Bloated and Unimpressive

Rating: Null/10 (21 September 2004)

"Pearl Harbor" fails miserably in delivering what could have been an Oscar-caliber account of the notorious Japanese attack, full of razzle dazzle and brilliance in many technical and cinematic areas. Some exceptional special effects do not a movie make. What could have been something great turns out to be a miserably directed, acted, written, and executed misfire which can only be described as "just another worthless summer blockbuster". First of all, the dialogue between the "characters" (whose excessive presences are entirely unappreciated) is about as glossy, corny, and ridiculously clumsy as I have seen in film, as there is nothing eloquent or convincing in this drek of a screenplay. Secondly, a vast majority of the audience for this concept is not interested in a complicated, sappy love triangle reminiscent of a tedious "Titanic", and are probably not compelled by much of the deliverance of the film for that reason; the audience is interested in a spectacular recreation in the notorious historical event: Pearl Harbor! We don't need some Hollywood-style romance, some "buddy, don't steal my girl" hokum, and most appallingly, blatant historical inaccuracy in our historical entertainment. This is about as tasteless and nauseating as film experiences come, with some impressive special effects to wield its disastrous execution. Sloppy, baseless, and flat out offensive Hollywood misfire that would otherwise be a catastrophic dud without the accompaniment of some decent technical qualities (e.g. visual effects and music). When will Hollywood ever get it right? ** out of ****