A Great Movie, Trapped in a Bad Script

Rating: 8/10 (3 August 2007)

Everyone's so hard on this film and, admittedly, it deserves some criticism. Some of the lines are flat and the "love triangle" plot definitely gets in the way of the rest of the story. Also, the love scenes between Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsale are downright laughable. Still, the attack scene is some of the best film-making I've ever seen. The magnitude, scope, and shock are all conveyed perfectly. There's also lots of other things to like here. For one, the film-makers have definitely captured the essence of pre-war Hawaii. Finally, much of the supporting cast turns in top-notch performances: Dan Ackroyd, Tom Sizemore and, especially, John Voight as FDR. My recommendation? Rent it on a Sunday afternoon on the biggest TV screen you can find, make some popcorn, and enjoy the ride.