Not a bomb, but lots of explosions.

Rating: 7/10 (24 May 2001)

Pearl harbor
For Europe, World War II began with Poland's invasion in 1939. For China, it began eight years earlier with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. While the fighting waged abroad, the United States clung to its isolationist stance in the hope that these "regional" conflicts would be decided without them. This laissez-faire attitude was shattered at 8:00 am on December 7th 1941 with the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. While the intention was to immobilize the US fleet before they could become a factor in the Pacific Theater, it instead served to galvanize a nation.

True friendship is a rare commodity, something that Danny and Rafe are lucky enough to share. Friends since childhood, they join the military together to become fighter pilots, find adventure and look after one another. Their relationship is strained by Rafe's decision to join the Eagle Squadron, a unit of the British Air Force filled with American volunteers. Although upset, Danny tells him to be careful and promises to look after Rafe's newfound girlfriend Evelyn. They soon discover that love and war are difficult bedfellows.
If you skip the entertainment section of the newspaper, don't watch tv , never go to movies and live in a cave, it's possible that you haven't heard of this movie. Maybe. With a voluminous cast of name and no name actors, a budget bigger than most films gross, and lots of special effects, this film is going to draw huge crowds for the Memorial Day weekend. I have no doubt of this. What I'm curious to see is how the audiences will respond to it.

Once again the trailers are deceiving: while there are hints of the romantic nature of the movie, the focus is on the attack of Pearl Harbor and leads you to believe that it will examine the whys and wherefores behind the event. The bulk of the screen time (and at three hours plus there's a whole lot of it) is devoted to the relationship between the three main characters. I found it interesting that the marketing campaign in Japan meanwhile stressed this aspect over the action. Enough about the marketing you say, what about the film?
Historians and battle aficionados take note - other movies on this subject have been more historically accurate and informational. This movie is the Coles notes version of the events surrounding the infamous day in question. However, that means it will be more accessible to the casual moviegoer and no one will quibble about the superb special effects sequences (it is often difficult to discern what is a set and what is computer generated). I was surprised that the battle sequences, originally intended to be as graphic as those in "Saving Private Ryan", were considerably toned down. They opted for hazy dream-like sequences at the hospital that proved to be more disorienting than disturbing. The attack should have taken a more central role and been introduced sooner - there is little action for the first hour and a half - because younger viewers, and men (okay I'm generalizing here but it's true) will quickly lose interest. Especially when they have to sit through mushy stuff. : )
While the romantic triangle is captivating (although things become a bit too complex at times - and no I won't give anything away here), the characters have little depth and the actors don't have much to work with. Ben Affleck is his usual affable self, giving a far better performance that he did in his last romantic lead (I've always liked him better than his cocky alter ego aka Matt Damon). Kate Beckinsale (looking remarkably different that she did in "Brokedown Palace") acquits herself adequately as the lovelorn lead, and Josh Hartnett, smolders as the fresh new kid (to me at least - I haven't seen him in anything previously) and demonstrates a modicum of skill along the way. Others aren't so lucky - Cuba Gooding Jr. barely qualifies as a supporting actor (things have been downhill since the Oscar), and Alec Baldwin has the misfortune to utter some of the worst lines ever written.

Ultimately, Pearl Harbor has the elements required to be a summer blockbuster: it's being released at the right time, it has impressive special effects and action sequences, the story is pretty straightforward and it is very American. That doesn't mean that it's a good movie. Don't expect too much and it will make for a decent matinee (albeit a long one).