May 29, 2001 11:05 AM
4068 Views
On Saturday ten of us piled into three separate cars and made our way to the local Cinema 6 to see Pearl Harbor. It seemed everyone in our little city was there to see the thing, and I definitely never knew there was such a large population in the whole of our military town, and I've lived here eight years (lol). Since our family is military, there was no way we were going to miss this major film. Four of my dad's (who is a Marine) troops came from the bigger military base here in Eastern NC, to the less-populated one to bar-b-que and enjoy the movie with us. Needless to say, most of us girls were there for the pleasure of seeing Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett in uniform. I absolutely loved Pearl Harbor.
It can be called equivalent to Titanic in its budget, but far more sophisticated and sought after to view. The three hour long film brings us relentless action, a heartfelt love story, a strong friendship, lessons learned, and an educational experience. All I knew of the actual bombing of Pearl Harbor before seeing the movie is just that, it was bombed by the Japanese. Seeing this movie, I knew why and how it happened. The love story and friendship that goes on in the film does all but urge you to sob and cry. You'd think it would just be full of action and a sappy love story, but it certainly is not. Hilarity continues throughout the movie, pausing for the devestating attack on Pearl Harbor, but continuing after. The movie begins with two young boys romping around in a pretend airplane, which therefore foreshadows the fact that these two boys grow to be skilled pilots in the military. Kate Beckinsale plays Evelyn Johnson, the love interest of Rafe (Ben Affleck), and eventually his best friend Danny (Josh Hartnett).
Rafe meets Evelyn, a military nurse, during the required medical checkups that were issued by the government that decide whether or not the men can fly a plane. Rafe struggles with dyslexia as he tries to read the card that's nearly a few feet in front of him. He begs her to approve even though he can't pass the vision test. He explains he has 20/20 vision, but just has a problem with letters. Rafe continues to pursue Evelyn, with hilarious clumsiness as he constantly hurts himself or says stupid things. But tragedy starts when Rafe is asked to join British forces in England, and does take this offer. He must leave Evelyn, his best friend Danny, and other friends he's made along the way to fight an actual war against Germans. From that point on I will not tell the story, because it is all too interesting with surprises that you can't miss. At some point while watching this movie, whether you or man or woman, I can guarantee you will become teary-eyed or cry. There are interesting symbolisms that I thoroughly enjoyed between the captain of the Arizona and the black cook, Dorie Miller (Cuba Gooding, Jr.).
I thought that some of the jokes in the film may have been aimed at military viewers, where it may be hard for civilians to understand. Alec Baldwin plays a hilarious Jimmy Dolittle, the ''higher-up'' of Rafe and Danny, a sarcastic guy who has a side-splitting way of chewing the boys out when they're in trouble. The less-known actors in the movie play stupidly funny fellow-servicemen (and friends), hard-hitting black Navy sailors, as well as the other female nurses who add to the sign of the times (including James King as Betty). Dan Akroid steps in as the intelligent governmental worker who cracks the code from the Japanese on a whim, whom no one believes when he says that the Japs are planning to bomb the place where they least expect it, Pearl Harbor. The men who play the leaders of the United States and Japan are the symbol of nobility and honor.
Who's Best? I, personally, think that Ben Affleck (playing Rafe) was the most talented performer in this movie, with Alec Baldwin (Jimmy Dolittle) close behind. Everyone else also gave outstanding performances, including the 'extras' playing all of the servicemen of the Marines, Navy, Army, and Air Force. They exhibited all that mattered in the movie: the drama of the USS Arizona sinking in the harbor.
Best Scene Right before the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor, when three hundred planes crossed over the Hawaiian Islands, is the best scene. Kids play on a cliff, watching as the war planes pass right at their level, in the valley. A young boy throws a wild pitch during a sand lot baseball game just as he notices the planes. A woman hanging her laundry out to dry ducks as her dress and clothes flap in the force of the wind. All of this is done in slow motion, leaving the viewer mesmerized.
How It Affected Me Well, for one, it taught me a lot about what really happened at Pearl Harbor. But as I watched men being shot down by the Japs, and hearing the tapping in the following weeks as men tried to release the trapped people from the ship, it instilled a deep hate in me for anyone with a Japanese heritage. This, of course, is not permanent, but it was just so cruel of them to trick the U.S. into thinking they were trying to create peace, and then suddenly brutally murdering three thousand men. People truly disgust me.
In Conclusion I recommend this movie for anyone. I plan on visiting the cinema for a second time to see this movie, and buying it when it comes out on DVD. Our theater has been packed for four days straight since the movie premiered on Friday. I have yet to learn the box office, but I'm sure this is one of the biggest films ever. There is nothing better than a true-to-life drama, action film, love story, comedy, and dear friendship tied into a mere three hours.
