Rating: 
Summary: Spielberg's best
Review: I remember being moved to tears fifteen years ago when I saw this film when it was first released in theatres. Fifteen years later, I was equally moved ... and I don't understand why this film is ranked as one of Spielberg's least successful efforts. I think - with "A.I." ranking a close second (thought here many would disagree) - this is perhaps his best film. It's an epic on the grand scale - at least visually - but the story itself is quite intimate. It is, in essence, a coming of age story about a young privileged English boy who is forced to learn some of life's harshest lessons while in some of the direst of circumstances. It is also another story of a young boy unexpectedly "orphaned" who then must go on a quest to "find" his parents. Along the way, he meets up with a collection of interesting though remote "parental figures". In this case, most vividly represented by John Malkovich's "Baisie", an American thief, not unlike Jude Law's "Gigolo Joe" in A.I. Unlike Spielberg's most recent effort, the boy in this film, Jim, finds a more 'realistic' solace in the end as opposed to the 'virtual' reunion of A.I. The performances are outstanding, most notably a very young Christian Bale as the boy, Jim. The cinematography is stunning, particularly Spielberg's rendering of Shanghai in the weeks before the Japanese invasion. This is film-making of the highest order, and despite what some critics say, I'd even rank it as one of the all-time cinematic greats.
Rating:
Summary: The best
Review: This is an awesome and amazing movie. I should note, however, that when I first saw it (at age 18) it didn't quite sink in. I felt "there's some impressive stuff, but what does it all add up to??" Then, I watched it a second time, and "!!!!!!!" It awakened me to the possibilities of film as ART. The film is brilliant - a work of genius, but as such is not easily masterable by all viewers, and certainly was not understood by critics of the time. But hey, the best art can't be forced on people - they will either be able to FEEL it, or they won't. Well, it took a long time for people to recognize Citizen Kane as an important film also. Empire is much more meaningful than Saving Private Ryan and much more personal and expressive than Schindler's List. Those two oscar winners are the kind of straightforward narrative that are more generally aimed for mass-consumption. By contrast, the deep symbolic textures of Empire of the Sun probably render it unsuited for mass-appreciation, although one would hope that "educated" film critics would know better than to dismiss it with their cursory, superficial, and prejudicial reviews... Although Empire is not so neatly packaged as the excellent Schindler and Ryan films, it is far bolder, more sophisticated, innovative, and for those who can understand it, more POWERFUL! The best art always takes
risks, and thus won't be appreciated by everyone. Instead of taking my word for it, those of you reading here should hopefully now be inspired to watch the film, think about it, watch it again, and then see if I'm not correct in my assessment of its merits! And any of you who happen to be critics should reassess what has been written about this excellent work!
Rating:
Summary: The greatest story about World War II
Review: Spielberg crafted a great movie about world war II. John Malkovich gives a performance of his career!! A great movie to watch over and over!
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite!
Review: Empire of the Sun is Spielberg's most underrated film and my favorite. Some of the subtle nuances of this film make it special. Each piece of dialog is important. The boy's reciting of poetry to his doctor/teacher as the Americans are liberating POW's still haunts me, as does the musical score. Chritian Bale and John Malkovich give exceptional performances. Steven Spielberg is truly a genius.
Rating: 
Summary: LIKE IT!
