Pearl Harbor is Sappy.

Rating: Null/10 (8 September 2001)

A fundamental question I pose to you...Does every movie have to have a love story attatched to it? I'm a huge movie fan and at times enjoy a good love story, But some movies don't need them. Pearl Harbor is one of those movies. I was in New York City when i saw this movie and while I thought that the action sequences were great, especially the air combat scenes, I found myself going to the restroom or snack bar during the incredibly sappy parts of this film.
Alec Baldwin plays a great Admiral Doolittle, Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett are good in their respective roles and have great interplay.
This film had the distinct opportunity to tell the story of an extremely historic event in the annals of U.S. History, But instead it winds up trying to tell three stories...The event...The two best friends Affleck and Hartnett...And the romance. I have seen many documentaries on Pearl Harbor with interviews of actual survivors and I can't recall one of them that had a love story attatched to them. The people who write, produce & direct these big budget flicks witout fail follow the same formula, and in that formula no matter what the plot of the movie is there is always a love interest.
This could have been a really good movie with much more information about the real event and much more badly needed action footage, but alas it fails because it is trying to please too many people. You cant'please everyone, it's an impossible task. The men that have gone and seen this movie all told me it had too much love story attatched to it. And the women i have spoken to were kind of indifferent to the whole movie.
Make a movie that appeals to the core audience you are shooting for...If it's an action movie then market it as such and leave out the love story because i can tell you we don't need it. If it's a love story you are making then market it as such and the people who are interested in that subject will go and see it. Lets face it even though action movies do not and will not win any oscars they still pay the bills at these studios..That 200 million dollars from an action movie will help finance indies and love stories which in turn will win academy awards.
STOP...STOP following the same old formula...break with the norm...believe me the public will embrace it.
As for this movie, love interest aside it's pretty good. action is good, cinematography is good, acting is good and the scenery is great. Overall i would give it a B-
Don't make the mistake and go into this movie thinking it will be all action or you will be sorely dissappointed.