Diagnosed with an aggressive cancer of the right lung on my 58th birthday (14th July) So not really ...
Diagnosed with an aggressive cancer of the right lung on my 58th birthday (14th July) So not really in the humour for writing much at the moment, although I *WILL* be back before too long...Ken
Member since:06.12.2000
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~ ~ I went to see the latest great war epic, Pearl Harbour, at the weekend, that has been advertising itself all over the place as THE definitive film about the event that catapulted the USA into the Second World War, and which changed forever the course of world history. This film actually lasted about an hour more than the actual attack itself, which was all over in a little under two hours. Yawn!!! After a very short period of time I found myself wishing that one of the Japanese Kamikaze pilots had survived, and decided to make a comeback and attack the film studio where this “epic” piece of drivel was filmed.
~ ~ So why did I think it was so bad? After all, they did spend $135 million dollars on this Michael Bay film, and with Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, The Rock) producing, you know up front that you’re going to get plenty of fireworks and some good action sequences. In
this regard at least the film doesn’t disappoint. But only for about half an hour when the Japanese Zero bombers are actually strafing and obliterating the American Navy, which doesn’t begin to happen until the movie has already run for a mind numbing ninety minutes!! If the cinema has a bar or restaurant then go and spend the first hour and a half there, as you won’t be missing much on the screen.
~ ~ The first ninety minutes is spent boring the pants of everyone in sight. The story line is about a pair of “Top Gun” pilots, Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) and Rafe McCawley, (Ben Affleck) who are childhood friends whose only ambition in life is to fly planes, a feat they both achieve at the same time at the tender age of only nine. As adults, they both join the military, and contrive to fall in love with the same woman, Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale). Fair enough as a little sub-plot to the main action, you might say, and so it would be if that’s what it remained. But the whole thing is so drawn out and laborious, and so stereotyped, that instead of being dramatic and interesting it becomes almost laughable.
~ ~ I went to see this movie because I have an interest in history, and because I enjoy a good war film, and instead got served up with a stupid and over sentimental romantic drama, where every cliché ever written in the Hollywood book is used. (but not very well) A fairly typical scene from the ridiculous rubbish that is the first half of this film is where Rafe steals a police motor launch so that he can show the lights of New York City to the love of his life Evelyn. (Spare me!!) What all this romantic clap trap has to do with Pearl Harbour is a question you will probably ask yourself about a dozen times, as your senses are numbed and your popcorn and Coke begin to run out.
~ ~ The action, when it finally comes, is unquestionably brilliant. The film made heavy use of computer generated special effects for the action sequences, and the technique is very effective. You are suddenly woken up from the stupor that you have fallen into, as thousands of American Navy vessels and their crews are literally blown to pieces and sent to watery graves in which many of them still lie to this day. There are some really horrific sequences here, with blood spurting all over the place, and close ups of the badly wounded sailors and aviators.
~ ~ One good line that did stick in my mind is where Rafe is asked if he knows the meaning of a “top secret” mission. He replies, “It’s the the kind of mission where you get medals, and they send them to your relatives.” But very little else from the dialogue is worthy of any note.
~ ~ This is not a good movie. It tries (unsuccessfully) to emulate the love angle that was used so effectively in Titanic, but that film was like a master class in subtlety compared to this total hokum. The acting, from some very good actors, is both wooden and very stilted, and the film is WAY too long at over three hours duration. For the action sequences alone then Pearl Harbour is probably worth a look, but heed my warning about what you have to put up with before you get to see any action!!
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Thanks for the op. You've saved me from wasting money and a wasted journey. Why does Hollywood keep churning out this junk?
Smith 16.06.2001 13:23
A very good, well written op., but I have to disagree with one part:
"There are some really horrific sequences here, with blood spurting all over the place, and close ups of the badly wounded sailors and aviators."
The film rates a 12 here in Britain, and with good reason. Though the hospital scenes are overflowing with burn victims etc, you literally see no blood at all during the main action sequences. Bombs go off next to sailors all over the place, yet remarkably they stay in one piece with no blood loss. I'm not necessarily criticising this; it makes the film open to the whole family, but if you're expecting accurate action sequences and realistic death sequences, look elsewhere.
Miss-D 15.06.2001 21:20
A hilarious op! Really well written!! I haven't seen the movie yet but will be watching it keeping your points in mind!
December 7th 1941 - A Day Which Will Live In InfamyAs the lives and loves of a generation ... more
are tragically swept into the greatest conflict modern man has ever known - World War II - the events at Pearl Harbor become an extreme test for the strength of t...
Advantages: Historically accurate, covers both political and military side of the conflict, no pansy romantics. Disadvantages: Doesn't have the big-budget explosions.
Jun 13th, 2001
(Jun 14th, 2001)
very helpful by (100%):
