Review of Pearl Harbor (2001) by Tim K — 04 Apr 2012

âPearl Harborâ? is a slick recreation of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Pearl Harbor as well as a spectacularly beautiful revival of old school Hollywood filmmaking which brings to mind classics such as âGone With the Wind,â? and âCasablanca.

â? The reconstruction of various military battles - not only is the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese depicted but the subsequent American bombing of Japan is also included - is as exciting, flashy, and violent as any modern action film, with swooping Zeros and exploding battleships.

This film certainly represents a time in filmmaking where the technology to recreate literally anything on a movie screen was as perfect as it has ever been. Michael Bay has opted to pair this technical virtuosity with characters and story straight out of the golden age of Hollywood.

Ben Affleck is the humble though courageous rural youth determined to make his mark as a pilot, first flying with the British Spitfires against the Nazis, then later in the Pacific Theater against Japan.

He falls in love with a beautiful nurse played by Kate Beckinsale whoâ(TM)s sent to Hawaii. After he crashes and she believes him dead she takes up with his friend and fellow pilot played by Josh Hartnett.

This poses a dilemma when Affleck turns up in Hawaii alive and it seems difficult choices must be made. While themes of patriotism, self-sacrifice and honour are explored in some but not great depth itâ(TM)s really the action sequences of this film which impress the most.

The filmmakers paid close attention to period detail in their recreations of bombings, hospitals, clubs and airfields from the 1940s, as is lovingly detailed in the DVDâ(TM)s making of materials. The film is meant to sweep you off your feet and transplant you to another time and place and it succeeds beautifully in fulfilling its escapist goal.