Hi Folks,

EMPIRE OF THE SUN will be out in June.


http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/31920 ... u-ray-book

WARNER HOME VIDEO CELEBRATES THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY…
EMPIRE OF THE SUN
Christian Bale stars in Steven Spielberg’s Sweeping
Epic Debuting as a Blu-ray™ Book June 19

Burbank, CA. (March 12, 2012) - Warner Home Video celebrates the 25th anniversary of Empire of the Sun, the powerful coming-of-age World War II drama, with the debut of a stunning Blu-ray Book on June 19. Directed by three-time Oscar® winner Steven Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan 1993 – Directing, Schindler’s List 1993 – Directing and Best Picture) and most recently nominated for War Horse (Best Picture - 2011), Empire of the Sun garnered six Academy Award® nominations (1988) -- for Art Direction + Set Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Original Music Score, Costume Design and Sound. The film about a young English boy’s struggles to survive the Japanese occupation of Shanghai stars Christian Bale (soon to be donning Batman’s cape again in The Dark Knight Rises), John Malkovich (Burn After Reading, Being John Malkovich), and Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Sleepy Hollow), along with Joe Pantoliano (TV’s “The Sopranos,” Memento) and Ben Stiller (Madagascar (voice); Meet the Parents).

Empire of the Sun debuts on Blu-ray for the first time in a premium Blu-ray book featuring a collectible 36-page book with rare images, cast bios, facts about the film, essays and more. Empire of the Sun Blu-ray Book will be available for $34.99 SRP and orders are due May 15

About the Film:
Based on J. G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, Empire of the Sun tells the story of a young English boy, James Graham (Bale), whose privileged life is upturned by the Japanese invasion of Shanghai on December 8, 1941. Separated from his parents, he is eventually captured, and taken to Soo Chow confinement camp, next to a captured Chinese airfield. Amidst the sickness and food shortages in the camp, Jim attempts to reconstruct his former life, all the while bringing spirit and dignity to those around him.

Special Features:
The China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun: Behind the scenes documentary on the
making of the movie
· Warner at War: Documentary on how Warner Bros. uses the movies to prepare the US for war and to keep up morale on the home front during WWII. Narrated by Steven Spielberg


EMPIRE OF THE SUN (Blu-ray™ Book)
Street Date: June 19, 2012
$34.99 SRP
Run Time: 152 minutes
Cat# 1000253537

* Academy Award(s)®, Oscar(s)® , Academy- Award-winning® and Oscar-winning® are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.

Love this film. One of Spielberg's very best -- superior to Private Ryan and (yes) Schindler's List -- and criminally under-appreciated.

For me it's the film that showed Spielberg could make a "grown up movie" before the critics jumped on the bandwagon and suddenly discovered with Schindler's that he could.

Does there need to be a book in it to jack up the price??? $35.00? It is a powerful movie, though Christian Bale grates on my nerves about halfway through the movie.

They'll probably do a non-Digibook release eventually Michael -- also the Digibook prices typically drop quickly. You'll probably be able to find it in the $15-$20 range within a few months.

I also love this film when it came out. John Williams music was also a turning point for him and me as a fan. It moved away from the E.T.esque type of scoring and transcended into a very serious mode which I had not encountered in his music before. I love Williams score and it would be great to see an expanded remaster of the film soundtrack with the film. The film should look dazzling on blu ray.

Williams' score is also one of his greatest. The poignant, quiet, emotional moments, "Cadillac of the Skies," and the transcendent "Exultate Justi" all culminate in a powerful and beautiful melodic statement.

Nobody else writes music like this...