PLEASE put the stars and stripes away

Rating: Null/10 (30 June 2001)

A cast of easy on the eye young starlets, a seemingly bottomless pit of cash, permission to use the real site and a viewer friendly release date, what could possibly go wrong with Jerry Bruckheimer's summer blockbuster?
That was certainly what the money men at Disney must have been thinking when they ploughed $135 million into Pearl Harbour. Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett star as Rafe and Danny; boyhood friends caught up in the Japanese bombing of the American port and caught in a love tryst with British nurse Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale).
Doesn't sound enough to fill three hours does it?
And the truth is that's where the problem lies. The first half is taken up by stereotypical characters muttering ridiculous clichés and tub-thumping American patriotism. At times it seems so bad you expect John Motson to pop up telling us not to worry because Hollywood pictures are movies of two halves'.
And if he did then he wouldn't be too far from the truth because after the clichés are done and dusted and the dreary Faith Hill led soundtrack has had its moment, we have a fully-fledged hour long plus re-enactment of the bombing.
The CGI effects just about manage to hold together the film. The aircraft are indistinguishable from the real thing and the scenes with the planes skimming over the baseball field and through the valley are spine tinglers with the bomb's eye view' shot through the USS Arizona a visual treat also.
As for the rest though the acting is poor although the wafer thin script doesn't help. Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character has no discernible reason for being in the film other than the fact that it makes it slightly longer. The scene with two American pilots (guess who) taking on the entire Japanese attack force above Pearl Harbour is ridiculous and the final 45 minutes simply an unnecessary extra to give us a seemingly worthy ending.
And if that's not enough why on earth is Ben Affleck's character called Rafe'? Does no-one in a Hollywood film have a normal name?
If you managed to haul yourself through Titanic, then this will probably be right up your alley, but the depressing soundtrack, weak script and flag waving we love America' attitude really does push the boundaries of taste.
5/10