Empire of the Sun: Spielberg's Epic...But How Does it Hold Up?

Okay, so I finally got around to watching 'Empire of the Sun'. I know, I know, I'm late to the party. But I've been on a book adaptation kick (surprise, surprise!), and this one has stuck with me. I think what got to me most was Christian Bale – his performance as Jamie/Jim is seriously incredible for such a young actor. Remember that scene where he's obsessed with planes and saluting them, even when they're enemy planes? So haunting. The movie's gorgeous too; Spielberg really knows how to create spectacle. I was really curious to see how Ballard's autobiographical novel translated to film. They did a decent job capturing Jim's obsession with order and aircrafts, that sense of wonder even amidst the horror of war. I felt though, that the book delved deeper into Jim's psychological state. The film kind of glosses over some of the darker stuff, I think, to keep it more palatable for a mainstream audience. One thing that bugged me was the pacing. It felt a little uneven at times. There are these incredible, sweeping moments, and then it kind of meanders a bit. John Malkovich as Basie was...fine. But I feel like the book fleshed out his character more. Overall, though, it's a powerful film. It's a difficult watch, but definitely worth it if you're into war movies or coming-of-age stories with a darker edge. Anyone else have thoughts on this? Did you read the book first? What did you think of the ending? Let's discuss!