Signature Michael Bay - Great effects, yet weak in almost everything else.

Rating: 5/10 (13 July 2009)

I'm a fan of big war films, like Platoon, We Were Soldiers, and Saving Private Ryan. When I saw Pearl Harbor six years ago, I thought it would reach the ranks of those films. But in like the recent Michael Bay, it was all effects, no movie.
It follows U.S. Air Corps 1st Lieutenants Rafe McCawley(Ben Affleck) and Danny Walker(Josh Hartnett), buddies since childhood. Rafe goes to join the Royale Air Force Eagle Squadrons while Danny is transferred to Pearl Harbor. Before he leaves, Rafe falls in love with Evelyn(Kate Beckinsale), a nurse who is also going to Pearl Harbor. Soon, while in battle, Rafe is shot down and presumed dead. Danny and Evelyn are shocked, but then they begin dating. Three months later, Rafe returns to find this out, but soon forgives Danny. Then the big one happens: the attack on Pearl Harbor, which Danny, Rafe, and Evelyn are swept into.
Here's the positives. The score by Hans Zimmer is great and I think "Tennessee" one of his best pieces ever. The cast is A-grade, with roles filled by Jon Voight(President Frankin D. Roosevelt), Dan Aykroyd(Captain Thurman), Alec Baldwin(Lt. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle), Cuba Gooding Jr.(Petty Officer 2nd Class Doris Miller), and Tom Sizemore(Sgt. Earl Sistern). Watch for small roles by Eric Christian Olsen and Never Back Down star Sean Faris in the Doolittle Raids part. The best part, which I I do have to give my thumbs up to, is the effects. The explosions and aerial fights are excellent. The attack, while extremely flawed in historical accuracy, exploits all of those in a adrenaline fueled ride.
Now for the negatives. The acting is TERRIBLE. Affleck is a joke, and Hartnett is no ace either(at least he did great in Black Hawk Down). The film is also highly inaccurate. I mean I know this is a love story/ action film so there's supposed to be some inaccuracy, but this is way over the legal limit in my opinion. It's even inaccurate on the Doolittle raids. The only good parts are in the fighting and in total that only racks up about an hour and 10 minutes, leaving nearly 2 hours of boredom.
Overall I give this film a so-so 5 out of 10 for the effects, cast, and music. Nothing more, nothing less.
P.S.: I recommend viewing the director's cut, only in the fact it's rated R and has a couple of extra scenes.