Definitely one of my favorite Spielberg films, I rate it even higher than Saving Private Ryan...and I think it is one of his best and quite underrated overall. I am so glad to see any channel react to this, since too few channels do...and I really enjoyed your perspectives and especially your translations and comments on language. It was also fun to see you not being able to quite come to grips with the fact that Jamie is played by a very very young Batman...even though you know it is Bale. LOL
the 80s and 90s to me are the best decades for period films, especially movies about world war ii. even the mellow lighting is spot-on, unlike today's films, which may be very gorgeous, but the lighting looks l.e.d. or something, at times greenish or even pinkish, like merthiolate. i am not sure if people understand my descriptions, but i grew up with incandescent bulbs and new movies don't capture their quality at all.
The story is based on an autobiography of the science fiction writer J.G. Ballard. It was filmed on location in China before the rapid growth in the 1990s
This is another phenomenal movie that not enough people react to. The movie definitely wouldn’t be the same without its cinematography, it was a story in and of itself. Can’t thank you enough for checking this one out, imo it’s one of Spielberg’s best!
Jim's singing in EMPIRE OF THE SUN is dubbed by boy soprano James Rainbird, but in Christian Bale's next starring role, in the original film version of Disney's NEWSIES (1992), he sang for himself.
The camp must have been Japan, not near Shanghai, for him to have seen one of the nuclear blasts. I think I remember that all American and European POWs were transported to camps in Japan.
Definitely one of my favorite Spielberg films, I rate it even higher than Saving Private Ryan...and I think it is one of his best and quite underrated overall. I am so glad to see any channel react to this, since too few channels do...and I really enjoyed your perspectives and especially your translations and comments on language. It was also fun to see you not being able to quite come to grips with the fact that Jamie is played by a very very young Batman...even though you know it is Bale. LOL
the 80s and 90s to me are the best decades for period films, especially movies about world war ii. even the mellow lighting is spot-on, unlike today's films, which may be very gorgeous, but the lighting looks l.e.d. or something, at times greenish or even pinkish, like merthiolate. i am not sure if people understand my descriptions, but i grew up with incandescent bulbs and new movies don't capture their quality at all.
This is one of Spielberg's greatest films. I can't believe more people haven't reacted to this.
A "forgotten masterpiece " thanks for reacting!
My All time favorite movie since it was released. I was also the same age as Christian.
Same, but I saw it a little later. Late 1988 and this made me fall in love with cinema.
The story is based on an autobiography of the science fiction writer J.G. Ballard. It was filmed on location in China before the rapid growth in the 1990s
Love this movie so much
No CGI then. That’s the Shanghai Bund, the European concessions. Spielberg was one of the first to film there post revolution.
This is another phenomenal movie that not enough people react to. The movie definitely wouldn’t be the same without its cinematography, it was a story in and of itself.
Can’t thank you enough for checking this one out, imo it’s one of Spielberg’s best!
Yay! A movie. 😊
Jim's singing in EMPIRE OF THE SUN is dubbed by boy soprano James Rainbird, but in Christian Bale's next starring role, in the original film version of Disney's NEWSIES (1992), he sang for himself.
Henry Thomas, Christian Bale, Haley Joel Osment
Yes Shanghai hua is a dialect, distinct from Jiaxing hua 45 minutes west, and Hangzhou hua not further southwest
Another great performance by a child is in the film “The Sixth Sense” It’s a must see.
Excellent taste in movies!!!
This is based on a True Story of James G Ballard
Shanghai was not a set. It was filmed on location. That was Shanghai in 1987.
Thanks so much for reacting to this!!!
P.S. your gf is cute.
Top Ten favorite list for me
Don’t forget Shanghai hua
The camp must have been Japan, not near Shanghai, for him to have seen one of the nuclear blasts. I think I remember that all American and European POWs were transported to camps in Japan.