<P> Industrial Light & Magic designed the visual effects sequences with some computer - generated imagery also used for the atomic bombing of Nagasaki . Norman Reynolds was hired as the production designer while Vic Armstrong served as the stunt coordinator . </P> <P> Empire of the Sun was given a limited release on December 11, 1987, before being wide released on Christmas Day, 1987 . The film earned $22.24 million in North America, and $44.46 million in other countries, accumulating a worldwide total of $66.7 million, earning more than its budget but still considered a box office disappointment by Spielberg . </P> <P> Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 70% based on reviews from 47 critics . By comparison Metacritic calculated an average score of 62 out of 100 based on 22 reviews . J.G. Ballard gave positive feedback, and was especially impressed with Christian Bale's performance . Critical reaction was not universally affirmative, but Richard Corliss of Time stated that Spielberg "has energized each frame with allusive legerdemain and an intelligent density of images and emotions ." Janet Maslin from The New York Times called the film "a visual splendor, a heroic adventurousness and an immense scope that make it unforgettable ." Julie Salamon of The Wall Street Journal wrote that the film as "an edgy, intelligent script by playwright Tom Stoppard, Spielberg has made an extraordinary film out of Mr. Ballard's extraordinary war experience ." J. Hoberman from The Village Voice decried that the serious subject was undermined by Spielberg's "shamelessly kiddiecentric" approach . Roger Ebert gave a mixed reaction, "Despite the emotional potential in the story, it didn't much move me . Maybe, like the kid, I decided that no world where you can play with airplanes can be all that bad ." On his TV show with Gene Siskel, Ebert said that the film "is basically a good idea for a film that never gets off the ground ." Siskel added, "I don't know what the film is about . It's so totally confused and taking things from different parts . On one hand, if it wants to say something about a child's - eye view of war, you got a movie made by John Boorman called Hope and Glory that was just released that is much better, and much more daring in showing the whimsy that children's view of war is . On the other hand, this film wants to hedge its bet and make it like an adventure film, so you've got like Indiana Jones with the John Malkovich character helping the little kid through all the fun of war . I don't know what Spielberg wanted to do ." </P> <P> The film won awards from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures for Best Film and Best Director, and Bale received a special citation for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor, the first National Board award bestowed on a child actor . At the 60th Academy Awards, Empire of the Sun was nominated for Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Original Music Score, Costume Design (Bob Ringwood), and Sound (Robert Knudson, Don Digirolamo, John Boyd and Tony Dawe). It did not convert any of the nominations into awards . Allen Daviau, who was nominated as cinematographer, publicly complained, "I can't second - guess the Academy, but I feel very sorry that I get nominations and Steven doesn't . It's his vision that makes it all come together, and if Steven wasn't making these films, none of us would be here ." The film won awards for cinematography, sound design, and music score at the 42nd British Academy Film Awards . The nominations included production design, costume design, and adapted screenplay . Spielberg was honored by his work from the Directors Guild of America, while the American Society of Cinematographers honored Allen Daviau . Empire of the Sun was nominated for Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Original Score at the 45th Golden Globe Awards . John Williams earned a Grammy Award nomination . </P>

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