Pearl Harbor (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'Pearl Harbor' (directed by Michael Bay) aims to be the Titanic of this year. You know: a big-budget spectacle & fictional love story set against the backdrop of an enormous, ill-fated historical event. I don't think 'Pearl Harbor' is a horrible movie {as some feel}, but as 3 hour epics go, it pales in comparison to Titanic in every facet. Not only is this film not as potent in its direction, writing, acting, or visuals ... but it lacks the heart, as well. But I digress. The story is presented from the POV of 3 main characters: best friend bomber pilots Rafe & Danny (Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett), & Navy nurse Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale). Rafe & Evelyn are an item. And over time, Rafe goes to go fight in England (America isn't in the war yet); while Danny & Evelyn are transferred from their current station to Pearl Harbor.
Word gets back to our other protagonists that Rafe is shot down & presumably dead. Danny & Evelyn become close in their mourning, & slowly start to fall for each other. But surprise(!), Rafe is alive, returns to find Danny with Evelyn, & the 2 former friends become enemies. However, before they all can sort out their feelings in this tempestuous love triangle, Pearl Harbor is attacked, chaos ensues, & all of them are called to perform acts of heroism to defeat the Japanese. Will our 3 main characters survive? And most importantly, who ends up with whom? The big question here is ... do we care enough about that outcome?
Pearl Harbor, 12/7/41 - as a historical event - is one of the most incredible true stories in our nation's history. The attack, devised by Admiral Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese fleet, brought his military power upon Hawaii; which thrust America into WWII indefinitely. As recorded in the history books - and as diligently portrayed in 1970's Tora! Tora! Tora! within 2 hours - 18 ships were hit (including The Arizona - shown spectacularly in this movie), nearly 190 planes were destroyed, 160 were damaged, & over 2,400 Americans were killed. It's a miracle that our aircraft carriers were already out at sea by the time of the attack. This movie stumbles for several reasons. But for me, the biggest one is glossing over the heavy importance of the catastrophic event to provide a lengthy, schmaltzy Hollywood romantic plot at the epicenter of it all. Again, Titanic achieved this Hollywood goal with exceedingly better quality.
As a history lesson, the Pearl Harbor attack (in the film) feels uneven, perfunctory, & treated as a special effects show; rather than providing a meaningful, insightful look at the attack itself. I oohed & ahhed at the sound & fury of the digital re-creation of the attack, the gorgeous aerial shots, the tremendous action, war ships, planes, bombs, explosions, pyrotechnics, deaths & Hans Zimmer's swelling musical score. Viscerally & visually, the film is spectacular. But the excitement of the action lasts only 45 or so minutes during the 3 hour running time. And the narrative concerning the 3 main characters – while okay - is just not strong enough to warrant all the time devoted to them. Don't get me wrong, not everything revolves around the 3 characters, but they get the brunt - and it gets tedious. Furthermore, the dialogue that these poor actors have to spew is pretty bad for most of the proceedings. No one talks freely or does anything as they would in real life.
I like Ben Affleck, but he doesn't come across too well in the story. Josh Hartnett has the look of a young leading man, but he doesn't lend enough gravitas or subtlety to Danny. Kate Beckinsale {who is drop-dead gorgeous} also struggles to convince as Evelyn. Other supporting turns fare better (those played by the likes of Alec Baldwin, Colm Feore, Cuba Gooding Jr., Mako as Adm. Yamamoto & Jon Voight as FDR). But I DO mostly fault the script (bad dialogue, little dramatic tension, bland romance, reliance on montages). 'Pearl Harbor' provides blockbuster entertainment. It's easy to watch. Though it cost a lot of $$ to make, it’ll make all of that back & then some. And I'm sure many people will love the movie for its traditional tale of love & war. But this beautifully shot, wonderfully detailed film lacks some soul & a brain. I wanted 'Pearl Harbor' to be amazing, but it falls short.
Word gets back to our other protagonists that Rafe is shot down & presumably dead. Danny & Evelyn become close in their mourning, & slowly start to fall for each other. But surprise(!), Rafe is alive, returns to find Danny with Evelyn, & the 2 former friends become enemies. However, before they all can sort out their feelings in this tempestuous love triangle, Pearl Harbor is attacked, chaos ensues, & all of them are called to perform acts of heroism to defeat the Japanese. Will our 3 main characters survive? And most importantly, who ends up with whom? The big question here is ... do we care enough about that outcome?
Pearl Harbor, 12/7/41 - as a historical event - is one of the most incredible true stories in our nation's history. The attack, devised by Admiral Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese fleet, brought his military power upon Hawaii; which thrust America into WWII indefinitely. As recorded in the history books - and as diligently portrayed in 1970's Tora! Tora! Tora! within 2 hours - 18 ships were hit (including The Arizona - shown spectacularly in this movie), nearly 190 planes were destroyed, 160 were damaged, & over 2,400 Americans were killed. It's a miracle that our aircraft carriers were already out at sea by the time of the attack. This movie stumbles for several reasons. But for me, the biggest one is glossing over the heavy importance of the catastrophic event to provide a lengthy, schmaltzy Hollywood romantic plot at the epicenter of it all. Again, Titanic achieved this Hollywood goal with exceedingly better quality.
As a history lesson, the Pearl Harbor attack (in the film) feels uneven, perfunctory, & treated as a special effects show; rather than providing a meaningful, insightful look at the attack itself. I oohed & ahhed at the sound & fury of the digital re-creation of the attack, the gorgeous aerial shots, the tremendous action, war ships, planes, bombs, explosions, pyrotechnics, deaths & Hans Zimmer's swelling musical score. Viscerally & visually, the film is spectacular. But the excitement of the action lasts only 45 or so minutes during the 3 hour running time. And the narrative concerning the 3 main characters – while okay - is just not strong enough to warrant all the time devoted to them. Don't get me wrong, not everything revolves around the 3 characters, but they get the brunt - and it gets tedious. Furthermore, the dialogue that these poor actors have to spew is pretty bad for most of the proceedings. No one talks freely or does anything as they would in real life.
I like Ben Affleck, but he doesn't come across too well in the story. Josh Hartnett has the look of a young leading man, but he doesn't lend enough gravitas or subtlety to Danny. Kate Beckinsale {who is drop-dead gorgeous} also struggles to convince as Evelyn. Other supporting turns fare better (those played by the likes of Alec Baldwin, Colm Feore, Cuba Gooding Jr., Mako as Adm. Yamamoto & Jon Voight as FDR). But I DO mostly fault the script (bad dialogue, little dramatic tension, bland romance, reliance on montages). 'Pearl Harbor' provides blockbuster entertainment. It's easy to watch. Though it cost a lot of $$ to make, it’ll make all of that back & then some. And I'm sure many people will love the movie for its traditional tale of love & war. But this beautifully shot, wonderfully detailed film lacks some soul & a brain. I wanted 'Pearl Harbor' to be amazing, but it falls short.