With all the negativity, all the hype, and all of the uncertainty, "Pearl Harbor" emerges from the water as an audience favorite. Filled with superb scenery, packed with great action sequences, and

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 2001)

"Pearl Harbor" tells the story of Rafe and Danny, two best friends who have grown to respect and love each other. Rafe has always treated Danny as sort of a younger brother, always looking out for his best interest. With America on the heels of World War II, the two enlist in the armed forces to fight for their country. Rafe meets a young and beautiful nurse, Evelyn, who he falls in love with. When Rafe chooses to go to England to fight the war in Europe, Danny vows to keep an eye on his best friend's love. But when an accident involving Rafe occurs, friendship and loyalty is put to the ultimate test. Soon, the characters find themselves locked at the turning point of the war: The battle at Pearl Harbor.
Superficial? Yes, some elements of the film are indeed, not too flattering. Having seen any other kind of love story in the past, the so-called twists and surprises in the movie's plotline become all too predictable and quite frankly, unbearable to watch. With "Pearl Harbor", it's not a case of hindsight bias. Who lives, who dies, who ends up with who, etc. could be foretold by even the most clueless.
Still, though, "Pearl Harbor" makes up for a lacking screenplay with its incredible battle scene, with reigns of deja vu ringing from "Titanic" and "Saving Private Ryan." While perhaps not as emotionally driven as the opening D-Day sequence in "Saving Private Ryan," the 40-minute Japanese dogfight scene will earn its position as one of the most memorable scenes from a war movie.
Director Michael Bay and producer Jerry Bruckheimer shifted their focus to the recreation of the drama, tension, and reality of Pearl Harbor, an aspect that journalists have become too critical about. With the two having collaborated on "Armageddon" and "The Rock," it is obvious that these two know exactly how to put together a film that would please an audience. "Pearl Harbor" is not a classic, not an epic, nor even an Academy Award contender. It is, instead, an exciting wartime film, fit for an ever-growing generation seeking that special cinematic pleasure.