Can Anyone Recommend "Pearl Harbor"?

[Captain Krunch]

I was flipping through the TV channels the other day and came across "Pearl Harbor", and I got to wondering if it was something worth watching. When it first came out, there were just too many negative reviews and comments about it that turned me off, so I never bothered to see it (Plus, I'm not a big fan of Ben Affleck).

While I assume that the plot is going to be pretty bad, no matter what, I was thinking that it could be a good visual reference to that period. You know, pinks and greens, crusher caps and leather jackets, aircraft, Army nurses, the music, etc, etc. And, it would be interesting to compare the FX of this movie's attack on Pearl Harbor versus "Tora Tora Tora". For those who have seen the movie, would these things be enouh to warrant the purchase of the DVD and add it to my collection? Or should I stay away from it and protect my eyes from the sheer horibleness of it?

 

[PrettyBigGuy]

I know I'll probably take some heat for this but I liked Pearl Harbor. I guess I would make a pretty poor film critic, but I've been burned so many times getting my hopes up for a movie, that now I just look for elements of films that I like.
The dynamic duo of Bruckhiemer and Bay tried to cram too much into this movie with the whole love triangle thing , but if you want to reference the film for clothes and uniforms it is great. The attack itself was well done except for the fact that no full size ships from that era existed to blow-up so they had to use some dressed down modern ships. The CGI Zeros, Kates Vals and American Battleships looked terrific. Also toward the end of the battle there is dog fighting between Japanese Zeros and American P-40 Warhawks that manuever like X-wings!
Also for some unknown reason, the filmmakers decided to include the Doolittle Raid at the end of the film and it was condensed so much that it wasn't even worth it. (Also the B-25 Mitchells that they used were the wrong versions).
I'd say you ought to rent it and decide for youself whether or not it's worth adding to you collection. I'm a BIG fan of WWII aircraft and military history so that alone was enough to get my butt in the seat, but it might not be enough for you.
So until next week, the balcony is closed. See you at the movies.
PBG

 

[Captain Krunch]

Thanks for the review. I did a bit more research on the movie, and I didn't see much to convince me to pick it up without seeing it first (Although it's only $15 at Best Buy). In on review I read, the guy was comparing the movie to some sort of comic book, with Ben Affleck's superhuman character saving the day, from the Battle of Britain to the Doolittle Raid and everyplace else in-between! Sigh. Oh well, I guess movies like this help to make us appreciate movies like "Twelve O'Clock High" even more....

 

[Renderking Fisk]

It's my next "Flick to hold you over".

My wife and I were watching it again before I hit the keyboard.

It's not as bad as the critix say it was. It's a homage to movies of that era while trying to cram in some Historical events and tug at the ol' heart strings.

 

[Doc Ephraim]

I own it...

Is it a cinematic masterpiece? No.

Is it entertaining for a couple of hours? Absolutely. Something for everybody. And it usually includes a History Channel documentary on Pearl Harbour on the DVD edition. All in all, its worth owning if you watch it more than once.

 

[Captain Krunch]

Well, I was finally able to watch "Pearl Harbor" this weekend after borrowing the DVD from a friend. And the verdict is in: I had no idea that a movie could not even *meet* the very low expectations I had for it. As a movie, it was fair; as a representaton of a major historical event, it was a travesty!

I realize that it was not a documentary. so I'm not going to nitpick minor details. But some of the major mistakes they made (Things they did in conjuction with Jimmy Doolittle and the Doolittle Raiders) were just plain wrong, and will provide viewers with totally incorrect data.

First off, Doolittle wasn't stationed anywhere near an operationaly flying base before the war. During the months prior to American's involvement in WWII, he was tackeling various aircrat production issues accross the county. He wasn't a commander of men until the Toyko raid and afterwards.

As for the Doolittle Raiders and the actual attack, fighter pilots would never have been asked to transfer over and support such a mission; experienced B-25 pilots were needed for such a mission (Extended flying over the ocean w/o autopilot was one important aspect of the overall mission). Also, there would not have been any formation flying; all 16 planes were sent to different locations in Japan to make the Japanese think it was a bigger attack.

