Sorry, there's no red carpet treatment......

Rating: Null/10 (8 August 2001)

I recently read in the San Francisco Guardian newspaper, that "Pearl Harbor"'s producers, wanted to remake "Titanic" by way of "Saving Private Ryan", and in it's reference to one of the many harsh reviews this movie received, it called the film "oscar-baiting" before it proceeded to destroy the cast. Now, first off, my review of Pearl Harbor isn't as harsh as some critics reviled it, but this movie, is most definitely no "Saving Private Ryan" and it just breathes "Titanic". This $135 million monster of a film follows two soldiers named Rafe and Danny (Affleck and Hartnett), best friends since childhood who are now in the air force, just days before one of history's darkest incidents. In a fit of chance, Rafe falls for Evelyn (Kate Beckinsdale), an attractive nurse, but alas, things change and Rafe is out of the picture (for a while), and Danny falls for Evelyn, and the two embark on a romantic affair, complete with powerful visuals of the two necking. Of course, those visuals are all that you see when you consider the more than overbearing romantic subplot between Danny and Evelyn, as well as Rafe. It's so innocuous that you'll desire for the film to be over. At least half the film is the two making love or kissing or what not, that you'll want to put a gun to your head. The film, is essentially a summer movie because there really isn't much intrigue, you believe that Pearl Harbor is a truly disastrous moment that is gone but not forgotten. The characters, about every one of them, are very one dimensional and that's a no no for many films that desire to be in the best picture category. Alec Baldwin, Jon Voight, and Cuba Gooding Jr. do however make their characters have real depth because they're all based on real people. But their presence in the film isn't huge, because the film focuses on it's lead characters and their RIDICULOUS triangle of love. I believe Bay and Bruckheimer, (of whom many film aficionados have dubbed "the devil" and "the antichrist" respectively) wanted the red carpet treatment. They want the award shows, the endless coverage, and the numerous praises, but their film, doesn't have what it takes to be rewarded those illustrious chances. They're both terrific filmmakers and make a hell of a team as director and producer, but "Pearl Harbor" shows that Michael Bay isn't ready to get serious yet. He was preaching with "Armageddon", but "Pearl Harbor" is a weakness. Spielberg was in his forties when he helmed "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" (which strangely lost Best Picture) because he was ready for it. Bay hasn't matured as a serious filmmaker yet, and he moved too fast into this film. However, the real power of this film is in the historical incident itself, which Bay orchestrates with a raw intensity. The looks of soldiers as they are being relentlessly shot at and blown up. The explosions are massive fireballs that sink whole battleships sending innocents to their doom, and Bay makes you feel as if you are one of those soldiers. He doesn't portray the japanese as an evil totalarian army, but as soldiers fighting the war, and aware of what the consequences may very well be. Spoilers! One particular image that stands out if the view of endless soldiers carrying themselves through the field covered in burning oil, their faces nothing more than just black masses of people screaming. It's a powerful image, and Bay shows it. Honestly, I'd say Pearl Harbor is something you can rent, if you haven't seen it in the theaters, you haven't missed anything.
Grade: B-