Empire of the Sun (1987)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tim S

  
  Empire of the Sun is anything if not an admirable effort. It's Spielberg's first serious take on war and what it can do to those it affects, so not really anything historic or even remotely about the war itself. The war is the background to the story, but the story is a bit… More
  Empire of the Sun is anything if not an admirable effort. It's Spielberg's first serious take on war and what it can do to those it affects, so not really anything historic or even remotely about the war itself. The war is the background to the story, but the story is a bit uneven. I felt like the film was much longer than it needed to be to tell the story it was trying to tell... if its goal isn't what I think it is. My personal take on the ending of this film, one that I don't see many sharing, is that at the end, Christian Bale's character is so traumitized by the experience of being through a war on his own that he can't even recognize his own parents when they eventually find him again. He's not the same person, and he'll be changed forever. That's my take. Most people's take is that he's a boy who's learned to grow up the hard way. If the former is the case then the length is fine. If it's the latter, then it could have been shorter. Dragging it out with useless side characters and circumstances wouldn't do it justice if that is the case. Either way, as I said, it's an admirable effort, but one that doesn't seem to be achieving a clear goal in the storytelling.

• Adriel L

  
  Bravely sentimental movie. This is classic Spielberg. It drabs at the middle part of the film, but I enjoy and appreciate its wonderful value. A film that portrays the beauty of innocence.

• xGary X

  
  Based upon the autobiographical novel by J. G. Ballard chronicling his experiences as a boy during the Japanese invasion of colonial China, Empire Of The Sun is one of Steven Spielberg's first attempts at a "grown up" film. The film centres on Christian Bale whose… More
  Based upon the autobiographical novel by J. G. Ballard chronicling his experiences as a boy during the Japanese invasion of colonial China, Empire Of The Sun is one of Steven Spielberg's first attempts at a "grown up" film. The film centres on Christian Bale whose remarkable performance at the tender age of 13 was the first glimpse of the talent he is capable of and was a revelation at the time. It's very much his show all the way as the fine supporting cast never really get to shine during a deeply personal journey, but this coming of age story set to the backdrop of a country in turmoil and the destruction of an empire is both intelligent and moving. My only real criticism would be that Spielberg had not the directorial maturity he displayed for Schindler's List, meaning that at key moments to the story he couldn't help himself prompting the audience with a visual flourish or rousing musical interlude to underline how we were supposed to be feeling; as if he didn't trust us to empathise for ourselves. This is a minor criticism however, as the finished product is a visually pleasing, finely played and engaging war story that's made all the more affecting by the fact that it is a true story.

• Jeff "

  
  Empire of the Sun is a Great War drama film that introduced us to Christian Bale. Bale plays a rich kid who is spoiled due to the fact that his parents are wealthy. The story is set in Shanghai shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. As soon as the Japanese march in… More
  Empire of the Sun is a Great War drama film that introduced us to Christian Bale. Bale plays a rich kid who is spoiled due to the fact that his parents are wealthy. The story is set in Shanghai shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. As soon as the Japanese march in Shanghai, Jim Graham (Bale) is separated from his parents and he must start using his street smarts in order to survive Empire of the Sun examines how Bale's character develops in order to survive the war, and through this we get a look at the chaos of war. Steven Spielberg's directing is solid and the story is interesting, engaging and very well constructed. Empire of the sun is a great film. The film has a great cast that deliver stunning performances. Christian Bale is absolutely terrific in the role he plays, and Empire of the Sun is one of Spielberg's finest films. Empire of the Sun is based J.G Ballard's book of the same name. This is a great film with a phenomenal cast. I very much enjoyed the plot. Empire of the Sun is a story about survival, and Spielberg captures that perfectly. Empire of the Sun shows exactly how a spoiled rich kid can go from having it all, and losing it all, and mature enough to survive through war. This is a great film that is a must see if you enjoy a solid war drama. Christian Bale shines in his first role, and he makes this a memorable film to see. Empire of the Sun is a great film with a great plot and is supported by a great cast.

• Jeremy S

  
  The book was better, However Speilberg did a good job.

