Rating: 
Summary: Much Better Than Expected
Review: The secret to enjoying Pearl Harbor is to go in with very little expectations...that's what I did and I found myself pleasantly surprised. I thought this movie would be awful because it was made by Michael Bay and Ben Afflek (who came together to do the worst movie ever--Armageddon) but the acting wasn't bad (but please stop giving Afflek southern accents) Kate Beckinsale is a much better actress than her counterpart in Armageddon, Liv Tyler. They did the best they could at attempting to have Evelyn fall in love with both of the male stars and look believable. This movie can be separated into 3 acts: Evelyn falling in love with Raef and Danny, the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent attack by the Americans Act I gets 3 stars for being too long Act II gets 4 stars for it's breathtaking special effects Act III gets 2 stars cause it seemed as though they just threw in whatever ending they could find. Room for improvements: more Cuba Gooding Jr.(I almost forgot he was in the movie) have the Japanese look more like humans rather than heartless stone-cold fighting machines, more history/less story This was your typical Hollywood fare, but can be enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: Ignors Japan's WW2 imperialist aims, and hate for America!
Review: "Pearl Harbor" is a slight, predictable, soap-opera-genre, poorly written, poorly acted, corny, and oh so "politically correct" love story. It was designed, like its big-bucks pedicessor "Titanic" (with which it shares many of the above adjectives), only to make as much money as possible, apparently in a race to capture the big-bucks crown, never mind truth, accuracy or artistic merit.The trite, "PC" sanitized dialog makes it clear the film-makers (one cannot call them artists) were courting customers in Japan when they assembled the ingredients for this gallimaufry of corn, schlock, and sushi. Immediately after Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, while America and Japan were at peace, headlines across America rang out: "Japs bomb Pearl Harbor". Commentators wrote of the "Yellow Peril" invading America, in response to the hateful imperialist attitude of the emperor and Tojo's cabinet; especially hateful towards America. One wonders if the "film-folk" were even aware of any of this. Just as "A Night To Remember", with Robert Wagner and Barbara Stanwyck, is a better flick than "Titanic", both "Tora! Tora! Tora!" (see my review), and "From Here To Eternity" stand head and shoulders over this rather stubby film. Pearl Harbor is short on acting, short on story, short on accuracy, and short on "raison d'etre". The long battle scenes depicting Americans being killed by the Japs and their hateful war machine, are the product of Hollywood special effects mavens playing with thier toys -- sometimes well done. This movie has bombed because of a deceitful Japanese presence in the American entertainment industry. It was not without thought of sanitizing their World War 2 atrocities that the Japs sought control of various American entertainment media. An effete, lame, limp-wristed approach to Japan's holocaust -- its methods and its motives -- makes this control very clear. It also makes "Pearl Harbor" a waist of time and money.
Rating: 
Summary: Jeez! As Accurate as "Saving Private Ryan"!
Review: After a week of reading dozens of critics who wrote reviews down their noses at this movie, I really was expecting the worst. What I got was far from it. I personally think the critics went into this movie wanting to hate it, so they found everything they could to complain about -- and find it they did, even if they had to go to the hypertechnical (Roger Ebert's complaint, for example, that the Germans were have said to have bombed "downtown London," though London doesn't have what Americans would think of as a downtown . . . would the character who SAID THE LINE have known that? Of course not! If anything, the line is historically accurate because it was what he would have said). Not to say, of course, there weren't glaring errors -- modern Spruance-class ships in the harbor, or a little league baseball game scheduled for 7:30 on a Sunday morning -- but you show me a perfect movie. It sure as heck wouldn't be Ebert's "Valley of the Dolls." The bottom line is that this movie is visually stunning and fabulously rich with sound. There is even thoughtfulness, with at least a few references to other Pearl Harbor-themeed movies. Does it lack a story? Somewhat, but no more so than "Titanic" or the incomprehensible miniseries "Pearl." Besides, did it even once occur to me that I might care who ends up with Evelyn at the end? No. I was there for the effects and to watch the attack. So were, I imagine, most of the audience. On that count, we weren't disappointed. If you want character development and rich layers of story, go read "A Prayer for Owen Meany." Otherwise, just enjoy the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Gota' see this
Review: Go see Pearl Harbor now. Their is both a love story and action to appeal to both of the genre types. It starts 1 year befor Pearl Harbor took place. Ben Afleck goes over to Europe to join Eagle squadron while his sweetie and best friend go to Pearl Harbor along with the squadron. I have to leave much of the middle out so I don't ruin the movie. After pearl harbor they show the doolitle raid on Tokyo. The doolitle raid for those of you who don't know what it is, is the U.S.'s revenge for pearl harbor. The u.s. took B-25 bombers, and launched them off of carriers, They then bombed Tokyo. See this movie asap, sleep outside if you have to, just see it!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Not That Bad At All
Review: I gotta admit though, this movie was beautifully made. The action scenes were just plain amazing, but as with any American movie, they have to add romance into the movie. I mean sure it adds a lot of drama into it, but who needs drama in a movie like that? It just defeats the whole purpose of it. Although if I was the director I would have tried a lot harder to get older ships into the movie. With the budget that they got, it wouldn't have all that hard. In the opening scene where the Japanese begin their attack, they used modern ships like Ticos and Virginias and probably other ships that I'm not aware of. My two cents, go see the movie, its worth it, but as with all Hollywood VS History type movies (ie U-571) there will always be some mistakes. Overall it was a good movie with some flaws.
