Slightly underrated, but not overly spectacular

Rating: 6/10 (5 February 2006)

After seeing this only a week ago I felt slightly compelled to write a review on it. Let me just say first off though, that while it was most certainly not the greatest movie ever made, it was also definitely not the worst. Pearl Harbour tries to tell us about the ordinary people who were effected by the drama that occurred on December 7, 1941. It's main characters are I guess somewhat believable. Rafe (played very badly by Ben Affleck) is a charismatic, and slightly cocky pilot who just can't wait to be a hero. Standing in his shadow is the much more insecure and more logical friend Danny (Josh Hartnett i thought played him surprisingly well), who looks up to Rafe like a younger brother looks up to his big brother. And lastly Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale) who is a slightly stereotypical 1940's girl who just can never make up her mind about what to do.
The plot is rather predictable, I suppose. Rafe falls for Evelyn. Rafe goes off to war and is assumed dead. Evelyn and Danny fall in love. Rafe is suddenly not dead. Danny and Rafe get at it over Evelyn. Pearl Harbour is bombed. Evelyn picks Danny over Rafe. And then we all know what happens in the end... Although the romance was a bit Jerry Springer, and there was absolutely no chemistry between Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale, Pearl Harbour manages to keep you interested in the characters and what their fate will be.
Positives:

Hartnett and Beckinsale both provide relatively good performances

special effects were extremely breathtaking in the bombing scene

Jon Voight is the highlight of the film as Franklin D Roosevelt (best scene in the movie) - battle scenes are very well developed

supporting actors were just as good as the main actors, providing a bit more interest to the "ordinary" people of Pearl Harbour

Negatives:

once again, Ben Affleck was not at all talented in this movie, his acting was very wooden

cheesy script ( way too many cheesy romance lines to count)

Alec Baldwin as a "hero"? eugh

historically inaccurate

not enough of Cuba Gooding Jr.

my main problem is the ending. It was an absolutely awful one in my opinion.

To be honest, it wasn't the greatest movie ever, I watched it, it was worth the 4 dollar rental and I did cry a bit at the end. I think the main thing people can debate is who the love of her life was... Rafe or Danny? My vote will always be on Danny. I mean, the parachute scene? =)
Anyways, 6/10