• Dan S

  
  A riveting, extremely emotional look on a young boy separated from his parents, and how he finds the will to survive amongst Hellish circumstances. Although definitely flawed in some aspects, Christian Bale really makes you believe in his character from start to finish. This might… More
  A riveting, extremely emotional look on a young boy separated from his parents, and how he finds the will to survive amongst Hellish circumstances. Although definitely flawed in some aspects, Christian Bale really makes you believe in his character from start to finish. This might actually be one of Bale's best performances, which is surprising considering how many great ones he's put out. The ending should hit you like a train, it's a very emotional and passionate movie, and although some probably will find it to cliche or Hollywood, it ends on an overall ideal and incredibly satisfying note.

• Jens S

  
  Not exactly your typical Spielberg film, although it is showing quite a few of his trademarks, this story tells the pacific events of World War 2 from the perspective of a little British boy. Stunning to see what a man and actor has become of Christian Bale, who gave his debut here.… More
  Not exactly your typical Spielberg film, although it is showing quite a few of his trademarks, this story tells the pacific events of World War 2 from the perspective of a little British boy. Stunning to see what a man and actor has become of Christian Bale, who gave his debut here. While he does a great job, he tends to overact at times. That's no problem though, the direction, beautiful cinematography, enthralling story-telling and gorgeous John Williams soundtrack more than make up for it. A highly underrated war drama, that won't leave a viewer untouched.

• Conner R

  
  I think it's scary how amazing Christian Bale was in this. The story is just such an emotional drain, you can't help but fall in love with Jim and his search for his family. He goes through just about everything and never seems to lose hope. The look and feel of the movie is… More
  I think it's scary how amazing Christian Bale was in this. The story is just such an emotional drain, you can't help but fall in love with Jim and his search for his family. He goes through just about everything and never seems to lose hope. The look and feel of the movie is so realistic, you feel like you're actually there. The locations and sheer scale of the movie make you question how they got some of the shots they did. I think this is Spielberg's best WWII story because he allowed himself to look at the story without making it good vs. evil.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him."</i> A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"To survive in a world at war, he must find a strength greater than all the events that surround him."</i> A young English boy struggles to survive under Japanese occupation during World War II. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Before he was chopping up prostitutes on Wall Street, Christian Bale was the boy standing on top of an air-traffic control tower, cheering as American bombers laid waste to the airstrip of the Japanese POW camp he was currently a resident of. As a pampered British boy named Jim "Jamie" Graham who is separated from his parents following the fall of Shanghai before American involvement in World War II, Bale is simply astounding. A young performer at 12, he is forced to grow up fast as a prisoner of the ruling Japanese forces, making friends wherever he can, including American Basie (John Malkovich), his pal Frank (Joe Pantoliano), and even the young Kamikaze pilot who lives in the barracks on the other side of the fence. "Empire of the Sun," an adaptation of the novel by J.G. Ballard, is often cited as one of director Steven Spielberg's weakest films, but I beg to differ. It is well known that he has a special place in his heart for WWII, and it's something he loves and loathes. It's a coming-of-age tale that really understands the grueling nature of the reality it depicts, and despite its "PG" rating, is still something for a mature audience. We're with Jamie the entire way, who is only 12, remember, yet he has already seen enough to last a lifetime. The only major gripe with this picture is its running time, and some scenes do tend to drag on for far too long, but that's only a minor grievance in a tale that is truly epic.

• Randy T

  
  The camera work alone creates a stunning visual work of art, but add to that a remarkable script adapted from Ballard's epic novel, great performances from Christian Bale, John Malkovich and Miranda Richardson and the usual superb Spielberg direction and you've got a film… More
  The camera work alone creates a stunning visual work of art, but add to that a remarkable script adapted from Ballard's epic novel, great performances from Christian Bale, John Malkovich and Miranda Richardson and the usual superb Spielberg direction and you've got a film that seems to only get better with time.

• Aaron N

  
  Jim: [during an American air strike] P-51! Cadillac of the sky! Steven Spielberg directs a young Christian Bale in an epic semi-autobiographical story about a young English boy living in Shanghai during WWII, only to be separated from his parents and end up spending a good deal of… More
  Jim: [during an American air strike] P-51! Cadillac of the sky! Steven Spielberg directs a young Christian Bale in an epic semi-autobiographical story about a young English boy living in Shanghai during WWII, only to be separated from his parents and end up spending a good deal of time in a Japanese internment camp. As a Spielberg film, it is excellently made, combining wonderful visuals, excellent cinematography, a great John Williams score, and a well done job at telling a story. Jim: I can't remember what my parents look like. It also helps that young Bale is as terrific as ever. He plays the boy Jim as an energetic youngster, a quick learner, and one who becomes over-excited very quickly. His love of planes and later, his enjoyment in knowing all the ins and outs of the internment camp all work at getting his character across. The good supporting cast is also welcome, including talents such as John Malcovich, Miranda Richardson, and Joe Pantoliano. Wisely, Spielberg places the point-of-view of the film from the perspective of Bale, making the film's tone work very well in depicting the harsh realities of living in a prison camp. There are a couple of key memorable moments in this film that are also very effective. Some include the early scenes involving massive crowds in Shanghai, another involves the portrayal of a certain event in Japan. These elements all work at making this movie succeed in being very well done. Jim: Would you like a Hershey bar? Nina: Oh yes, please Jim: So would I kid, have you got one?

