Although it has its imperfections, it really is worth it.

Rating: Null/10 (31 May 2001)

In the opening of `Pearl Harbor', we find two boyhood friends - Rafe Mcawley and Danny Walker, playing at a farm. We learn that Danny's father is a war veteran turned abusive father and Rafe is Danny's best friend, loyally looking out for him and assuming the role as an older brother. The audience is jetted towards the future, months before the attack of Pearl Harbor - where the two buddies, Rafe played by Ben Affleck and Danny played by Josh Hartnett, much older and excellent pilots, are training. Rafe meets Kate Beckinsale's character, Evelyn Johnson during an eye test. Although, using Danny's help, he cheats because of his dyslexia, she passes him. The two instantly fall in love and play back and forth until Evelyn finally surrenders and the two are whisked into cheesy, dragging romance. Beckinsale and Affleck have no chemistry and I, personally, did not connect or care about the two. However, they did do the best with the sappy and unrealistic lines that were written for them - and their bliss does provide a clear contrast and foreshadowing of the horror to come. Beckinsale was nothing extraordinary, but she does surprise the audience later in the film - her character becoming more profound and heroic.
Rafe abandons Evelyn and Danny when he volunteers to fly with the highly respected `Eagle Squadron' with the British where he will go to war - and I'm afraid that I can't spoil what happens thereon. Any way, a love triangle between Danny, Rafe and Evelyn takes shape. While Affleck and Beckinsale were not very believable or intriguing, Hartnett and Beckinsale played off each other very well and were extremely funny and touching. Some of the supporting roles are not very original and they added little to the to the movie. But after the film picks up a little, we go on a realistic thrill ride throughout the attack of Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle brigade.
Despite the critc's harsh and unfair bashing of `Pearl Harbor', I found it an incredible experience. Perhaps the critics have lost sight of what a movie is made for - the audience. The director, Michael Bay, seemed very impatient in the beginning of the movie, however I felt he made up for this with his powerful and heart-stopping depiction of the actual attack and brigade. Although the love triangle is what holds the movie together and perhaps makes it a little more interesting and develops the characters, the movie really is about war and being an American and it focuses mainly on the relationship between Danny and Rafe, which is very compelling - as well as entertaining. You will be proud to be an American, despite our mistakes, when you walk out of the theatre - trust me. Jon Voight had Roosevelt down to a T. Cuba Gooding Jr. also delivered a wonderful performance as an actual cook at Pearl Harbor. However, I felt his story was overshadowed a little and deserved more time. Alec Baldwin took a lot from this movie - his performance was laughable and I found it very hard to believe that he was at all sincere as Doolittle - an actual general who led men to revenge after the attack. However, overall - Josh Hartnett stole the spotlight, giving his greatest performance by far. Although he was not an unknown actor prior to this, hopefully this film will be a great step up in his career... he was very captivating on screen and in my opinion he was the star of the film, not Affleck.
In conclusion, I highly recommend you see this movie - it really will blow you away, don't expect too much in the beginning except for some pretty good comedy - but don't worry, it will get better. Michael Bay did an amazing job depicting the war scenes... the movie is barely `R'- you'll see what I mean. So, what are you waiting for? Yeah, it's no masterpiece, but it makes up for its faults and it did get its message across very successfully - this is one to see at the theatre, certainly a crowd pleaser. I only wish that Bay was a little less impatient and had tried to make this film a masterpiece and spent a little more time developing the characters and perfecting them. But what can you do, he accomplished a pretty hard task very well.