Finally, the biggest load of doo doo was the radio chatter! Auuuggggghhhh!!!!! It's as if they wanted to make an homage to the end of "Star Wars". But the Raiders flew in radio silence, for one. Even if they had broken silence, I'm pretty sure that Hawaii would not have been able to hear it (But if they had, then everyone else - including the Japanese - would have been able to hear it, too!). Just an awful moment, just plain awful.

Anyway, I could probably vent more, but I think you get the picture. I cannot recommend this movie at all. There were just too many "rolling eyes" moments to make it even mildly passable. It's a damn shame that many of today's kids are learning history from an abominations such as this....

 

[Doc Ephraim]

Originally posted by Captain Krunch
Anyway, I could probably vent more, but I think you get the picture. I cannot recommend this movie at all. There were just too many "rolling eyes" moments to make it even mildly passable. It's a damn shame that many of today's kids are learning history from an abominations such as this....

You have a point there...

 

[Rundquist]

I can only recommend the movie to see the P-40?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s and B-25?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s. The rest you can throw in the garbage. I watched part of it a couple months ago just to look at the flying and it was worse than I remember. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s really a shame because of what went into making the thing. What do you expect from a guy (Michael Bay) that rolls around town in a Ferrari, a bimbo in each arm, and rents porno movies. Yeecchh

 

[Renderking Fisk]

Why would you be renting porno's if you have one broad for each arm?

 

[Rundquist]

Don't ask me. My friend was in Odyssey Video_on Whilshire Blvd in LA when Bay came in. Cheers

 

[MisterCairo]

Two and a half hours of my life I'll never get back.

Even Kate Beckinsale isn't worth the time and effort.

And why oh why does she waste her talent in crap like this??????

 

[KilroyCD]

It was so bad...

I'd walk out on that film, even on an airplane...

 

[Diamondback]

I'd walk out on that film, even on an airplane...

Hopefully you remembered to bring a 'chute... lol

Whoever served as their "historical consultant" should turn in his credentials and take up a new career in sewage-treatment!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I can only recommend the movie to see the P-40s and B-25s. The rest you can throw in the garbage. I watched part of it a couple months ago just to look at the flying and it was worse than I remember.

Even the P-40s and B-25s in the film are not enough for me to want that piece of cinematic excretia. When you haven't got a good story or good acting you make the special effects the star. The Pearl Harbor attack sequences in the movie were more redolent of a video game.

On a side note many of you who attend events here in Southern California probably smiled a wry smile of recognition at the scene of the Japanese planning the Pearl Harbor attack in the gun pit at Fort MacArthur. In that scene there's a chart on the wall and the Japanese lettering is upside down!

 

[Marv]

I liked it, sorry :eusa_clap

 

[kpreed]

Whoever served as their "historical consultant" should turn in his credentials and take up a new career in sewage-treatment!

I see the wrong history much more in many movies now, I am thinking most movie budgets spend so much money on effects, there is nothing left for"correct history" As a " historical consultant" I am appalled by this trend in Hollywood.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Treetopflyer]

It wasn’t all bad….

It’s Hollywood and Hollywood has to put its spin on everything, even history. Was it historically accurate, absolutely not. Was it meant to be entertaining, yes. Being in the Navy and a Historian, I found numerous “flaws” with the movie. Some of them mentioned already. I was also amazed at some of the detail that was put into it as well. I just wish that the detail could have been more constant throughout the movie. For example, the accuracy with uniforms and clothing was amazing, but they would use modern warships for the scenes of the carrier battle group. To the average person I am sure that it was a great movie. Overall I enjoyed it and it was entertaining. I was stationed at Pearl Harbor when they were filming the movie and was able to see a lot of the battle scenes filmed at Ford Island. I also had friends that were extras. So, my hopes were high that this would be a phenomenal movie, but it wasn’t. As for the younger generation learning history from this movie, I should hope not. I would hope that it would spark and interest and they would research the events of the movie with a more credible and accurate source.

 

[MisterCairo]

I'd walk out on that film, even on an airplane...

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Spitfire41]

Pearl Harbor is a pretty good movie. If you just enjoy the uniforms, flight scenes and Kate Beckensale all's good......LOL

 

[Spitfire]

Horrible and Hollywood - that's all.[huh]