• Chris W

  
  Really solid epic filmmaking. It's a lesser-known Spielberg film, but it's a really good film nonetheless. The music, camerawork, and visuals of the film are breathtaking. The most flawed part is the narrative and direction-Spielberg has a hard time deciding what direction… More
  Really solid epic filmmaking. It's a lesser-known Spielberg film, but it's a really good film nonetheless. The music, camerawork, and visuals of the film are breathtaking. The most flawed part is the narrative and direction-Spielberg has a hard time deciding what direction he wants the film to go in. The acting in this film is phenominal. Malkovich is great, Pantoliano is funny, and the few scenes that Ben Stiller (worth looking for him) is in are good. The real star of the film though, is the then 13 year-old Christian Bale. He carries the film almost the entire time during the 2.5 hour running time. His performance is brilliant, and the kind that virtual no child actors are really capable of pulling off at the level he does. This was some definite foreshadowing of the future. Why he didn't get an Oscar is beyond me. The story is good, but it's been done before. It's not original, even among Spielberg films. However, it's handled so well that it deserves the praise it gets. Overall, it's a satisfying film, but could have been a tad bit better (all things considered).

• Robert C

  
  Based on a true story, this film is about a privledged little English boy (a young Chritain Bale) who gets seperated from his parents when the Japanese army invades British controlled China. The boy is first forced to live in the streets, before being place in a Japanese internment… More
  Based on a true story, this film is about a privledged little English boy (a young Chritain Bale) who gets seperated from his parents when the Japanese army invades British controlled China. The boy is first forced to live in the streets, before being place in a Japanese internment camp. His adventures are epic. Full of wonder, fear, excitment and joy. Very touching and beautifully shot. One of the few Speilberg films that I can say that I really love. Watch for Ben Stiller (in a serious role for once) as one of the men in the internment camps.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  I'm not a fan of Steven Spielberg films (with the exception of The Color Purple) but i liked this movie. It's terribly heartbreaking, sometimes funny, remarkable art direction, and a wonderful performances by John Malkovich, even a brief role by then newcomer Ben Stiller.… More
  I'm not a fan of Steven Spielberg films (with the exception of The Color Purple) but i liked this movie. It's terribly heartbreaking, sometimes funny, remarkable art direction, and a wonderful performances by John Malkovich, even a brief role by then newcomer Ben Stiller. Sadly, the bad thing is that is really cheesy at times. Though Christian Bale's acting chops were not fully developed as they are now, the boy certainly had a gift, and he took the entire movie on his back and nailed it! Great performance!

• Pierluigi P

  
  J.G Ballard's memories about horrors of war and death of childhood were properly materialized in this poignant, beautiful and sadly overlooked gem.

• Curtis L

  
  I own it, yet in all the times i've ever tried to watch it, I have fallen asleep. Still, great cast.

• Lafe F

  
  An epic adventure for one little English boy (Christian Bale) who is separated from his parents in Japan during World War II. He has some frightening and interesting experiences throughout. It's a memorable and haunting journey.

• Mike S

  
  An excellent war-drama about survival and the struggle of life in a POW camp. Great performance here by a very young Christian Bale, who defines what good acting is all about. As always, brilliant directing by Spielberg and a cinematography that can't get much better. It's… More
  An excellent war-drama about survival and the struggle of life in a POW camp. Great performance here by a very young Christian Bale, who defines what good acting is all about. As always, brilliant directing by Spielberg and a cinematography that can't get much better. It's strange though that so few people have heard of this film as it is one of the best and most beautiful war movies ever made.

• danny d

  
  fantastic movie, must watch for all

• Khris N

  
  UNDEERRATED - great movie

Read all 20 featured audience ratings