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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 3926
Released: November 6, 2001 |
| Our Price: $7.73 |
| Used Price: $3.56 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A young British boy's noble spirit allows him to survive the hardships of a Japanese prison camp in China during World War II.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: PG
Release Date: 27-SEP-2005
Media Type: DVD
Description of Empire of the Sun (Snap Case):
Roundly dismissed as one of Steven Spielberg's least successful efforts, this very underrated film poignantly follows the World War II adventures of young Jim (a brilliant Christian Bale), caught in the throes of the fall of China. What if you once had everything and lost it all in an afternoon? What if you were only 12? Bale's transformation, from pampered British ruling-class child to an imprisoned, desperate, nearly feral boy, is nothing short of stunning. Also stunning are exceptional sets, cinematography, and music (the last courtesy of John Williams) that enhance author J.G. Ballard's and screenwriter Tom Stoppard's depiction of another, less familiar casualty of war.
In a time when competitors were releasing "comedic," derivative coming-of-age films, Empire of the Sun stands out as an epic in the classic David Lean sense--despite confusion or perceived competition with the equally excellent The Last Emperor (also released in 1987, and also a coming-of-age in a similar setting). It is also a remarkable testament to, yes, the human spirit. And despite its disappointing box-office returns, Empire of the Sun helped to further establish Spielberg as more than a commercial director and set the standard, tone, and look for future efforts Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. --N.F. Mendoza
Empire of the Sun (Snap Case) Reviews:
guy tearjerker 
2009-10-22 - this movie about the youth and strenght of a young boy to survive in the fear and uncertainy of war. to be torn from his mother and father gets to me every time i watch. something about the boy getting separated from his mother just kills me.
A Truly Underrated Movie
2009-10-21 - This is a Spielberg movie that came out before Schindler's List, and I wonder if that has something to do with the lack of critical respect that it deserved. While it had some of the classic Spielberg whimsy and flash, the storyline and acting were excellent. Though not on par with the likes of Out of Africa and a A Passage to India, there is something in this movie that is just as epic as those two films. Christian Bale's performance was amazing; nothing like the films that he is known for these days. John Williams soundtrack for this movie is one of his best.
This movie was filmed in Shanghai in the 1980s - before China's economic boom - and in the extras of the DVD version that I own Spielberg notes that they couldn't as easily replicate World War II China with a 2000's Shanghai as the could with the way it looked in the 1980s. Europeans caught in between the Chinese and Japanese during World War II is an interesting aspect of the movie, duplicated somewhat in a more recent movie The White Countess.
I can't help but think that if this movie had been made after Schindler's List that it might have received a lot more acclaim. It really is a good film and I highly recommend it.
Bad movie 
2009-10-18 - I find it difficult to believe that the same director was associated with Saving Private Ryan. This movie has some of the worst overacting I've ever seen, especially by Christian Bale.
And how's this? The main character "saves" first a doctor and then the camp entrepeneur by his example of humility (prostrating himself before the sadistic guard). This is the same kid who gets slapped by one of the servants when he imperiously asks what they're doing. Maybe the kid was a quick study. He'd have to be as P-51 Mustangs were rarely if ever seen in mainland China, and the only way he'd even know what they were was to study in the extensive Aeronautical Library provided by those wacky Japanese guards. But I also suppose that is a plot device to illustrate how he'd grown in maturity as in the beginning he worships at the altar of Japanese Aviation. The action sequences were ridiculous as well such as 250 lb. bombs being dropped perhaps 100 feet off the ground and especially when he "sees" the glow of Hiroshima being levelled which is probably 5 or 6 hundred miles away.
Ordinarily I'd say don't buy it, but in this case, renting is a waste of money also.
Thank you.
2009-09-28 - Thank you for the speedy service. I am sorry to say I have not had a chance to watch the DVD, but it looks to be in perfect condition.
cinematic masterpiece
2009-07-21 - We need this movie in Blue-ray, the colors pop out. the story is heart-warming. The acting is superb. I could watch this movie over and over and its never boring! Buy it now it still looks great when you use and up-sampling player. I plan on getting one of those new LED Samsung's and hopefully it will come out in Blue-ray!
