J.G.

Ballards Empire of the Sun and Stephen Spielbergs film adaptation both
effectively convey the profound impact of journeys. Whilst both texts follow a
similar storyline and characters, the use of visual and literary techniques is
what makes both texts distinct. However J.G. Ballards Empire of the Sun
conveys the profound impact of journeys more effectively further exploring
the details of the semi-autobiographical story.
J.G Ballards and Stephen Spielbergs individual depiction of Empire of the
sun both effectively convey the profound impact of journeys. However
Stephen Spielbergs adaptation fails to express how Jims inner journey
changed him psychologically by leaving the story at an ambiguous ending,
but through the use of special effects, Stephen Spielberg shows how the
journey changed him physically when he is reunited with his parents. When
Jims parents fail to recognise him it reinforces how much the war changed
him, supported by the quote I cant remember what my parents look like.
Furthermore Stephen Spielberg adapts the journey from book to film by
adding new scenes that emphasise the struggle of Jims journey. An example
of this was the bombing of the Lunghua camp, through the use of tracking
shots, Stephen Spielberg emphasises the reality of the conflict, thus pushing
the viewer to sympathise with the prisoners. Stephen Spielbergs adaptation
also demonstrates how an inner journey can lead to coming of age by
exploring Jims naive sense of wonder. At the start of the film Jim is
fascinated by planes as shown by his obsession of B- 29s, Mustang of the
sky. However as the story progresses he seems less fascinated by planes
and more focused on surviving thus reinforcing how an inner journey can
lead to development in maturity.
J.G. Ballard more effectively conveys the profound impact of journeys
through his own depiction of the story. Unlike Spielbergs adaptation Ballards
Empire of the sun reinforces how a journey can affect an individual
psychologically as well as physically as seen through the quote the pool
reminded of the bowers in which the dead Japanese men had lain. This
reinforces that the war had traumatised him to the point where everything
reminds him of the people who died. J.G. Ballard demonstrates how a journey
can sometimes be more important than the destination as even after the
journey he returns to Lunghua camp to remind himself of the friendship he
had with Basie, Mrs Vincent and Dr Ransome. This is reinforced in the quote
Jim felt a moment of regret, of sadness that his quest for his mother and
father would soon be over. Furthermore both texts revolve around Jims
journey to maturity and coming to terms with themes such as death and the
value of life. This is reinforced through the quote The dead were buried

above ground, the loose soil heaped around them. Jim showed admiration
for Kamikaze pilots as they were willing to die for their countrys cause, from
this Jim learns the true value of life, thus becoming mature then he was
when his journey started as shown in the quote, Jim identified himself with
the kamikaze pilots.
In conclusion both J.G Ballards Empire of the Sun and Stephen Spielbergs
adaptation effectively convey the profound impact of journeys through the
use of visual and literary techniques, whilst discussing themes such as the
true value of life and death and how journey is more important than the
destination.