"Pearl Harbor" or how to transform war into a romantic story

Rating: 5/10 (12 May 2014)

Pearl Harbor, by Michael Bay, was a very awaited film thanks to its budget (about 140 000 000 $), to its cast -with a hot Ben Affelck (as Rafe McCawley ) and a oh-my-god-he-is-so-cute Josh Hartnett (as Danny Walker), without forgetting Kate Beckinsale (as Evelyn Johnson)- and also thanks to its subject Indeed, narrating the attack on Pearl Harbor was an ambitious project. We were waiting for it, persuaded we would understand and learn more about this tragically famous event. Unfortunately the film failed its educative goal At least about the war, because it could be a sentimental education! And OK I'm a girl, I love romantic films, but I was pretty disappointed of considering Pearl Harbor as one of these romantic dramas. The film intended to be a kind of reconstitution of the attack, mixed with a fictional plot of course, but always with the idea of being accurate to History. Besides, the characters seem to be well-selected because it could have permitted to see the attack from different points of view. Furthermore, the film also shows the preparation of the attack on the Japanese side and what happened whilst in the American White House! But once again, what could have been a good point is not. It isn't enough exploited: the majority of the film is centered on a love triangle compound of Evelyn, Rafe and Danny. That is the major criticism The film lasts 3 hours and all the first third is about how Evelyn and Rafe met, who they are, how much they love each other... We forget we are in an action film relating the December 7th 1941 attack because everything is so devoted to emotion. But this is "too much" and when Rafe dies you think that it's over. Now, you're waiting for guns and planes and blood and death and action and diabolic Japanese laughs ! OK, I admit the last one is maybe exaggerated but you understand what I mean you blood-thirsty war-film-lover! However, you're desperately wrong Evelyn starts a love story with Danny to fill the void left by Rafe's death. But don't be so negative The second third is coming! And there, the attack begins. Let's start with something positive: the visual effects are good. The sounds of the battle burst in your ears, the torpedoes split the water At last some action! But unfortunately didn't you see the remake of Titanic coming?! Yes, I can almost see the deception in your eyes through my screen but don't worry, it remains an action scene. Besides I liked it even if I found it a bit too long and repetitive because the same shots come several times. What I can tell you is that the diversity of points of view saved me from boredom! I stop you: I'm not contradicting what I said earlier, I persist in saying that it wasn't enough exploited but the dynamic it brings at that moment is very appreciable. For example: the scenes in the hospital, with the nurses reflect the panic and the injuries. I felt involved in the action! A kind of "truth" exudes from the scene because we can see the fragility of the characters. However The attack is a bit ruined by the HEROISM of Rafe and Danny, I wrote it in capital letters because it becomes a burden; we're almost in the caricature! Don't you think that after "saving" the Harbor with two plays in a Hawaiian-printed shirt should our two heroes take break? Apparently they don't think so. I admit it would have been strange so I can understand that they hurry up to offer their help to the overcrowded hospital and maybe that they give their blood. BUT the close up on the coca-cola bottles filling with this blood is another time TOO MUCH! What a pity! It could have been a testimony of the ingenuity of the nurses in the panic but the way it is done turns it into a TV commercial! And it isn't over: after giving their blood, our two heroes go helping to save the marines stuck in the sinking ships. In all cases, Rafe and Danny show a real brotherhood during this part, they forget their romantic rivalry and all is well that ends well! Mouhaha ! I trolled you! Indeed, the film is not finished! What a pity Why did Michael Bay decide to relate Doolittle's Raid ?! We are out of the initial subject of the film, it doesn't bring anything but another long part and of course, it permits to reload again the love story. Another time, emotion and heroism are too present! Rafe and Danny go to sacrifice their life, again. And on top of that: Evelyn is pregnant and of course Danny is the father. So when Danny is about to die in China, Rafe tells him that he will be a father so he can't abandon his child. But he eventually dies (well, he had a piece of metal stuck in the neck!) and we witness to an umpteenth "emotion scene". Yeah!! HE IS DEAD! I was almost relieved because it announces the end of the film. You don't imagine how many times Danny and Rafe have been about to die, it becomes tedious! But here is the end: we find Evelyn and Rafe, in a field, with their child. And do you know what his name is? Danny! With this last tribute which is also an echo to the first scene of the film with little Rafe and Danny playing in the fields... I was surprised because I didn't find it heavy, so it ends well.
To conclude it was a long film, with some interesting parts but a lot of unnecessary scenes. I don't think I would advise you to see it However, I don't regret my choice because Pearl Harbor is in the trend of all other WW2 films, too much but cults. OK, it's over; you can breathe and leave your seat!