Surprise: it is a good movie !

Rating: 8/10 (18 December 2001)

The best thing about PEARL HARBOR is the fact that director Michael Bay proofs to be a director. He is actually able to transfer a script to the screen without giving himself away by too many special effects.

Pearl Harbor has many special effects and many explosions like movies Bay made before, BUT the difference is, in this film he keeps back everything which is not necessary to show the attack by the Japanese which results into an unobtrusive and nice movie.
Ben Affleck has some nice scenes (as he gets to know Kate Beckinsale), but is as wooden as ever. The surprise and pleasure of Pearl Harbor comes with Josh Hartnett in a wonderful performance. Watch out for him, he is great !
The dialogue is so ridiculous and laughable that the actors, if they weren't as likable as Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale, would make complete fools of themselves. But it is charming to watch them with their stupid lines. And that makes the movie good.
8 out of 10, I was surprised how good this movie really is !!!