The Flock

Rating: 1/10 (7 June 2001)

Some reviewers have commented that far too many people have berated this film by need of adhering to the overall majority view. Funny how they dismiss the many who saw this soulless trash on opening day, seated beside couples who would have welcomed a little bit of romantic melodrama but who ultimately cringed, laughed (during highly 'serious' moments) and yielded a fairly high "Oh, C'mon!" response to a lot of what was supposed to be touching. I am-or was-neither hateful of Michael Bay nor a supporter of his work. All his films offer technically adept escapist action but when attempting anything beyond that, the man fails miserably. Did it not bother any of the fans of this tripe that not one single sentimental line of hollow dialogue could be uttered without the prompting of Hans Zimmer's beautiful but way overused score? I never thought I'd sit through a film scored by him wishing the music would just stop. Never mind historical inaccuracies, never mind the tacked-on Doolittle raid to end the film on an inappropriately positive note, this is simply a BAD movie. Some of us were forced to go home in a near trance wondering if the last three hours were indeed as wretched as they seemed. Then, to our relief, we learned of the horrible reviews across the board, which did NOT CREATE our opinions; they only informed us, the common moviegoer, that we were not crazy. Regardless of the shoddy script, the overuse of the music is the best evidence I can give as to how deeply felt the filmmakers were, forcing the audience to feel angry here, weep there, stand up and salute NOW! I suspect that neither Michael Bay or Jerry Bruckheimer have ever in their lives felt any of the emotions so bluntly rendered in this pathetic excuse for an historical epic.
SPOILER ALERT! Did anyone actually feel moved by Jon Voight (easily the best performance in the film) standing up in his wheelchair to illustrate to his administration that nothing is ever impossible? The then polio-stricken FDR, if ever so adamant in addressing others, might have found another, more plausible and therefore more touching way of making a point. And believe me, that's only the tip of the iceberg that ultimately doomed the Titanic-an also maudlin but far superior film. Though James Cameron has never been a terrible witty writer, his screenplays at least have integrity amid all the action.
The flock, as some have put it, is not the consequence of an influence instilled in us by critics, it is the result of this much-anticipated film proving to be one of the very worst of the year.
Nevertheless, if you believed Armageddon was robbed on Oscar night, then by all means, Pearl Harbor is for you.