Friday, March 19, 2010

Christian Bale - The early years

EMPIRE OF THE SUN

Christian Bale as Jim Graham
Thirteen-year-old Welsh actor Christian Bale is brilliant as Jim in his feature film debut.
Steven Spielberg’s 1987 EMPIRE OF THE SUN, based on the autobiographical novel by J.G. Ballard, stars Christian Bale as Jim Graham, a British schoolboy separated from his upper-class colonial parents when the Japanese sweep into Shanghai during World War II. Temporarily orphaned, Jim attaches himself to Basie (John Malkovich), a fast-talking American opportunist determined make a buck off the spoils of war. Later, when the two are interned in a prison camp, Jim's boyish fantasies are fueled by the grace and daring of the Japanese fighter pilots whom he comes to idolize despite their enemy status. Spielberg's visually spectacular wartime epic is a testimony to the human will to survive and a child's ability to find wonder even in the midst of horror. [celebritywonder.com]

4 comments:

Unknown said...

He hasn't really changed all that much, looking at that last photo.

Mel Chesley said...

He's a doll. :D

Cathy said...

Oh my. Now I really feel ancient.

Unknown said...

Awww. Isn't he cute?!