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A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II.
Christian Bale: Jim 'Jamie' Graham
Steven Spielberg adapts and directs Empire of the Sun, the acclaimed, timeless best-seller by J.G. Ballard. Tom Stoppard acts as writer for the film production. Why is Empire of the Sun such a lucrative favourite for me? Simply because it touches the heart and mind with it's endearing bringing to life of Jim, succeeded by new comer, the young Christian Bale.
This is loosely based upon history and captures the feel and time regarding the era, but remember this is an adaptation, a story and artful gander at colours and characters in equal measure.
What's really lovely when watching a Spielberg film is the level of detail and energy he draws forth from the places and cast he directs.
Empire of the Sun draws it's strength from its story, setting and character and propels forth a film that acts as a rightful tribute to a gloriously addictive book.
Sun is a gem of movie-making. Visually arresting from start to finish, given a sumptuous musical score by John Williams and some of the finest cinematography ever seen, it is hard to understand why the film is not as highly acclaimed as it ought to be?...nor is it fitting that it was nominated for six Academy Awards but received none of them.
''I can't remember what my parents look like.''
It's a sweeping epic, intent upon capturing your interest by showing us young Christian Bale whom certainly has one of the great child roles of a lifetime as Jim; Bale becomes the character so effortlessly that his final reunion with his parents brings a few tears to the eye. By that time, the viewer has been through so much with him, watching as he grows from spoiled rich kid to a wily boy who must fend for himself among the wolf-pack of prisoners interred by the Japanese.
It's the loving, touching story regarding one boy's survival during the outbreak of World War II when he is separated from his British parents during the evacuation of Shanghai. It is a spectacularly staged evacuation scene that is topped throughout by other scenes of visual splendour and poignant moments that stay in the memory long after the film finishes. The boy's fascination with the beauty of planes and the horrors of war are well documented, as is his strange fascination with the Japanese and his doomed friendship with a Japanese boy.
The film falls squarely on the shoulders of Christian Bale, so much so that the supporting players are never fully fleshed characters. However, all of them including John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson and Nigel Havers succeed in doing magnificently regarding their roles. Steven Spielberg's direction cannot be faulted. He has given us a close-up glimpse of war and its effect on people that was eclipsed by his later Schindler's List.
Technically, the film is a brilliant achievement in all of its World War II details. Christian Bale certainly deserved an Oscar for what has to be one of the strongest performances ever given by a child actor, with never a false step, results in being one word only. Perfect.
''I can bring everyone back. Everyone.''
10/10
