Great CGI, otherwise standard US action flick.

Rating: Null/10 (6 June 2001)

This film is long. About at the point it reaches its climax you realise just how long - as it gets there halfway through the movie. The second half of the film is just filler, with the dolittle raid and large heaps of love interest footage. Beckinsale is excellent as the young nurse and one corner of the love triangle - the male leads thump their chests convincingly but failed to stand out.
The main reason to see this movie is undoubtedly the CGI sequences during the Pearl Harbor raid itself - which, apart from the odd err.. historical inaccuracy, are very well done.
I had expected the usual hollywood disregard for real history, and I wasn't disappointed. As with the recent Sub movie (where the Americans claimed credit for a british mission [sigh]), this movie gives the impression that the Americans played a significant part in the Battle of Britain. At one stage (supposedly early 1941) Afflecks character joins up with Eagle Squadron in Britain. In fact the Battle of Britain was all but over by that stage, merely long distance bombing runs rather than dogfighting. Not only that, but of the 3000 airmen involved, only 7 were American, a few dozen Canadians and 150 Polish. Why the most dramatic event in recent history isn't dramatic enough for Hollywood is beyond me..