Rating:
Summary: Do Not See This Film!!
Review: I wish I could give this film minus stars, I really do! For starters this is a work of fiction (yes the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the only fact however!) The people involved in the film must be so embarrassed, especially the actors. The dialogue is so sad and wet that I was laughing out loud at it. Please do not waste your money on this film, rent a movie, or read a book....this will rot your brain!
Rating:
Summary: A good memorial to the fallen
Review: Pearl Harbor...the day that will live in infamy. Many Americans lost their lives in the sudden attack on the Pacific Fleet, and this latest movie puts you right in the middle of it. This movie has some of the most realistic effects I've ever seen. Titanic couldn't hold a candle to the explosions, dogfights, and overall sense of scale that Pearl Harbor displays. When a torpedo strikes a battleship, you feel it...even if the sounds were turned off. I can't wait until this comes out on DVD so I can crank up the surround sound! I'll admit, I was a little turned off at first from the love triangle between two best friends (who are also pilots) and a nurse, but as the movie progresses, the plot fits in very well with the Pearl Harbor tragedy. I also think that the acting was well done. What impressed me was that the Japanese were shown as honorable, almost apologetic during the movie. In fact, just before the bombing, when Japanese planes flew over a few children playing on a field, you even see a Japanese yell to the children to run away. This is a change from other movies of this type, which displayed them as evil villains. It gives a different perspective of the events that unfolded that day. Whoever says that this movie is not aimed towards teenagers and young adults should have been in the theater where I went, because just about everyone, ages 13 and up, was crying by the end of the movie. I nearly did so myself because my own brother passed away recently, and the close bonds between the two fighter pilots in the movie reminded me of him. Overall, Pearl Harbor is a movie that should definetly be watched. Even if you're not into action/love movies like this, it is still a good rendition of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and like Saving Private Ryan, offers an different perspective on a major event, and it also puts into perspective just how violent and brutal it was. As I write this review, the parade that my town has every Memorial Day is gathered to remember all of those who have died serving our country, and to remember our loved ones. I will pray for my brother, and I will also be sure to thank the valiant soldiers who died for our country during Pearl Harbor, the day that will forever live in infamy.
Rating:
Summary: War? No. Love story.
Review: An offence to all the people died in the war. They used WWII as a base for a sad love story!
Rating:
Summary: Major Bomb !!!!
Review: I was so looking forward to this movie based on the theatrical trailers and then I went to see it! What a major disappointment! Even great special effects could not make up for major historical inaccuracies and a sub-par romantic plot that stretched the limits of believability! For example, how come Rafe was flying with the RAF against German daylight raids which actually stopped months before he arrived in England? And what happened to Evelyn, who was pregnant at the time of Pearl Harbour raid in December, and looked like Twiggy a few months later when Rafe brings Danny's body back from China! This movie was way too long and at times I felt like dozing off! Forget this one and instead go buy Tora! Tora! Tora! For a movie made in 1970 with a limited budget and special effects capability it is far superior to this bomb!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Film Even With Flaws
Review: Much has been made of historical inaccuracies in this film, but what a viewer should consider is whether they want to be entertained or given a history lesson. There are wonderful documenteries that will give the "true" story, this film is aimed at being an entertainment with a historical background and on that level it is tremendously successful. In a program on the History Channel, "History VS Hollywood", two historians pointed out the flaws, but came to the conclusion that it is basically "history". If nothing else the film illustrates an important event that many in today's audiences really do not know anything about. For this reason alone, it is an important film. Critics have been hard on the love story that takes up the opening section. This part of the film is really necessary as it puts a human face on the horrible attack and the subsequent bomber raid on Japan. Yes, it is a typical "lovers seperated by war, brought together by tragedy" script, but it is very well done. Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale and Josh Hartnett are excellent and moving as the three caught in a situation they never wanted. Their story is much more involving and believable than the romance that James Cameron forced on "Titanic". A number of actors who usually star in other films are used to advantage in smaller roles. Alec Baldwin is an excellent "Jimmy Doolittle". It is amazing that on a recent talk show, the host, in her late 30s, did not know who Doolittle was (an example of why this film is important in bringing history to the younger audiences). Jon Voight is a wonderful President Roosevelt. Cuba Gooding, Jr. in a very small, but important role, is a standout. He is a wonderful example of the statement that "there are no small roles, only small actors". He completely dominates the screen in his brief appearances. The action sequences are truly breathtaking. The visuals are wonderful and the sound is marvelous. I was 6 when Pearl Harbor happened and can still remember that day. I, of course, did not understand what it meant and could not understand the reactions of the adults around me. So Pearl Harbor is something I have always known about. For the younger audeinces, it should be required viewing simply to introduce them to a vital piece of history. Fictionalizing parts of the story only make it more appealing to the general audiences and critics who find fault with this really lose sight of the bigger idea. This is a film that I can not wait to own on DVD.
| 
