Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Member since:29.08.2002
Reviews:627
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In 2001 one of the most anticipated films in a long time was released, having spent a reported $130 million on the film, big things were expected. The team of Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, added a lot of appeal to the film and suddenly it had become the must see film of the year, surpassing even the hype that had surrounded Titanic on it’s opening weekend.
As you may have guessed this is a war film, based on events at Pearl Harbor, that brought the Americans into the war. But back track to before the war we first meet our two main characters as kids, Danny Walker (Josh Hartnett) and Rafe McCawley (Ben Affleck). Who the first time we see them have been flying a crop dusting plane at only 9 years old. We then fast-forward and find them in the Air Force together. Rafe falls in love with a nurse, Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), whom he is with until his transfer to join the RAF comes thorough.
So Rafe flies off to join the RAF leaving Evelyn at home who is then reassigned to Pearl Harbour, where conveniently Danny happens to be serving. Rafe goes missing during a dogfight
with the Germans and the news throws Danny and Evelyn together. But he’s not really lost and returns a few weeks later, around about the same time the entire Japanese fleet has disappeared and are planning an attack on Pearl Harbor.
So with both ace pilots now in the same place it only seems right that the attack should start and with it the most impressive part of the film. I’d imagine most people will be aware of the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor and hopefully I won’t need to explain this bit. That’s pretty much what the films about, but somehow that took up over 2 and half hours.
To be honest it probably doesn’t sound too bad to many, but for the first hour and a half or so, be prepared to be bored rigid. The love story really takes away from a good film and having spent all that time building it up, it could have been done in a 1/3 of the time. Of course it’s a sub-plot and I know a lot of people I have spoken to have said it’s a really good film because of the love story angle, but it’s a war film and I’m afraid that was what I was looking for not a 2 hour love story and a little bit of war thrown in on the side.
The actually bombing of Pearl Harbor though is undoubtedly the best scene in any of the war films I’ve seen, well apart from maybe Apocalypse Now. The half hour attack is very well done, pieced together bit by bit and you can tell that probably $100 million of the total cost probably went on these scene’s alone. For that half an hour, you forget all about the love story and enjoy, what many thought the whole film would have been like.
The director Michael Bay has made some top notch films such as Bad Boys and Armageddon, but there is really a lot missing from this film. Of course the combination of Bay and Brucheimer mean that any action scene is going to be superb as with the 2 films previously mentioned. However when it comes to the love angle of the story they have failed miserably, although part of that may be down to the writers.
Of course as I’ve already said the special effects are awesome, but that’s about all that saves this film, and shows that Bruckheimer and Bay should stick to making all action films and not try and mix it with as much romance. Even the star names in this one couldn’t save it.
I’m quite a big fan of Ben Affleck mainly due to his roles in Kevin Smith films but I just though in this film he just didn’t work. Despite a good performances in love stores and action films it’s almost as if he can’t combine the 2. The same with Josh Hartnett I thought he was brilliant in Black Hawk Down, but when it comes to mixing action with romance he just isn’t the right guy for the role. And judging by 40 Days and 40 Nights, love stories aren’t Hartnett’s strong point.
As for Kate Beckinsale, she actually fits her role well in the film and is one of the few. During the bombing scene’s her character is one of the key roles in the hospital and it was important, from a personal point of view that she seemed to have a screen presence, which appeared to be lacking from Affleck and Hartnett. Along side that she slipped easily into the love story role, just a shame the love story role wasn’t that good.
So in conclusion it certainly didn’t live up to what I thought it was going to be and although we do own it on DVD I only watch about half an hour of it every time. My mum actually likes it but the general feeling is that it’s at least half an hour too long possibly more. If you haven’t seen it and are a bit wary about whether this is the film for you, I’d recommend that you watch it on TV first.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1997 - Drama - Director: Gillian Armstrong - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Roxburgh
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
My dad loves this film but I fell asleep half an hour in. Have to agree with you - if they had got on with the actual Pearl Harbour story it would have been so much better.
Kiera13 16.09.2003 02:21
Stop writing good ops! I'm desperately trying to UH u xxx
franproc 15.09.2003 21:14
This was so attrocious...I really couldn't stand it. I liked Ben Affleck when it came out but now, between a combination of this and the J Lo thing, I hate him.
Great op.
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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.
Sep 10th, 2003
very helpful by (100%):
