``Empire of the Sun'' -- Spielberg's First WWII Epic Dawns on DVD with Nov. 6 Debut.

Entertainment Editors

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2001

Warner Home Video (WHV) will release Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" on DVD for the first time Nov. 6.

The DVD will be available at the suggested retail price of $24.98. The VHS continues to be available at $14.95.

The spectacular World War II epic, with all its visual splendor, will be further enhanced on DVD by the new 2001 digital transfer from refurbished elements, Dolby Surround 5.1 and Dolby Surround Stereo options.

Christian Bale made his screen debut in this stirring tale of a young British boy's life-changing odyssey during the Japanese occupation of China. Also starring were John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers and Joe Pantoliano.

Predating Spielberg's Academy Award(R)-winning film, "Saving Private Ryan," which was acclaimed for accurately depicting the physical and emotional horrors of soldiers at war, "Empire of the Sun" presents the director's masterful rendering of those same horrors from the vantage point of a gifted and imaginative young boy.

The DVD will include the following special features:

New 2001 digital transfer from refurbished elements

-- 2 English tracks: one in newly remixed Dolby Surround 5.1; the other in
remixed Dolby Surround 2.0

-- Behind-the-scenes documentary -- "A China Odyssey: Empire of the Sun, a Film
by Steven Spielberg"

-- Widescreen format (16x9 1.85:1)

-- Cast/director career highlights

-- Theatrical trailer

-- Audio: English (5.1 + 2.0), French, Spanish, Portuguese

-- Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Thai,
Korean

"Empire of the Sun" was first released in 1987, directed by Steven Spielberg from a Tom Stoppard screenplay based on J.G. Ballard's autobiographical novel. The film was produced by Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall. Cinematography was by Allen Daviau and original music was composed by John Williams.

In "Empire of the Sun," Jim (Bale), a precocious young British boy living a sheltered life among the privileged in Shanghai, is separated from his parents as panic-stricken mobs flee to sanctuary after the army of Imperial Japan invades China. Left behind and forced to fend for himself, Jim hooks up with Basie (Malkovich) and Frank (Pantoliano), a pair of seedy American merchant seamen, who are busy hustling while hiding out from the Japanese.

Initially shielded from the horror of what is happening by his child-like wonder, Jim quickly masters the scams Basie and Frank use to survive. When the Japanese intern all three, Jim becomes warped, as the horrible truth of what is happening begins to break through his defenses. Tapping into the soul of this innocent boy as he struggles to survive, Spielberg captures the staggering surrealism, tragedy and beauty of war.

"Empire of the Sun"

RATING: PG

RUN TIME: 153 Mins.