Empire of the Sun 1987
Directed by Steven Spielberg
- Drama, History, War
- 153 min
- PG
Rotten Tomatoes77%Metacritic62
To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him.
Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirit, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.
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Character
Earnest, grave, classical in form and contemplative.
- earnestironic
- gravecomic
- classical in formformally daring
- contemplativerelentless
- intimateepic
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- Wuchakon TMDB · Aug 20204/10
_**Even great people have a dud on occasion**_ A British boy (Christian Bale) living with his wealthy parents in Shanghai is separated from them when Japanese forces invade in the early years of WW2. He then has to survive the war in a POW camp. John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers and Joe Pantoliano play fellow prisoners. Based on J.G. Ballard’s semi-autobiographical novel, “Empire of the Sun” (1987) was Steven Spielberg’s first venture into ‘meaningful’ filmmaking. It’s not without historical interest. For instance, the beginning situation in China is compelling, highlighted by a potent ‘slap’ scene that wakes the pompous kid up to reality. From there, though, the movie becomes a tedious prison camp flick with too many ambiguities and drawn-out scenes. Bale does an admirable job in a challenging role, especially considering his age, but IMHO he overdoes it and so the boy comes off hyperactive and annoying. Check out the low-key indie “I Am David” (2003) for a more effective take on similar material. The film runs 2 hours, 33 minutes and was shot in China, England and Spain (you can fairly easily figure out which parts were shot where). GRADE: C/C-
Read the whole review on TMDB - The Movie Dioramaon TMDB · Jan 20207/10
Empire of the Sun glaringly shines insight into the impoverished wealthy amidst war-torn China. Spielberg is one of a handful of directors that everyone acknowledges. Whether your interest lies with films or elsewhere, he is known to all for his eclectic filmography that tackles nearly every single genre available. The beauty of his directorial talents, is that he can manipulate any subject matter and transform its contents into an accessible piece of entertainment. From hard-hitting crime capers (‘The Sugarland Express’) to the depiction of African-Americans succumbing to racial/sexist abuse (‘The Color Purple’). He has the ornate ability to disassemble history and shape the remnants into his Hollywood mould. But at what cost? Does Spielberg’s contagious requirement for accessibility downplay the severity of its subject matter? Well, Empire of the Sun may just be the most perfect example to answer the aforementioned question. It illustrates my eternal adoration for the man as an auteur, as well as his damned tendencies that bring down his historical endeavours. A young British boy living with his wealthy family in war-torn Shanghai, becomes separated from his parents where he is s
Read the whole review on TMDB
Cast
- Christian BaleJim
- John MalkovichBasie
- Miranda RichardsonMrs. Victor
- Nigel HaversDr. Rawlins
- Joe PantolianoFrank Demarest
- Leslie PhillipsMaxton
- Masatô IbuSgt. Nagata
- Emily RichardJim's Mother
- Rupert FrazerJim's Father
- Peter GaleMr. Victor
Crew
- Steven SpielbergDirector
- Tom StoppardScreenplay
- J.G. BallardNovel
- Allen DaviauDirector of Photography
- John WilliamsOriginal Music Composer
- Michael KahnEditor
- Kathleen KennedyProducer
- Frank MarshallProducer
- Steven SpielbergProducer
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