Every American Should Be Insulted

Rating: 3/10 (27 December 2001)

Let me get the good stuff out of the way first (since it will take the least amount of time). The second act of "Pearl Harbor", in which the Japanese attack the Naval base, contains some of the most visually stunning and heart-breaking moments ever produced in a war film.
There is nothing else good about this movie. That's not to say it's all bad, although a lot of it is--some of it actually rises to mediocrity. But as an American, indeed as a human, I can't stand to think that the suffering and bravery of those lost in one of the most cowardly acts of war ever committed has been reduced to filler in a COMPLETELY predictable, sub-soap-opera love story.
From the opening moments of the film, we are introduced to the poor writing and bad acting that permeates the film as two young boys realize that violence strengthens friendship. They grow up, join the military, fall in love with the same woman, fight each other, fight the Japanese, hate each other, and then move into a final third act that any ten-year-old could predict.
Meanwhile, this cartoon actually seems to believe it's being patriotic, that it is somehow paying tribute to those whom it claims to be about. But this movie is just too stupid. Think of it as an after-school special about WWII. It's cheesy, it's uninspired, and it's insulting. To think that after such excellent fictional war movies as "Platoon" and "Saving Private Ryan" one of the most pivotal moments in American history ends up being made as a teen flick . . .
Now there's a tragedy.