must...join...navy...

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2001)

Not considering the overwhelmingly manipulative sensationalism, the shamelessly biased patriotism, the over-dramatic acting, predictable plot, and thematic contradictions, I had a wonderful time watching this take on the story of the United States's early battles in the Pacific. ***SOME SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT*** My favorite parts were when Roosevelt stood up, when Cuba Gooding Jr.'s role turned out to be relevant, and how Doolittle (sp?) and everyone else said things that not only sounded powerful but made a lot of frickin sense. I'm sorry, but everything everyone said was extremely hypocritical. Doolittle didn't crash his plane when things looked bad like he said, Roosevelt was still being arrogant and blindly principlistic (I don't even think he even cared that much about a mainland attack that soon), and the love story wasn't a love story, they were just horny. When the Pearly Harbor scene came up, I actually thought the movie was brilliant. I figured, "Oh, I get it. Before they were leading patriotic, teeny-bopper lives. Now they see real war and its confusing and gruesome and nihilistic and terrible." But then afterwards, it went back to sensationalism and an ad for the navy. Oh, and the Coke and Pepsi product placement didn't help it's respectability. I didn't understand the message; do the right thing, join the war, its HORRENDOUS, but it's honorable. So basically I'd say its part teeny bopper film (alla Titanic), part US Navy commercial, possibly part authentic film.
(Also they did a pretty good job with not making Japan look evil [sort of like with the British in the Patriot]. So even the brainwashing theme doesn't work. The movies a fun ride, but thematically, it sucked.)