"Pearl Harbor", (2001) is an American movie which does not only deals with the Second World War but also a love story.

Rating: 6/10 (1 May 2017)

Michael Bay, the director, who also had great success with his Terminator films, delivers us here a film both historical and romantic. Yet, he's still being criticized due to an excess of special effects, which makes his movies less realistic sometimes, but not for Pearl Harbor. On the contrary, all of these special effects are true to what happened during the real attack of Pearl Harbor which creates a true combination between horror and violence. What's more, we could wonder why would have Bay decided to add a love story, because we could have done without it... But then, when we think about it, we could guess that it was a strategy. Indeed, the purpose of Pearl Harbor was to attract not only men who are fond of war and violence, but also women who love the romantic touch. And I think it worked well, as it is for a lot of women "an amazing romantic movie" before a war film. An important thing throughout the movie is the significance of the different shots. Actually, most shots are aerial, which is typical for a war movie. Bay uses most of the time these shots in order to show how much power the Japanese had on the Americans who were weak during that attack. It is even more obvious when we can see the American flag and the US vessels plunged into the water: it is the nation that is drowning. During the attack, Bay uses a lot of point of view shots, and thanks to these, the spectator can put himself in the American soldiers' shoes, and it gives us a feeling of oppression, fear and horror. We automatically feel pity for the Americans, who are being unfairly attacked. Furthermore, there are a lot of off-screen spaces, just like during the Japanese attack scene. One actor isn't looking at the planes while we, spectators, see it in the background, which means that there's even more planes we can't actually see. Indeed, each individual shot feels huge but also implies bigger things outside the frame. It shows you a lot for just a moment and then it takes it away. Michael Bay style is "simply" the use of movement, composition and fast editing to create a sense of epic scale.
Yet, at the end of the movie, when we thought that everything was against the Americans, that they're definitely the victims, there is a plot twist. Indeed, they win; rescued by the Chinese soldiers and they are considered as heroes. When Danny dies, he dies as a real superhero. Right after his death scene, there's a fade out shot and we can see a Chinese soldier waving the American flag, which proves that the American nation is not, and never will be down. Right after this scene, there is another fade out which shows the American flag waving to the right, symbol of hope, of a better future. Then follows the reunion between families and the soldiers. Once again, Bay shows the dual vision of the soldier: he is not only a killing machine but also a man, who has a wife and kids. During that entire scene, the images are in slow-motion, and there's a music which is at the same time moving, sad, but also patriotic thanks to the trumpets. Music has a major role in Pearl Harbor. Thanks to Hans Zimmers' soundtrack, we are automatically plunged into the atmosphere of the movie. For example, when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, the music highlights how chaotic the situation is, how hopeless America is at this moment. Pearl Harbor is also known thanks to this amazing song called Tennessee, once again, created by Hans Zimmer. At the very end of the movie, there is a voice-over: Evelyn speaks and pays a tribute to the ones who died during the war. She insists that despite the fact that America may have known defeats and many casualties, she will always stand up and she will always fight for her nation and her pride. What's more, we learn that Dory Miler was the first Afro-American to receive the Navy Cross, which is once again a proof of a better future and hope. The movie ends with a child (Evelyn and Danny's child) who picks a flower. The kid is the perfect symbol of innocence, and the fact that he picks a flower highlights the movie's moral: no matter what happens, life goes on. Here, the flower might be the metaphor of rebirth. To put in a nutshell, Pearl Harbor is a movie which deserves to be seen because it is very representative of the horror of war. It is not only the attack of Pearl Harbor that Michael Bay denounces, it is war in general. However, we soon understand the second purpose of this film which is to glorify the American army and the American soldiers. Pearl Harbor is based on many American stereotypes which are close to ridiculousness: the slow-motion scene where we can see many soldiers moving forward an aircraft carrier, torsos bent, with a proud expression, looking fearless. And we often see it in movies, such as American Sniper by Clint Eastwood or Saving private Ryan by Steven Spielberg. Not to mention the soundtrack which is very patriotic but also overwhelming. We're really dove into each situation whether it is horrifying, romantic or simply touching, thanks to the music. What's more, we could say that Pearl Harbor also strengthen the idea of brotherhood during war which make the spectator feel even more sorry for them. To conclude, if you have never seen Pearl Harbor and you do want to watch it, you must expect to see a pro-American movie and an unnecessary but beautiful and romantic love story.