An achievement

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 2011)

Empire Of The Sun brings together (among others) three elements: the semi-autobiographical novel by JG Ballard (not the easiest of authors) telling his loss of innocence story as a privileged English child stranded in occupied Shanghai during World War II, Stephen Spielberg making a film which is an emotional artistic epic as effortlessly as he makes movies which are broad popular entertainment, and Christian Bale as a lad whose voice hasn't even broken yet, kick-starting his career with every bit as much intensity as he has shown in his work since.
The film tells a small story on a big canvas. It visits childhood, as Spielberg so often does, but in a way which is less gentle than ever before. It shows the futility of war without preaching. It features a large and talented supporting cast all selflessly contributing part of the texture a film like this needs. It features memorable images - oh boy, does it ever! Spielberg fills the screen like a painter fills his canvas.
This is a classy movie.