Review: I've seen this movie two times and i find it little bit slow but very moving and interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: Spielberg's "VERTIGO"
Review: On the same day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they also rounded up all the American and British residents of Shanghai and put them in prison camps. J. G. Ballard was only 12 at the time and he and his parents were among the "detained." "EMPIRE OF THE SUN," is Ballard's story and arguably Steven Spielberg's most personal and revealing film and the first of his WW II trilogy that continues with "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan." Originally dismissed by the public and the majority of critics, this underrated and poignant film asks and answers the question: What if you once had everything and lost it all in a single afternoon? What if your were only 12? Christian Bale plays young Ballard with a mature authority that makes his transformation from pampered upper class Brit to desperate feral child totally believable. So far, Spielberg has resisted adding any commentary tracks to his films on DVD. There is however en extra on this disc, "The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun," a wonderful behind-the scenes documentary (credited to Spielberg) that shows the director at work along with historical footage of the fall of China when it was occupied by the Japanese. "Empire of the Sun" was Spielberg's admittedly first attempt to helm "a mature story a la a David Lean type epic." However, the child's point remains throughout and is especially emphasized by the beautiful, breathtaking images of low flying Japanese planes on the attack. These and many other shots reveal a lot about Spielberg's love of pure cinema and the difficulty of growing up in a world where reality can shatter the dream and thus the need to remain emotionally distant to real events -- like being separated from your parents. There's a lot of Spielberg in this widescreen Rorschach test. "Empire of the Sun" is to Spielberg what "Vertigo" was to Hitchcock. It's a remarkable achievement and a brilliant, complex film worth adding to the digital home library.
Rating:
Summary: Vastly Underrated
Review: A grand, sweeping film of epic proportions, this stands the test of time in more ways than most films do. Christian Bale gives us a sneak peak at his extraordinary presence as an actor, something he did not really realize again until the release of "American Psycho" in 2000. "Empire" is a Hallmark Card to lost innocence and childhood, which few directors can do with the grace and style that Speilberg offers. The landscape is powerful, the tale of loss heart wrenching, but more than anything, the scenes where the boy Bale is separated from his parents will keep the viewer glued. Critics often lambasted this film for its length and violence, yet without these, it's less effective. In truth, "Empire of the Sun" deserves renewed respect. It's that good. An essential DVD in my mind, and one I purchased the day it was released!
Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to the blockbusters on DVD
Review: Eventually, every single Steven Spielberg movie will find its way to DVD. As a huge Spielberg fan, I'll continue to gobble up every new Amblin offering. Some long-awaited titles, like Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. or Schindler's List, are always near the top of most-wanted lists. Until the blockbusters hit DVD, we'll have to accept the glacial release pace of his filmography, and the likes of the latest Amblin issue, Empire of the Sun. A very good, but not great Spielberg movie, Empire of the Sun is visually stunning, and displays tremendous effort, but lacks the tremendous "movie magic" of other Spielberg works. The two-sided disc is well worth the asking price, and with a brand new digital transfer and Dolby 5.1 audio, you shouldn't be afraid to continue rounding out your Spielberg collection with it. The quality of the 1987 Warner Brothers release doesn't have the video sparkle or audio pop of the newer "Saving Private Ryan", but compares favorably in quality with 1977's "Close Encounters". The side-two documentary has been around a long time, so Spielberg fans probably won't find much new there. But fans, take heart! The release of Empire of the Sun empties the closet of Spielberg's less popular films (not including the recent "A.I."), leaving only the Indiana Jones series, Schindler, and ET waiting in the wings.
Rating:
Summary: One of Spielberg's best
Review: I could never understand why the critics didn't love this movie. It has brilliant acting, wonderful cinematography, and a story and characters that just hook you in from the get-go. Christian Bale gives the best "child-actor" performance I have ever seen, and the supporting cast is great, especially Miranda Richardson and John Malkovich. Wonderful WWII story from a perspective you may have never seen before. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: A Movie to remember...
Review: I remember watching The Empire of the Sun when it was first released a long time ago. I was only about 6, but I don't think I saw another movie after that touched me or stayed in my memory like the way this movie has. It's a favorite in my family, but especially my Father's all time favorite (He's a big Steven Speilberg fan). I'm surprised to have read now that it was reviewed so poorly. I recommend this movie to anyone who loves watching movies that are truely a masterpiece in the making. Only Steven Speilberg could have made this movie the way it was captured, and being able to move the audience and touch thir heart. I would still watch it again.
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