Rent Empire of the Sun (1987)
3.8 of 5 from 185 ratings
2h 27min
Christian Bale has become a reasonable actor as an adult but as a boy he was not exceptional. To have a film in which a boy actor is rarely out of shot results in a seriously dull portrayal of the Japanese occupation of China. The over-privileged Brits in the middle of Shanghai is a little awkward. But that is about as moving as it gets. Malkovich is good as an American chancer but the character is a little unbelievable, taking clubbings in his stride. Although there are plenty of celebs in the cast the direction is amateur and does not do them justice.