Pearl Harbor (2001)

 Doesn't Hold a Candle to TORA, TORA, TORA
This movie is just plain bad. So many missed opportunities. The screenplay is undermined by the all too predictable love triangle story. Love and war tales only mixed well in 1980s network television mini-series. PEARL HARBOR is too long and too complicated. Additionally, and unlike its predecessor TORA, TORA, TORA, the action scenes of PEARL HARBOR rely too heavily on CGI. CGI is great in science fiction films, but appears as a phony video game image when representing actual aircraft.

To their credit, the producers were able to borrow an aircraft carrier, fly actual and replica zero aircraft, as well as assembled flyable P-40 Warhawks and B-25 Mitchell bombers. Unfortunately these aircraft scenes were fluffed up with computer generated images that removed all reality from aerial scenes.

The ship scenes are credible, particularly the extensive recreation of the USS Oklahoma's capsizing. If history alone carried the story this movie would have had a chance. However, in PEARL HARBOR history played second fiddle to the romance.

In PEARL HARBOR it is also annoying to find the main characters everywhere. Rafe (Ben Affleck) and Danny (Josh Hartnett) begin their military service at Mitchell Field, Long Island. Sorry Michael Bay, Long Island does not have any dry khaki foothills. Here Rafe conveniently receives orders to join the Eagle Squadron and fight the Luftwaffe. The RAF's Eagle Squadron was not an organization that was eligible for US Army Air Corps orders. In order to participate in the Eagle Squadron -- or the Flying Tigers, for that matter -- an officer would have had to resign his commission and left the service. Of course it was the only way to separate Rafe from his love interest Navy nurse Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale).

Rafe is shot down by a Messerschmitt and presumed dead thus freeing Evelyn to fall in love with Rafe's best friend Danny. Danny's squadron along with Evelyn and her nurse peers find themselves shipped out to Hawaii. Evelyn no sooner swoons for Danny when Rafe shows up. Not only is Rafe alive and well, he is also an ace. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor interrupts the romantic debacle as Rafe and Danny put aside their differences take to the air against the Zeros. After some fancy CGI flying, both pilots return to donate blood for the wounded and rush off to the anchorage to assist with the rescue effort.

Rafe and Danny then volunteer to become bomber pilots and join General Doolittle in his raid on Tokyo. Danny sacrifices his life to save Rafe and resolving the uneasiness between the two over Evelyn. Thus Rafe is free to return to a pregnant Evelyn and both remember Danny through his son.

War and romance do not mix. ENEMY AT THE GATES was proof of that.

PEARL HARBOR boasts some great supporting actors with Alec Baldwin as General Doolittle, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Dorie Miller, and Jon Voight doing a great job portraying President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Their roles could have been better had the movie not been crowded with a love story.

A lot of work went into this movie. When I went to see the film I brought a copy of PEARL HARBOR: THE MOVIE AND THE MOMENT to read while waiting for the film to begin. After leafing through the book I expected much more from the film. Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett fans will probably enjoy this film, but military history enthusiasts should snub it all together. May 5, 2008

 One Of The Greatest Movies I Have Seen Of World War 11
I bought these two Vhs sets watched it from the beginning to the end.
It was a extraordinary movie of world war 11.I do not know why people put this movie down.Did they see what I watched? The Most Astounding Attack on our country.That will live forever in infamy.Also a heartfelt tribute to the men and women who lived it. April 17, 2008

 an engaging look at a very important time in history....
Two young men who have been friends since childhood (Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett) enlist in service together, thinking that their time spent serving our country will be anything but monumental. Little do they realize that they will be on hand to experience one of the most significant events in U.S. history--the bombing of Pearl Harbor. What's more, they both end up falling in love with the same woman, a beautiful nurse (Kate Beckinsale). This only adds more drama and intrigue to the mix, in the midst of numerous explosions and political strategy.

Though, I don't consider myself to be a huge fan of action films, this one was well done. The actors were attractive, engaging and believable. The cinematography was beautiful. I also feel that this film was well worth the Academy Awards it received following its release (Best Sound Editing, Best Effects/Visual Effects, Best Music, Best Sound). This is definitely worth a look. April 9, 2008

 My Grandfather was there...on that day
I don't understand why people trash this movie, If you want to experience the horror of that fateful day, then watch this, my Grandfather who died in 2006, at 84, told me that the attack scenes were the most realistic scenes he had seen in a film about Pearl Harbor, he was there & said that the attack scenes were just as he remembered them, he did however have issues with Ben Affleck & Josh Hartnett flying in planes with shirts without breathing gear, that he said would not have been possible because of air altitudes, At first I did'nt like this film, but listening to him talk about it got me interested in watching it again, & I must say this film captures the Pearl Harbor attack the same way "Titanic" captures that fateful ship's demise, yes, Hollywood may up the ante for entertainment sake, but any smart viewer gets the general idea, Jon Voight's portrayal of FDR is faithful at best, it is clear he watched old footage of FDR to study his mannerism, & Ben Affleck is good in this too, why people pick at him is beyond me, Kate Beckinsale is also good as his love interest, I don't think it is fair to compare them to Kate & Leo from "Titanic, however this film works & the special features make you realize that Michael Bay & Jerry Bruckheimer was intent on making a realistic film, so much they consulted survivors of that fateful day for accuracy, my grandfather lived it & liked this film a lot, if it was good enough for him, then it is good enough for me to appreciate the sacrifices that many gave their lives for to their country. March 29, 2008

 Can't help loving this movie!
I know this movie is almost universally despised, but I can't stop loving it! There just aren't any faults substantial enough to compromise the sheer entertainment value of this film! The cinematography is fantastic, the music is great, the CGI effects are astounding (especially when you turn on the 5.1 surround sound), the story is entertaining, and the cast works. Ben Affleck is no worse an actor than Orlando Bloom or Colin Farrell or any of the other new Hollywood heartthrobs, Josh Harnett is good, and if I were either of them, I'd fall for Kate Beckinsale too! The love triangle plot may be hackneyed, but I can't help being moved by it. Makes me wish I were 25 again. The budget obviously didn't allow for filming in Japan, so the scenes of the attack planning were also shot in Hawaii, doubling for Japan, but even so, effort is made within the confines of the film to show the Japanese, especially naval genius Isoroku Yamamoto in a noble light. For historical accuracy, I'll turn to books or the History Channel, but for superb youthful entertainment, I'll come back to this movie over and over again. Get the director's cut for the full-effect of the action scenes. March 26, 2008

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