smithers52 Wrote:.....Oh yeah and to add to your list of great Christian Bale performances, Scott. He was also great in Spielberg's underrated 1987 film, Empire of the Sun. Bale was only 13 when he took the part but he was terrific in the film and really showed the growth of a spoiled brat into a feral youth.
I completely agree. "Empire of the Sun" is on my list of top 20 favorite films of all time. Back in January, I wrote this about "Empire," on the "Favorite Movies Scenes from the '80's" thread:
"I'm adding "Empire of the Sun" to the mix here. There are so many wonderful scenes...Jamie trapped in the crowd and ripped from his mother's hand after he ducks down to pick up his little model plane; he climbs atop a stranded rickshaw, looks out on the throng of hundreds and cries "Mummie! Mummie!" I know that sounds wimpy, but it tears my heart out.
Jamie, new to the prisoner camp, is tired, hungry, lost and alone. He turns and sees a Japanese aircraft, one of his model planes come to life! With an awed look, he walks to the plane and embraces it. He leans his little head against the plane's flank and strokes it gently, a poignant reminder of his home, his room, his lost life. The Japanese commandant sees him and when Jamie doesn't respond to his shouts to get away from the plane, he raises his rifle to shoot the boy. But from across the tarmack come 3 Japanese pilots. They stride towards Jamie and watch him paying homage to their plane. They smile. Jamie turns and sees them. He raises his hand in a proud salute. The pilots return the salute, and the commandant lowers his rifle.
Quite wonderful."
I fell in love with little Christian Bale then and there, and now that he's all grown up...WoWEEEEE!