Much better than it is given credit for.

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2005)

Having heard the negative publicity that this film had received, I set out to watch Pearl Harbor in order to experience the special effects - I was expecting little more in the way of entertainment. The film was a very pleasant surprise - much, much better than I had expected. Sure the Pearl Harbour battle scene, which lasts the best part of an hour, is absolutely incredible and worthy of recognition by the Academy or the Golden Globes for sound, or effects, or cinematography or whatever! Home Cinema absolutely essential mind you. I would strongly recommend that viewers watch the 45 minute documentary "Making of Pearl Harbour" on the second disc as this opens one's eyes to the fantastic achievement that the making of this movie represents.
In spite of the fact that the film lasts over 3 hours it never seemed to drag and was a very enjoyable experience. Certainly the two main characters (played by Affleck and Hartnett) are a bit like Batman and Robin as they strive to defeat the entire Japanese Empire with a little help from a few friends but, as you will find from the documentary, their actions were someone's actions - it's just that a lot of people's heroics have been rolled into two characters. The love story sub-plot involving our two heroes plus Beckinsale is somewhat unlikely (but not impossible) but adds to the film by allowing watchers to become more emotionally involved with the plight of the characters.
In my view the movie's emphasis on viewing the lead up to, attack on, and aftermath of Pearl Harbor through the characters leads to a more satisfying cinematic experience overall than, say, Tora! Tora! Tora! which is an historically more accurate but, due to its more documentary nature, less emotionally involving.
In conclusion, I would recommend this film. If you set out to accept the movie at face value as the lives and tribulations of a number of characters set against a back drop of Pearl Harbour you will not be disappointed. And as I say the battle scenes are phenomenal!! PS: Jon Voight as the president is very, very convincing and deserves special mention.