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All rights reserved.Empire Of The Sun (DVD 2002)
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| Description Steven Spielberg's 'Empire Of The Sun', based on the autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard, stars Christian Bale as Jim Graham, a British schoolboy separated from his upper-class colonial parents when the Japanese sweep into Shanghai during World War II. Temporarily orphaned, Jim attaches himself to Basie (John Malkovich), a fast-talking American opportunist determined make a buck off the spoils of war. Later, when the two are interned in a prison camp, Jim's boyish fantasies are fueled by the grace and daring of the Japanese fighter pilots whom he comes to idolise despite their enemy status. Spielberg's visually spectacular wartime epic is a testimony to the human will to survive and a child's ability to find wonder even in the midst of horror. Thirteen-year-old Welsh actor Christian Bale is brillant as Jim in his feature film debut. Spielberg himself identified more with Jim, a boy who is obsessed with flying and who experiences the death of his innocence, than with E.T.'s Elliott. After a year of negotiations with the Chinese, Spielberg and his crew were allowed to film in Shanghai, which was virtually unchanged since World War II.
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Top Reviews  A stunning Speilberg classic 6 of 12 people 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). Review ID: 10000000001242650 Was this review helpful? Report this review Reviews EMPIRE OF THE SUNReview created: 27/08/08 by: I LOVE THIS FILM SO MUCH CHRISTIAN BALE IS ONLY A CHILD IN IT AND IS FANTASTIC, EVERYBODY I HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO LOVES IT. Review ID: 10000000008463933 Was this review helpful? Report this review Empire O The Sunthis is an amazing film, in my opinion, Christian Bale is one of his best films, also John Malkovich playing a superb role one to watch, Review ID: 10000000008084615 Was this review helpful? Report this review  Empire of the SunClassic film that i havent seen for ages. Well worth a watch. Makes you think how bad things were in those times. Wouldnt have fancied it myself. Review ID: 10000000007228476 Was this review helpful? Report this review Unique account or warReview created: 10/02/08 by: Christian bale shines as a child actor in a film full of memorable moments!! highly recomended for fans of Bale, war films, or Spielberg Review ID: 10000000005569878 Was this review helpful? Report this review |
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