Sappy, yes, but worth a look.

Rating: 6/10 (15 December 2001)

For those of you scared of PEARL HARBOR because of the possible TITANIC and ARMAGEDDON syndrome - well, you have every right to be.
The CGI effects in the movie are stunning and the Japanese are portrayed pretty fairly as a country that felt like they had no choice.
For the most part, it does no harm to watch the movie. Seeing Ben Affleck in another movie like this, rehashing the same character from Armageddon, gets a bit tedious. Josh Harnett, as Affleck's bosom buddy, brings no real presence to the screen but dead pans his role well as a contrast. Kate Beckinsale, however, as the love interest, presents a relatively interesting character but has most of her screen time during the full half of the movie that is a tedious bore.
The real star of the movie is the FX and the flying/dog fight/bombing scenes. I do not usually like straight up action in a movie that claims to be more, but that is the best quality of this film and saves if from a 2 or 3 rating to that of a 5 or so.
If you have three hours to spare (I suggest renting the DVD Widescreen), then it will not hurt to sit down and take a look at this movie. The first 90 minutes will frustrate and bore you, but the last half is at least worth watching.
If you find yourself yearning for a long war movie that is time well spent, I would suggest DAS BOOT or SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.
**This movie is reviewed as a film and NOT as to the importance of the events portrayed.
6/10 - Watchable