Pearl Harbor DVD > Reviews > It's not THAT bad...

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Very ordinary
Characters / Performances	Satisfactory
Special Effects	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Great action scenes
Disadvantages:	Not as good as it thinks it is

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I just had to write this op having read some scathing reviews of this film since it opened. Not that I disagree with what most people say about it, because it is packed with flaws, but because I think the film does deserve an audience, albeit a limited one.

I only went to see this film because I had an American friend staying with me, who was interested in the events that the film purports to depict. He was unaware of the critical reviews or the inherent romantic elements of the film but I decided to let him make up his own mind. I, therefore, had very few expectations for this movie.

The film starts by establishing the friendship of the two main characters, Rafe (Ben Affleck) and Danny (Josh Hartnett); each of them has a flaw, or problem, that the other compensates for: Rafe is dyslexic, and Danny needs help from Rafe to protect him from his disturbed father. All these boys want to do is fly, and when they grow up they join the air force, together naturally.

They get up to all sorts of Top Gun hijinks in their planes, all against regulations, of course. Their veteran commander, Doolittle (Alec Baldwin) practically winks at them as he chastises them, so we know he is of a similar daredevil nature despite his rank. Rafe volunteers for a special squadron of the RAF for American pilots, so he can get into the war. He tells Danny he was chosen, however, protecting him again. Just before he leaves for England he meets the Naval nurse, Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale) who passes him even although he can't read the eye chart because of his dyslexia, although this hadn't been diagnosed in those days. There is a hilarious comedy scene between these two, involving Rafe's nose, and I won't spoil it but it had the audience in stitches and was very well played by Affleck.

There's actually quite a bit of humour in the movie at this point and combined with the romance it all works quite well. Evelyn is upset when she realises she has passed Rafe fit for war and they continue to write to each other as he flies on one dangerous mission after another. Eventually, his luck runs out and he is shot down over the ocean. Danny fulfils his best friend's wish by telling Evelyn personally of the tragedy. Both are distraught and, as the clichés begin to build, the inevitable happens between them.

Both are based in Pearl Harbor, about as far as you can get from the war, according to Rafe, but we get to see some of the political intrigue and military manoeuvring between America and Japan. The Japanese believe war is inevitable and plan a huge surprise attack on the massed fleets of the Navy. The tension builds as we realise our heroes are caught up in one of the darkest days in American history. And then Rafe turns up, alive and well.

That's about as far as we need to go in the plot. It's not exactly imaginative, we've seen it in countless films and soap operas over the years, but the background historical setting adds to the atmosphere. The love triangle has little time to come to terms with their situation before the Japanese launch their attack, devastating the base. It's hard to believe that the Americans had no idea where the Japanese fleet and aircraft were (they warned the base that attack was imminent about an hour AFTER it had occurred!) and it is amazing to see the local inhabitants of the Hawaiian paradise and the military personnel bemused at the sight of the planes bearing down on them. Until the bombing starts and all hell breaks loose. (Sorry, these clichés must be catching!)

The attack itself is brilliantly crafted, with some amazing special effects. As the planes swoop in and out of the impressive explosions you get a real sense of being in the action, and this section is the main reason for going to see it in a proper theatre. Ultimately, though, it shirks from showing too many atrocities, satisfying itself with hints and flashes rather than full-blown images a la "Saving Private Ryan". Presumably this is to help keep its certification broad enough for a larger audience (it is Rated '12') but I can't help but feel that it somehow cheapens the conflict by being squeamish. The film desperately wants to be a cross between "Titanic" and "Ryan", but falls far short of either mark. Rather than being an epic containing romance and action it is just a pretentious romantic action film.

No doubt, this is the fault of its makers, director Michael Bay ("The Rock") and producer Jerry Bruckheimer ("every action film you can think of!"), who are not subtle enough to carry this off. Writer Randall Wallace ("Braveheart") fails to make any impression either, the dialogue being functional rather than memorable, and the plot losing coherency after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The film should have quickly wrapped up the love story and got out of there but unfortunately it goes on (and on) for a lengthy sequence detailing the American 'retaliation'. This is where the gung-ho, jingoistic patriotism gets the better of the story. The ultimate response to Pearl Harbor was, of course, the horror of Hiroshima, but this couldn't be tied into our heroes' stories. Not content with fighting off the Japanese hordes practically single-handed (okay, double-handed), our heroes then donate blood in the hospital before helping the rescue efforts for the men left trapped in the sunken ships!

The Baldwin character then selects them to go on a Top Secret mission from which they might not return! (One on which he goes along, against orders, proving he's 'one of the boys'!) This ending has all the signs of being a last ditch desperate re-write; it's rushed, clumsy and a complete anti-climax. They tie up the loose ends neatly and it will probably make some of the girls (and guys!) cry, but it is a huge disappointment.

I don't know how historically accurate it was (my American friend thought it was pretty close based on his memories of history lessons, but was sure they had messed up on some stuff) but if you want historical accuracy then why are you going to the movies! (Are you listening, willgould?!) They NEVER get it right. The best you can hope for is that they at least embody the truth of the reality and not corrupt it completely. In this case they are not interested in creating a testimony to the courage and resilience of the American military, but using it as a 'worthy' memorial to add gravitas to their romantic action movie.

Despite all this, I still like the movie and would recommend it. There are lots of things to enjoy - the romance for the girls; the aerial battles for the boys (or vice versa!) Most of the acting is good, although Mr. Affleck still seems to think he's more than just a pretty face. Josh Hartnett, who I did not rate at all in his debut, Halloween:H20, is, if anything, even prettier than his co-star, but he has improved as an actor and has the potential to reach the A-list in the next few years.

The movie doesn't ignore the question of the US's late entry into the war. Roosevelt (played by an almost unrecognisable Jon Voigt) is portrayed as a decent man who wanted to help out Europe but was talked out of it by advisors - don't know if that's true or not. (I was amazed to see the President was restricted to a wheelchair - something I never knew.) It is also very even-handed with the Japanese, who are treated with much more respect than the Germans are ever given in films set during this period.

One of the main criticisms of the movie is that it is boring. This, I did not find. It definitely held my interest from beginning to end, although at just over three hours it is too long, and you do wish they had made better choices. If you go in hoping to enjoy it and not expecting too much, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. If you're determined to hate it, then you will.

I enjoyed it but I wouldn't want to watch it again.