Review of Empire of the Sun (1987) by Chris Dibattista L — 25 Aug 2011

Thoughts:

I get that it's a coming of age film, but only after reading that that's what it was supposed to be. in the end it doesn't really mean anything. all the nice parts don't make for much of a whole.

It's beautifully shot.

There's no connective tissue from point to point along his journey and while it might be more realistic this way as a compelling drama it doesn't work. there needs to be a thematic thread or at least some substantive motifs.

The realities of war are unflinching and jim's loss of innocence is clearly the tale being told it's just rather unfeeling. and borders on patronizing as the final act regurgitates earlier moments shoving cyclical cliches (what is this called when a film brings back lines and parts from earlier in the film to create the feeling of resolution?) down your throat.

Christian Bale grows up to be a fine actor and I doubt any child actor could perform quite as well as he did with so much screen solo screen time, but I found him to be rather precocious. in the sense that he was getting ahead of himself and you could tell he was "putting on.".