a mainly civilian detention camp next to a Japenese airfield. Jim survives by transforming from a pampered posh kid to a resourceful survivor under Malkovich's reluctant and some times exploitative guidance. We share Jim's suffering as friends (and enemies) around him die or suffer at the hands of the increasingly desperate Japanese captors and we follow the plight of the pround Japanese soldiers and airmen as they face defeat at the hand of the Americans. The cinematography and sound track (John Williams) significantly add to the charm and power of the story as does the fact that it takes place on the background of the WWII pacific conflict. Look out for the stunning aircraft sequences (forget computer graphics these are real planes), reference to the atomic bomb dropped by the USA at the end of the war and the bizarre sight of a stadium full of furniture.
The film is almost worth watching for the ending alone (tissues at the ready) and you'll definitely want to watch it again and again.


Speilberg's best serious movie   March 5, 2006
D. Brockis (UK)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is a very good adaptation of a very good novel. Speilberg is a great film maker but, in my opinion, not always the best storyteller. Fortunately here we have very true reading of J.G.Ballard's work: far better than his re-working of Schindler's Ark into Schindler's List. Definately worth watching.

If you do enjoy this, I would also recommend you watch the Japanes anime "Grave of the Firlies", which is an even more
powerful examination of the impact of war on children.


A MOVING MASTERPIECE,GREAT CINEMA AND GREAT ACTING   January 28, 2001
gga00db@sheffield.ac.uk (sheffield uni)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

one of my prized possessions in my video collection, empire of the sun is a moving film following the traumatic journey of Jim,a boy who loses his parents during world war two in Asia. This an epic in every sense of the word, great soundtrack great cinematography and superb acting. Watch out for a young Christian Bale as Jim in a stunningly mature performance....the ending will move you to tears.