Rating: 
Summary: Crashing Waves As Passion.....
Review: I love this classic film. The enormity of the attack on Pearl Harbor tends to obscure the fact that there were human beings involved. This film, taken from the James Jones novel, not only tells an interesting story about some not so everyday lives prior to the attack, but its effect on those lives, during and after. All the actors are great. I greatly admire Montgomery Clift, and he is wonderful here. Apparently, he punched like a girl, and had to be trained to effectively portray his role as a boxer. But to me, it was Burt Lancaster, as the drill sergeant, who is the most interesting character in this film. Deborah Kerr, as his commanders wife, with whom he's having an illicit affair, was cast against type, and convincingly portrays that "come here-go away" pent-up sexual frustration. Yes, this was the film that most famously sublimated crashing waves as sexual passion, the 1950's version of raw sex. Oh, the good old days!! Donna Reed won best supporting actress for her sensitive and underplayed role as a prostitute who falls in love with Clift. And Frank Sinatra, who apparently was unemployable at this time, and unwanted for this role, was finally, after much pressure and influence, cast as "Maggio", and he is great in his portrayal, for which he won best supporting actor. I must admit to not having seen the recent Pearl Harbor story with Ben Affleck, I find all those computerized special effects redundent. To me, the attack in "Eternity", while relatively simple in comparison, is much more effective, realistic, and terrifying. I must admit to not liking most modern movies, I don't like todays acting style, for the most part, and they always look like glossy music videos to me. So this film may seem dated to some (and, after reading some of the other reviews, apparently does.) But if you appreciate great storytelling and craftsmanship, rather than being assaulted by relentless special effects and blasting music, then you'll probably like this classic film. I have not seen the dvd version, which many are criticizing, but have owned a vhs version for years, and the quality has always been very good. A great film, which deservedly won Best Picture of 1953.
Rating:
Summary: From Here to Enternity and Back!
Review: A true love story in all aspects! A good snapshot in time, with believable circumstances of the attack on Pearl Harbor. While the love scene on the beach is probably the most talked about scene, I find the final scenes with Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed to be the most memorable and heart tugging. Burt Lancaster and Montgomery Clift's honest exchanges about love while sitting drunk in the middle of a road was some of the most accurate dialog between two men on the subject. A movie for all times for all seasons!
Rating:
Summary: Is it the Greatest Pearl Harbor Movie???
Review: Personally I do like this movie, in contrast to Pearl Harbor then this movie admits it is a love-story and actually has some good action in it too. The of course there is In Harms Way and Tora Tora Tora, where In Harms Way is similar to Pearl Harbor and From Here to Eternity with love-triangles and betrayal and sneak attack. Tora! Tora! Tora! being the movie telling the factual story.
I have just completed a project for the USS Arizona Memorial comparing the movies, take a look and cast your vote;
angelfire.com/film/pearlharbormovies
Rating: 
Summary: Blah
Review: This is the most overrated Academy Award winner for Best Picture I've ever seen. It's a soap opera! Ooh, the bad wife, the good hooker -- talk about setting women back a thousand years. And Prewitt was a poor excuse for a main character -- waaah, I don't wanna box anymore. Suck it up, soldier! The boxing had nothing to do with anything, it was only in the story to please the macho men in the audience. Sinatra was unconvincing. Borgnine was one-note. The big romantic kiss on the beach was laughable. There was only one good moment in the whole movie -- when Borgnine pulls a knife and Lancaster breaks a bottle. A war movie without a freakin' war at least needs a little action -- and then even then, nothing happened! Totally disgusted.
Rating:
Summary: Yawn Squared. Better Yet, Cubed
Review: Okay, I saw this movie for the first time 22 years ago when I saw it in my high school film class. I was not really impressed with it then, and what I remembered most from the film after all these years was the famous beach scene, and only because my teacher pointed it out as pretty risque' for back then. Fast forward to today, where I am now 39 years old and I watched it for the 2nd time. I was not impressed this time either. To me it was a total waste of time, and depressing to see people live such meaningless lives. I was in the military for a few years in my youth and to see these men in this movie brought back all the memories, that yes, 95% of them spent their free time at the bar spending all their money on drinking. It's a weird set of values, folks. I didn't drink, and was quite bored. Was glad to leave the military. Also, I do not believe taking a human life is right, no matter what the situation. The violence that pervaded this film disturbed and saddened me as well. Nor was the commanding officer's wife right in her relationship with another man. Nor was her husband doing his duty, it was sad that they did not love each other. I know this happens in life, but I don't care to watch people try and solve their problems without God's truth. I know many do not share my values, to those who do, I just want to say that this is not worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: "A man don't go his own way, he's nothing."
