An Incredible Mix of Romance, Action, Thrills and Scares

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 2001)

Pearl Harbor boasts a tremendous cast including leads Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and Kate Beckinsdale. All three performances are brilliant, especially young Hartnett whose previous screen outings (The Faculty, Halloween H20) have hardly required any serious acting ability!
The supporting acts include Jon Voight as President Roosevelt, Alec Baldwin as General Doolittle, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Tom Sizemore, William Fichtner, Dan Akroyd and Ewen Bremner. Each one offers a career best, Bremner even beats his early performance as Spud in Trainspotting. Director Michael Bay offers a film that stirs the emotions deeply and leaves the audience feeling dry, overpowered and angry at the American government for their ignorance at this time. The closing scene is probably one of the saddest I have seen in film history (baring in mind my age is 17)
Although overlong and sometimes possibly drenched in American heroism, the film is a worthy experience and definately one I would recommend to all. Rating = 4/5