I think you missed the point

Rating: Null/10 (27 May 2001)

What happens when you combine the blatant jingoism of "The Patriot," the flash in the pan special effects of Star Wars, the pendantic screenplay of "Titanic," and the epileptic direction of Micheal Bay?
The answer is this long, poorly drawn and horribly drawn out film called "Pearl Harbour."
Historical fiction is one thing. Historical revision is another. The numerous flaws in this film have been well stated by others, so I won't go into depth other than to say that the Japanese Zero was the most advanced fighter plane of that stage of the war, and in general American planes and pilots had a difficult time keeping up with them.
On another note, I've seen a lot of people comparing the action in this film to that of "Saving Private Ryan," saying that "Pearl Harbour" was more exciting. These people have completely missed the point of "Saving Private Ryan." That film (and in particular the scenes at the beginning) wasn't meant to be exciting. It was meant to be horrifying. It suceeded.
Even though this was not the intention of Pearl Harbour, it still failed.