"December 7, 1941 - A date which will live in infamy" (FDR, 1941)

Rating: 8/10 (27 July 2005)

First let me say that I liked this movie. I repeat: I ... LIKED ... THIS ... MOVIE. I know that the story has more holes in it than Swiss cheese and the special effects were somewhat overblown (get the pun?), but this movie is not about the characters nor is it about the special effects. Rather it's about an event that galvanized a nation and transformed the world. That is, it's about the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After Pearl Harbor, the world was never the same, and although the movie has it's weaknesses, one thing is for certain: after watching this movie, you know that SOMETHING BIG happened on that fateful day and that it effected a lot of people in different ways. Maybe the movie should have provided more historical background - but it's not a documentary. Or maybe the movie should have had a better script - but did that really matter? What DOES matter is the event itself, and in this respect, despite the over-reliance on special effects, the movie does its job well. For this reason I cannot be too critical and that alone is enough to make this movie worth watching.
Kate Beckinsdale gives an excellent performance. She is a great actress.