Review of Empire of the Sun (1987) by Adriano B — 04 Mar 2013

The obnoxious version of E.T. midget (Christian Bale!) is thrown into World War II in the farest angle of the globe. There are many ways this flick, not as famous as others from Spielberg, is a unique little gem: because is a war movie withou Nazi, set where western war movie rarely go; because is a war movie without soldiers or heroism on the front, instead staying behind the lines and seen through the eyes of a child (who has time to change and grow up); because is a war movie without hate, and Japanese, while invaders,albeit sometimes unscrutable, are seen as human, sensitive, admirable (and, in the end, victims as everyone else).

After more than 25 years, it's still flying high over comparisons, on iron wings.