Have some perspective (May contain spoilers)

Rating: 9/10 (18 August 2005)

******Spoilers at the end only******(just to be safe)
This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I have seen from these posted reviews that most people either sincerely love this movie or completely hate it. I am typically an analytical person and I don't "love" things without a reason. I love and respect Pearl Harbor as a movie because it is the first movie that made me cry. Repeatedly. In public when I first saw in theaters. And at home when I watch the DVD for the 10th time. History always has to be taken with a grain of salt. There are no absolute truths. And when making a movie it is 100% positive that there will be historical errors. This is a movie, first of all. It is a multi-million dollar venture to become a blockbuster hit. It is not meant to capture historic accuracy perfectly because the average American doesn't care about the history. It is sad to know that most culture and history is lost on people. But one way to make it up is to drawn them in with things that do attract them and be able to get to their emotions. People are attracted by sex and violence. I, along with many others, were drawn in by the story of Danny, Evelyn, and Rafe. through their eyes I was able to experience one of the horrors of American history. It may not have been exactly how it happened, but this movie gave me a glimpse into how it felt. Something I KNOW i will never TRULY experience, but something we who won't experience it should be grateful for. This movie showed me the power of love, which does not always have to be bashed by cynics. It showed me the pride that people can have. To me it was not 100% pro-American. I felt emotion for the Japanese fighter pilots as well. He, too, had a love waiting for him in Japan that he would lose. Love and loss are universal. I felt respect for out nursing profession and doctors and ordinary people who step up in extraordinary circumstances. I feel ashamed for the fact that 2 countries had to resort to this kind of destruction due to a lack of communication and cooperation. Most importantly, I felt pride in soldiers, all soldiers. We may not respect their battles, but we must respect their lives of sacrifice and bravery. Including a love story in this movie does not lower its standards. In one post someone talked about how a movie about 9/11 could be ruined with a love story if it is made into a movie. I tell that person that I would watch that movie and I would not be upset about it because Love is something that can never be lost even in the face of any great tragedy.
I am not usually a fan of history, but everything about WWII interests me since I picked up the Diary of Anne Frank when I was in 4th grade. I have attempted to learn everything I can about the war, but I realize that people are interested in different things and probably WILL NEVER know the historical heroes of our past that fought bravely in this war. And I can't blame them for that. But this movie had the emotion to draw people in and maybe even for a little while give them a break from the cynical view of the world to believe in people again. To recognize mistakes but to also re-energize pride. I will never forget some of the images and quotes from this movie, such as "There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer" and the quote something along the lines of "A smarter man would find a way not to fight a war" to the final scene with little Danny and Rafe flying away.
Maybe tears are a superficial to love a movie but good old emotion can be a better teacher than cold hard facts.
If you have actually read all of this, congratulations. I hardly ever post a message on here but I felt compelled to lay out my opinion on this subject and apologize that is particularly verbose. I respect everyone's opinions, and I only ask others to do the same.