Empire of the Sun

My family and I watched it 4 times on its first day out, in Hawa

My family and I watched it 4 times on its first day out, in Hawaii. Awesome!

Love this Movie

Had to get on DVD had on LD (laser disc). Would like on Blu Ray. Love this movie, watch it several times a year.

Very impressive!

This is a great and, strangely enough, underrated movie based on the semi-autobiographic novel (meaning, a mix of fact and fiction) of James Ballard, brilliantly put on film by Steven Spielberg. The back of the DVD package reads "Through his [Jamie's] eyes we see the fascination and horror of war" which has to be taken literally: The observer is virtually glued to Jamie/Jim, only in a very few cases we are allowed to look beyond what he can see and hear. This makes the storyline uniquely linear and forces you to completely identify with the main character. Many of the scenes appear to be quite surreal, as the reality of war might have been. Absolutely solid performance of Christian Bale, as the brat in the beginning of the movie, who is playfully glorifying and completely ignorant of the seriousness and danger of the ongoing war, to the sophisticated survivor in the internment camp, then in the end as the apathic boy scarred by the horrors of war. John Malkovich being his rather strange friend Basie, who sort-of cares for Jim as honestly as he can, but would always set himself before anybody else. Great story, great picture, highly recommended! - By the way: Jim's church song is "Suo Gan" and sung in Welsh.

Five Star - Every Aspect

Empire of The Sun is hands-down my favorite Speilberg film. The photography, music, acting and, especially the humanity moved me like few films ever have. Christian Bale's character evolves throughout and his zany behavior is, in part, expressed near the end when he tearfully says, "I can't remember what my parents look like". This is one of several surreal, emotional scenes depicted with more reality-based imagination than any of Speilberg's other films. I dig fantasy and sci-fi but nothing can top a fact-based story done with exceptional feeling.

Close Encounters of the WAR Kind

There are two different kinds of Spielbergian films, the first kind is pure entertainment, no meaning, just what people go to the movies for. Films like Jaws have no real meaning, and people always think Spielberg as a guy who actually came close to Hitchcock or Kubrick with his memorable scenes and wunderkind-like, wonderous fiction. Indiana Jones wouldn't survive all that stuff in real life, and I laugh if he came close to surviving in a prison internment camp! AND THEN THERE'S THE OTHER KIND: Amistad, The Color Purple, Empire of the Sun, Schindler's List and introducing Munich. Some people might not "remember" any "great film moments" in movies like Amistad or Empire of the Sun, but they have MEANING, OK? Empire of the Sun shouldn't be called a movie with a great film score by a come again Williams, Empire of the Sun hit me. Impact. Something that really did happen, not just a lonely boy finding a great friend like E.T. It almost made me cry. It had impact.

wonderful!

I love this movie! I cry every time I watch it, and i've seen it six times! The music is awsome, sou gan is beautiful,and the actors are great. This movie is very poweful. I highly reccamend it.

Great film!!! Music very moving.

I think this is one of Steven Spielberg's greatest films ever!!! I thought the music was very moving and beautiful. I couldn't make out what language Jamie was singing though,but it was very good!!!

Masterpiece

Without a doubt my favorite Spielberg movie, perhaps because it is arguably his most honest. This is a great display of self-discovery and growth in desperate situations. Jim's transformation from brat to young man is well portrayed by a young Christian Bale.

Spielbergian Magnificience

This delightfully touching war story is unusual in that the military is nowhere in the picture. The dramatic war time turn of events in a young boy's life are sketched with elan. This greatly endearing character is superbly portrayed and the supporting cast is also well put together.

One of the Best

I loved this movie. I've seen a lot of Spielberg films and had never heard of this one until I saw it and rented it. It's unbelievable. I'm amazed that this film is so overlooked.

Speilberg's most under-rated film

Steven Speilberg will go down in history as the greatest film maker throughout history. Empire of the Sun was the birthplace for him to make Schindler's List. The vision and scope of the film is only matched by the superb performance of 12 year old Bale.

Christian Bale at his best

I think this film is one of spielbergs most amazing creations. most war stories nowadays glorify the idea of war and death, this film focuses on the way war will turn someones life upside down. Christian Bale who acted as jim, the hero had me convinced in this story right from the beginning, the film immideatly completley changed my attitude on this incredible actor, and what makes it even better is that it is his first big US performance

Spielberg's most over-looked drama

This is a wonderful movie about forgiveness, survival and will. The cinematography is excellent, acting is wonderful and the storyline hertbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Another ''boy's adventure'' by Spielberg

I was disappointed with this film. I found the exploration of the topic of war done through the eyes of this spoiled kid to be superficial and somewhat predicable. This look at allied prisoners of war held by the Japanese in World World II pale in comparison with the British television series, ''Tenko,'' which treated this subject with much more depth and sincerity.

Memorable accounting of the devastation of war

This is one of my all time top 10 favorite movies for its touching and truly emotional portrayal of victims of war. Only through the eyes of a young person (boy in this story) could the tragedy be presented in such an absorbing and unforgettable manner.

A Great Portrait of the Cruelty of War

Empire of the Sun is an incredible journey a of a young boy. This movie does not focus on the fighting aspects of war, instaed, it focuses on the effects war can have on the human soul. It demonstrates the effect war can have in an individual, not just a society. I enjoyed the movie because it had a different angle on war and was not focusing directly on fighting. Overall, a great movie.

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