Empire of the Sun (1987)
Genre: Drama / War
Duration: 152 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Christian Bale, John Malkovich and Joe Pantoliano
IMDb score:
7,7 (136.808)
Releasedate: 9 December 1987
Empire of the Sun plot
"To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him."
Spoiled boy James Graham's life is turned upside down when the Japanese invade Shanghai in 1941. He is separated from his parents and ends up in a Chinese camp. Between the illnesses and the food shortages, Jim tries to pick up his old life again.
Actors and actresses
Jim
Basie
Mrs. Victor
Dr. Rawlins
Frank Demarest
Maxton
Sgt. Nagata
Jim's Mother
Jim's Father
Mr. Victor
Reviews & comments
blurp194
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- 4728 messages
- 3712 votes
But once again, for the first time in twenty, maybe thirty years. But what stayed with me from last time was that I couldn't do much with the film. Ballard's books occasionally demand some kind of understanding for a different world of experience. And here in this film adaptation, that seems almost even stronger - because we are asked to see and understand the war through the eyes of young James, while we only see him scrolling through the screen as a kind of 3rd person. Most films have a more contemplative, less alienating effect.
Like I said, it doesn't work very well for me. Nevertheless, the images are very impressive - and of pre-war Shanghai also very impressive. And Bale plays pretty nice, although certainly not flawless. And then the rest of the cast. Malkovich, Pantoliano, Richardson, Stiller, just to name a few. Not bad, though they weren't nearly as well-known then as they are now.
Incidentally, the B29 flying over somewhere was - I understand - a scale model of 6 meter wingspan. That's a nice model airplane, I'd like to fly one.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico (moderator films)
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- 9537 messages
- 5192 votes
I am now seeing the film for a third time, although it had been quite some time now. It will probably stay that way too. The first time was in school and didn't like it much at the time, but that could also be due to the circumstances, not so. I can understand that some have enjoyed this movie. A Spielberg-style film, leaked and stretched, produced for mainstream Hollywood standards. Something that is not a crime in itself, but I don't like the film and yesterday was also a source of annoyance.
It actually starts with the casting. I found almost every character annoying, not least little Christian Bale himself. I'd soon had enough of the spoiled brad with his pushy, meddling, and opinionated demeanor. His adoration for Japan(se) (airplanes) is beautiful, but was misplaced at times, especially if you know how things really went and not like this story made for children.
Also the characters of Malkovich and Pantaliano were useless, did not contribute anything to the plot. It was not clear to me what exactly their added value was. Malkovich is considered a main character and does have some screen time, but I didn't see a clear purpose for the character in the story.
On his Spielbergs the shots are very nicely done, quite sentimental and romanticized, but quite OK, technically then. Only that doesn't save the film at all, and Williams does even more harm than good. The song Suo Gan was fine, it sticks and is still somewhat identified with this film. Finally, kudos to the impressive streets in Shanghai with its hundreds of extras.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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