Review: We've all seen the "beach scene" and I have to say that I was disappointed that it was so short in the actual film. Montgomery Clift (who the producers didn't want but the director stubbornly fought for) is the real star here, giving a wonderfully layered performance as a former boxer who will not join the service team, under any circumstances. He is therefore put through all sorts of hell to get him to reconsider. He takes it with quiet grace and confidence, sure that he can take anything other than getting back into the ring. Clift's best friend Maggio (Frank Sinatra) is always taking up for him and definitely pays the price later on. Sinatra is wonderful in this Oscar-winning performance. Clift's sergeant, Burt Lancaster, is meanwhile having an affair with his commanding officer's wife, Deborah Kerr, playing bad girl against type. I didn't really care much about their relationship because the commanding officer was such a jackass. The romantic angle that matters here is the one between Clift and Donna Reed (who also won an Oscar) as a dance hall girl (yes, that Donna Reed!). Theirs is a truly sweet love, more so because they are both so damaged and vulnerable. The Pearl Harbor scenes, once they happen after all this quiet time, are truly shocking (especially when a soldier is gunned down by a plane while running to warn others), although you do get subtle hints at what is coming. In one scene, where Lancaster is on the phone planning to do something the next day, a calendar behind him clearly reads "December 6." Through all this, I was never bored. This is really an excellent film; very entertaining and gripping. I would definitely recommend it if you are a film fan in general or a fan of WWII films in particular.
Rating:
Summary: From Here to the Eternity a true classic
Review: When some years back I saw this film there was no Pear Harbor like today, neither it was in color. But quality of the score, the acting and the actors made it a truly unforgetable film to enjoy. It envisions and shows the things that makes America what it is, and has always been, a great nation that does not give up when tested thru the fire, like in World War II. It is good to go down to the memory lane of filmaking, and remeber the patriots that made this nation what it is today; and with their past strenght will face the new dangers our democracy faces today. We can not let the old generation down like they did not do to their old generation in the past. May God help us all like he did in world war II.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie, Wretched Transfer
Review: I consider myself to be a BIG fan of 'From Here To Eternity' but no DVD has disappointed me more. Artifacts are apparent throughout, especially with this being black & white stock. How bad? It looks like it's snowing in Hawaii for crying out loud! This film needs & deserves extensive restoration. If you want to see a great B&W transfer of a film from the same genre I'd recommend 'In Harm's Way'. True FHTE is one of AFI's top 100 but it seems Columbia/Tri-Star shoved another classic out the door with sheer contempt for film buffs. ('On The Waterfront' DVD was another poor effort by CTS released at the same time). This studio has continually proven that they are not concerned with film preservation, only profits motivated by corporate greed. Alas, Prewitt & Maggio deserved a better fate.
Rating:
Summary: Great Classic Of The 1950s
Review: winner of 8 academy awards, directed by a hollywood legend (Fred Zinneman), an unrivaled ensemble of actors and a film climax depicting one of this country's most turbulent and horrifying historical events (the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese), are just a few of the factors that make this one of the greatest classics of motion picture history. tracing the personal lives of American soldiers just before the attack on Pearl Harbor make this an absolute winner. as for the DVD, as some of the other reviewers have stated, the extras are good but leaves the viewer yearning for more. the best extra is the Zinneman interview. the making of documentary is actually a hyped trailer for the film. still a must for any classic film buff's library.
Rating: 
Summary: Greatly Praised But Somewhat Disappointing
Review: Although widely praised since its debut, and featuring astonishingly good performances from a very diverse cast, censorship gets in the way of this story of the petty competitions and sexual dramas swirling around the men and women stationed at Pearl Harbor in the days leading up to the Japanese attack. Even so, the exceptional performances--particularly those by Montgomery Cliff, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra, and Donna Reed--make the film watchable almost in spite of itself.
|
