Watch it for the bombing sequence

Rating: 7/10 (3 June 2001)

Don't miss this movie because you heard that the history is inaccurate, or that the love story is poorly told, or that the characters are cardboard. These opinions may or may not be yours (they're not mine), but nevertheless, "Pearl Harbor" should be seen because of the impressive attack sequence.
I've heard that some of the veterans of Pearl Harbor who have seen this movie thought the attack appeared a bit over-the-top, which is probably true, but it does do an excellent job of conveying the sadness, helplessness, and confusion of the event, of seeing all the destruction and wounds inflicted and lives lost, in particular the drowning of all those people trapped within the Arizona. What an emotionally intense sequence, and I can only imagine how much more magnified these emotions were of the people who were actually there.
The love story was so-so; you do empathize with the characters. But, it doesn't really relate to the actual attack or serve any grand purpose in relation to the war. Rather, the relationships were explored only as book-ends (beginning and end), and that's probably why it doesn't seem to work very well. That, and I felt that the triangle was a bit... twisted.
So, check out "Pearl Harbor" for the actual event itself. For the attack sequence alone, this movie is worth watching. You do get a love story on the side, which you may or may not enjoy, plus some extra patriotism (for Americans) with the Doolittle Raid retaliatory airstrike thrown in there, as well as a nice portrayal of the great President Roosevelt.