Review of Empire of the Sun (1987) by Alex K — 19 Jan 2009
It's a shame that this is a lesser seen Spielberg film because it is touching with an excellent story. Christian Bale is great as an innocent British boy living in Shanghai who gets captured and imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. He does however become a very thin character because he fails to evolve much throughout the film. Even with the horrors of the internment camp, he remains a bright-eyed, naive, adventurous boy. This is portrayed perfectly near the climax as he dances on top of a building as the Americans bomb the neighboring Japanese airfield.
That asside it is touching to see how he tries to connect with his only friend, yet he is reduced to just a runner for him. John Malkovich plays a great cold-hearted survivor who just takes what he can get.
Pick up a copy of this next time at the video store and you will not be disappointed with Spielberg's earliest look at the horrors of war-time imprisonment.
This review of Empire of the Sun (1987) was written by Alex K on 19 Jan 2009.
Empire of the Sun has generally received very positive reviews.
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