Product Description

Epic "coming of age" war drama from director Steven Spielberg follows a young British boy's harrowing experiences in 1940s Shanghai. Separated from his family during the Japanese invasion and thrown into a prison camp, the boy develops a friendship with a captured American. Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson star. 152 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround, French Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: English, Chinese, French, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; "making of" documentary; theatrical trailer; scene access; interactive menus.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27540 in DVD
• Brand: Empire
• Published on: 2001-11-01
• Released on: 2001-11-06
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Taiwanese Chinese
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 152 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
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