PEARL HARBOR

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2001)

PEARL HARBOR: THE STAR WARS OF WWII FILMS.

When one enters a movie theater, they should be in for a new reality. Once that projector plays and the lights dim, you should enter another time and place. The film should be your reality, you should be able to smell the air, feel the heat of explosions, and feel the sweet pressure apon your lips as the screen kiss plays out larger then life.
Thats exactly what happens in PEARL HARBOR, the new Summer epic by Jerry Brockhimer and director Michael Bay. Teaming up again from the 1998 summer blockbuster Armageddon, (also starring Ben Aflect) The 2 bring the events of before, during and after the faithful events of December 7th,1941.
The film starts off as a flashback in the 20's were our two charaters are playing on an old cropduster. Both clearly have dreams of becoming a fighter pilot and leading a squadran into battle against germans. But when little rafe and danny play around in rafes fathers cropduster, there first flying lesson isnt exactly a doozy.
Now cut to the early 40's. With both friends in the air force craving battle in the war, the only thing that stops them from actuley doing it is Americas will to stay out of the war. Soon rafe meets a young nurse and a weve seen it all before but we wana see it again romance blossoms. But things are about to change for rafe and danny, when rafe is sent to england to help fight off the luwafa with the R.A. But during one such battle, Rafe is forced to ditch, and declared dead.
The young nurse evelin, heartbroken, turns to danny for comfort, and the two fall for another as in the background, the japs prepare for there attack on the pacific fleet.
Suddenly in comes Rafe, aperentley not dead and a love tringle appears. Fighting for the same woman, danny and rafe soon become rivals. But just as the rivaly cools down, the harbor heats up. And its aftermath and americas revenge takes place by John Dolittle, in a exelent climax battle over tokyo.
Filled with all the horrors of war and the glory of victory and revenge, this film packs a punch. With more stunning dog fights, bombings, everything you can think of exploding, and simply stunning special effects, you WILL experience the bombing of pearl harbor. An exelent epic, chock filled with sappy romance, more stunning dog fights the the whole star wars trilogy combined, sinking ships that make the titanic look like a water slide ride, and amazing special effects that look so real, if wasnt for the screen, would leave your pants brown. Add to that a nice simplfied history lesson, and saving privete ryans horrors of war (toned down on the gore, but not on the fear and horror) you have an epic on your hands that can only be experienced in the theaters. WARNING: When on home video, if you buy the pan and scan vhs version of this film, you deserve to be hung! Truly a theater experence, you will walk away from this film stunned, sad, and shaking with fear and pride.
THE ROUNDUP
ACTING: Great, some oscar worthy proforamces in Alic Baldwins john dolittle,John Voights ROSEVELT. As for aflect and the new comers, great, but a little sappy at times.
ACTION: P*** BEFORE YOU SEE THIS FILM, or regret it later. This puppys got the action of 10 world war movies and then some
ADVENTURE: ITS AMERICAS ADVENTURE.
DRAMA: Almost de-throning saving private ryan in the way of drama, ALMOST.
ROMANCE: Its not Titanics love, but its Armageddons with a little Umph into it
SPECIAL EFFECTS: Whats real and whats not? I, the special effects god, had a hard time telling. Makes the Mummy Returns look like a cartoon.
SOUND: Whow! I think i got shell shock! My ears are still ringing from all the explosions.
THRILLS: Attacks and battles are filled with thrills, but the romance lacks it.(Thank god)
FILM LOOK: Bright colors, nice shots, shocking attacks and battles. Shaking camera...
OVER ALL:
THE GOOD Its all good.
THE BAD: Cheezy "Death and return" love aspect. Our main characters seem to be involved in everything, but nothing eazley overlooked, and history migh be a little too simple and some stuff might have been added for effect.BUT AGAIN, nothing to get upset about. You want to entertained or bored to death with details like Tora torra torra!?
THE UGLY: The japs as the bad guys. There brutal, but accurate to what they did. Some Japanese might be a little offended, but hey, history isnt politically correct.
IN CLOSING: Great film, nice simple but stunning history lesson,and some outstanding roles. Doesnt beat TITANIC as my number one excelent film, but sure comes close to. At least Equal to Ryan!