"Pearl Harbor" – Ambitious Plans, Fair Results
If "Pearl Harbor" were released at any other time during the year, this film would at best be considered a thin offering that's often more banal than moving. It's oversimplified perspective on history and it's underdeveloped cast of characters never adequately portrayed the stark realities of war, the strains of rivalry, the importance of camaraderie, the glory of love, or the necessity of sacrifice.
But it's the summertime and we crave special effects-laden movies. Thus with a theme that mixes war, love, and glory and the multitude of impressive dogfights and battle sequences, there's plenty to keep people seated through the 3-hour film. Seated yes, riveted no.
After watching this film with my best friend (Daniel Scher) and my roommate (Ming Shih), I was intrigued to learn that we all came away with similar reasons to applaud the movie and similar reservations as well. This is interesting to note because Daniel prefers dramas, Ming favors love stories, and I like anything that gives me an excuse to sip soda. So, no matter what you look for in a film, you will probably note these observations as well.
Of distinction was the ambitiousness of this project and its epic feel, which seemed to pull ideas from films like "Titanic," "Saving Private Ryan," and "Top Gun." The central story of love and friendship is told against the backdrop of WWII. Our likeable patriotic flyboys, Rafe and Danny (Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett), battle each other for the love of dedicated nurse Evelyn (Kate Beckinsdale). The stability of their friendship, however, may be as fragile as chances for peace with Japan in late 1941.
With its high production values, the film ably evoked America's image as a society of 'weaklings and playboys,' the frenzied atmosphere of trying to ascertain Japanese fleet movement, and the imminent danger that lied ahead. Most stirring were the moments leading up to the fateful sneak attack as dozens of Japanese squadrons flew toward their military targets unnoticed by American listening posts. FDR's (Jon Voight) emotional appeals for action were also moving. And the film incorporated black and white camerawork to give the imagery an added sense of realism.
However, our chief reservation was that its tone was noticeably indecisive, flirting between an epic love story and war film. The story about friendship and sacrifice could have stood on its own without the clutter of war. But with the haze of combat, it became unclear what happened to many of the interesting secondary characters. Most shameful, though, was the weak segment on Dorie Miller (Cuba Gooding Jr.), a real-life cook who manned a gun during the Pearl Harbor attack to defend his ship, and who was the first colored man to receive the Navy Cross.
Actually, the whole Pearl Harbor sequence did nothing to advance the story and at the very least, seemed out of place. It does not succeed in establishing any tone or groundwork for some future occurrence. This could have been spliced out and made into its own IMAX feature. Meanwhile, much of the other war aspects was heavily sanitized to gain a mass audience-accessible rating of PG-13. As such, this component lacked soul.
At times, the movie achieved some majestic and poignant highs. At other times, the syrupy Harlequinn Romance dialogue and music brought it to embarrassing lows. For several of you, this may be a time that tries mens' souls. But the overall effort is certainly worth a matinee ticket and a bucket of popcorn.
Grade: B
S: 1 out of 3 L: 1 out of 3 V: 2 out of 3
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