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PREMIER MOVIE REVIEWS HOMEPAGE - RECENT CINEMA RELEASES - RECENT VIDEO RELEASES - THE ARCHIVES - LINKS Pearl Harbor "Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan . . ." ". . . I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire." Franklin D. Roosevelt. (December 8, 1941) Main Cast:
Director: Michael Bay Rating: 5 STARS - MUST BE SEEN. Plot Summary: The story follows the lives of fictitious characters in the weeks before and after the infamous bombing of Pearl Harbor. The story also looks at the military events leading up to the bombing. Since they were children Rafe (Ben Affleck) and his best friend Danny (Josh Hartnett) wanted to fly and now in 1941 they are audacious fighter pilots in the United States air force. Rafe meets Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), a military nurse and they fall in love. He leaves Evelyn behind and goes to England to fly with the RAF and fight the Germans. Danny and Evelyn are transferred to the military base at Pearl Harbor… Review: While this is a basically a love story and action movie rolled into one it has more to offer as it is dealing with a historical incident that changed the course of world events. The film does not only tell a story about fictional characters but also gives an account of the political/military events that lead up to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the errors of judgement made by the United States military. The reconstruction of the aerial battles and the bombing of Pearl Harbor are stunning. The stunts and computer graphics gel almost seamlessly into an exceptional piece of filming. While this part of the film is undoubtedly all action it still manages to portray the total shock and surprise that the naval and military personnel felt when the bombing started. It also managed to portray the human loss and suffering that the bombing brought without being excessively graphic. The film has been meet with considerable criticism. One criticism is that it is too long. It is over 3 hours long but it doesn’t feel like it and the film is never slow or boring. Also criticised was the script and the “American Flag Waving” element. There is some justification in this criticism and perhaps the film is more about entertainment that history but the film's shortcomings are totally out weighted by the good points. Good performances from Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale and Josh Hartnett are propped up by a sound support cast in the likes of Alec Baldwin, Jon Voight and Dan Aykroyd. Lasting thoughts: “December 7th, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy.” In bombing Pearl Harbor the Japanese managed to wake a sleeping giant. Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews. HOMEPAGE - RECENT CINEMA RELEASES - RECENT VIDEO RELEASES - THE ARCHIVES - LINKS |