Pathetic

Rating: Null/10 (26 May 2001)

Possible plot points below.
**Before I begin, I'd like to address a comment made by Jason Zepp, of Ft. Wayne, IN., in his May 25th commentary. Jason, we were NOT at war with the Japanese when they attacked Pearl Harbor. We were, up until the day before the attack, involved in negotiations with them to form a "peace alliance" in case we had to go to war against Germany. Therefore, we had NOT declared war on them and they had NOT declared war on us. That being the case, I would argue that strafing the unarmed men floating in the water was a cowardly act, and not excusable as a "reality of war."**
This movie was terrible. Don't get me wrong, the CGI people should get well-deserved pats-on-the-back, but man were their efforts wasted. I've seen too many comparisons between this "movie" and the film, Titanic. I suppose I can see why one might want to try to do that, prior to seeing this dreck, but not after. There is no comparison...other than, perhaps, the date of their respective opening weekends. The love story that, I suppose, is to draw us into the movie is so transparent, it's laughable. The filmakers forgot the most important rule in using a love story to draw the audience into the disaster/tragedy/war/etc. That rule states that the characters you have spent the last 100 minutes getting to know (although they didn't even get that part right) MUST BE PRESENT AT THE DISASTER/TRAGEDY/WAR/ETC.!!!!!!!!! Jack and Rose were ON THE SHIP. William Wallace was AT THE BATTLE OF STERLING. Tom Hanks's character was PART OF THE NORMANDY LANDING FORCE. Harrison Ford was ON AIR FORCE ONE. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get the point. Too bad Bruckheimer and Bay did not. That being said, I repeat that the special effects were impressive, but the attack itself was totally uncoordinated and choppy. I recommend skipping this farce and renting "Tora! Tora! Tora!" instead.
p.s. My stomach still hurts from all the laughing I did when I heard that they were going to release "changed" versions of this movie for its release in Japan and Germany. Please.