A good, entertaining movie. Don't expect Saving Private Ryan though...

Rating: 6/10 (26 May 2001)

I think the reason many critics hated Pearl Harbor is that they went into it expecting Saving Private Ryan. Unfortunately, Pearl Harbor is no SPR. Then what is Pearl Harbor, you ask? It's a popcorn movie. No, it's not a war movie in the traditional sense. No, it is not a great movie in any sense of the word. It is an entertaining movie, and I heavily enjoyed it.
First off the bat, I'll discuss some of the bad stuff. I didn't like how the movie started. There are no opening credits, just a short cut of the title. The opening, in my picky opinion, was too short. I think that they could have slowed it down and made it a bit more dramatic. Oh well, this will do.
Problem number 2: While some parts of the movie move too quickly, other parts move too slowly. Many of the romantic scenes are nice, but they draw on for too long.
Next Problem: There isn't much here that you haven't seen before in terms of character in story. I could have (and did) predict the entire movie before hand. The story is that clichÃ©.
Okay, another problem: This movie didn't take enough opportunities. There are so many stories involving Pearl Harbor, that I was disappointed that the never told any of them. Well, they did tell of Doris 'Dorie' Miller, the first black man to receive the silver cross. But there are so many other stories. The USS Nevada tried to make a run for it out of the harbor and got shot to death. I think that would have been great. Another historic disappointment to me was the USS Arizona. Correct me if I'm wrong (please), but I read in a book that a torpedo hit the ballast tanks (or what-have-you) underneath the Arizona, causing a massive explosion that shot the ship into a 90 degree angle with the water. It sat there, pointing into the sky for ten or twelve minutes then crashed back down into the water. The Virginia or the Utah, I cannot remember which one, was connected to the Arizona, making repairs to it when the Japs rolled in. When the Arizona shot up like spring, the repair ship was thrown like a toy boat into the shore, where it landed face down in the mud. There are so many chances this movie could have taken, but sadly, this isn't Spielberg quality. Oh, and please, I don't want anyone crying about the historical accuracy. I know some things are fictional in this movie, but Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator are filled with made up crap, so stop your bellyaching.
Final problem: the movie is too long for its own good. After the tragic happenings of Pearl Harbor, the movie goes to the Dolittle bombing of Japan. I think it would have been better just to end the movie at Pearl Harbor.
Okay, the good stuff. This movie has the best special effects of the year (at least so far). Some special effects range from spectacular/photo-realistic to something I could have made in PhotoShop. But, when they're good, hot damn, they're good.
Another good point is the movie is very entertaining. I can't really explain how, it just is.
Well then, next point: this movie will get your patriotic blood pumping like never before. Well, at least since you saw SPR. Lots of people said Gibson's The Patriot made them feel proud to be an American. Well, I never liked that movie, and let me tell you, when our boys start fighting back against the enemy, I have never felt so proud.
In conclusion, Pearl Harbor is not a great movie. But it is a good movie. If anyone hates this movie, they cannot call themselves Americans. As a film critic of sorts, I admit the movie has a lot of problems. Hell, that's an understatement. This is a mess of a movie, and yes, it could have been much better. But see this movie for what it is: a fun popcorn flick. I still can't believe people expected this movie to be Spielberg material. I mean, really, this is Jerry Brockhiemer and Michael Bay. These guys made The Rock, Topgun, and Armaggedon. What the hell do you expect from people who have never made a serious movie in their lives? I laugh at you.
If you want a realistic war movie in the Pacific, just wait a few years. Steven Spielberg has bought the rights to the great, GREAT book, Flags of our Fathers, which is the true story of the six guys raising the flag on Iwa Jima. I hope that he makes it, because it will be one hell of a movie.
Rating: 6/10