Pearl Harbor (2001): A Cinematic Odyssey that Soars and Stumbles
Recently, I watched Pearl Harbor for the first time, even though it’s been out for over 20 years. My exposure to Michael Bay’s work is limited — I enjoyed 13 Hours and the 2007 Transformers movie, both directed by him. He was also part of the production team for the early 2000s Texas Chainsaw remake, my childhood favorite horror film. Naively, I expected Pearl Harbor to match the caliber of these movies for me.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Pearl Harbor holds a 24% rating from critics and a 66% rating from the audience. I didn’t check the rating before watching, which might have grounded my expectations. Notable accolades for this film encompass the Stinkers Bad Movie Awards for Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing Over $100 Million Worldwide, Yoga Awards for Worst Foreign Actor (Ben Affleck), and MTV’s Movie Award for Best Action Sequence. Those three awards succinctly capture the essence of what Pearl Harbor has to offer.
For the few others who have not seen this film, the following will include spoilers.
Summary & Characters
Two storylines are running simultaneously in this movie: the fictional romance drama and the historical situations that lead up to and follow the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Main Storyline: Navigating Love, Friendship, & War
At the core of Pearl Harbor, three characters’ lives intricately intertwine in the central narrative.: Ben Affleck as Rafe McCawley, Josh Hartnett as Danny Walker, and Kate Beckinsale as Evelyn Johnson. Rafe and Danny are First Lieutenants in the United States Army Air Corps, but most importantly, they are pilots. Evelyn is a Lieutenant and a nurse. Everyone starts relatively safe as the United States has not entered the war. Rafe decides to take the opportunity to join the British in fighting the Germans.
Rafe’s transition from safe and carefree America to constantly attacked Britain, triggers a series of events that reshape the dynamics within the trio. A poignant love triangle unfolds, exploring the complexities of emotions and loss against the harsh backdrop of wartime. The narrative revolves around themes of friendship, love, and the somber realities of war as Danny and Evelyn grapple with the experience of mourning Rafe’s death.
For the first half of the movie, the romance narrative drove the movie. Then it took a backseat during the attack sequence and finally was intermingled with the secondary storyline during the last part of the movie.
Secondary Storyline: The Historical Narrative
In Pearl Harbor, a secondary storyline delves into the actual events before, during, and after the attack, examining the strained relationship between the United States and Japan marked by suspicion and espionage. This historical narrative introduces key elements like strategic military decisions, technological limitations, and Japan’s meticulous execution of surprise tactics during the infamous attack. The inclusion of real historical facts enriches the film, portraying the intricacies of geopolitical relations and calculated maneuvers that shaped this pivotal period. These dual storylines were supposed to harmonize but fell short.
After the historical narrative took a backseat during the first half, arguably one of the best action sequences in cinematic history happens. The horrific devastation depicted on screen cannot be compared to the real thing, however, it supplies a long-lasting impact on the viewer with its realism.
When the movie moves on from the attack and into the section of the movie where they focus on the Doolittle Raid, the two narratives seem to battle each other for dominance.
Hits and Misses
The movie’s structure is divisive, with the first half dominated by a romance drama that transforms into a cinematic masterpiece during a gripping 40-minute action sequence. However, the Doolittle Raid in the last segment loses momentum, feeling like an afterthought and failing to maintain the intensity of the preceding events.
Best Parts
The most visually captivating segment of the film was the breathtaking 40-minute action sequence, which vividly depicted the gruesome reality of the attack. The eeriness unfolded as dozens of enemy planes soared over unsuspecting Americans engaged in their everyday routines before chaos enveloped the entire area. While many still slept on a misty Sunday morning, the Japanese launched their assault, targeting closely positioned battleships and aircraft. Explosions, sinking ships, and the tragic scenes of drowning soldiers and others gunned down while trying to reach their battle stations created a haunting atmosphere.
Cuba Gooding Jr. delivers the most moving performance in the entire movie as Petty Officer Second Class Doris Miller, a real sailor who served as a Messman aboard the USS West Virginia.
Although Gooding and Firth’s emotional performances while Bennion dies in Miller’s arms is not quite what happened, it was one of the best scenes in the film, including the part where Miller proceeds to operate an anti-aircraft gun for the first time.
Film Flops
Ben Affleck’s performance, overall, fell flat for me. The portrayal of the love triangle felt cringy and excessive. Post the attack on Pearl Harbor, the movie lingers for an additional hour, contributing to a sense of drag. In essence, it had the potential to be an outstanding film had it focused more on being a genuine war movie, delving into the historical events leading up to and during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film’s historical inaccuracies stand out as a significant drawback, characterized by an excessive Americentric perspective and an apparent attempt to mimic the style of Titanic.
Historical Accuracy
This film is a blending of a few accurate historical depictions mixed with many creative liberties. It sheds light on British efforts to recruit American pilots and delves into the early stages of radar technology. However, there are instances where historical accuracy falters. The concept of Americans volunteering to fight against Axis powers before U.S. involvement is presented inaccurately.
According to American law, such actions were illegal, resulting in the loss of citizenship, a detail the film overlooks. Many individuals feigned Canadian citizenship to circumvent these restrictions. In 1944, Congress issued a blanket pardon for Americans who had served with the Allies.
Furthermore, injecting embellishments into acts of war seems unnecessary, and the film’s depiction of the Japanese bombing a hospital, which did not occur in reality, adds an element of fabricated villainy. Such additions, seemingly driven by a desire for cinematic impact, contribute to what feels like an overly Americentric perspective in the movie.
Despite these discrepancies, the film accurately portrays the challenges associated with the early implementation of radar technology. The inclusion of this aspect is commendable, considering the film’s limited number of correct technological references. The portrayal of radar operators’ inexperience is a poignant detail. They mistakenly identified the incoming attack as American B-17s, underlining the novel challenges posed by this new technology. While a brief warning might not have averted the destruction, it could have influenced the extent of the loss of life, even if marginally. This aspect fueled advancements in radar technology as the war progressed.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, Pearl Harbor falls short with a rating of 3/10, primarily due to its disjointed narrative and the unsuccessful attempt to blend a romantic drama with an epic war film. The film’s potential is compromised, leaving audiences yearning for two distinct cinematic experiences. Moreover, the decision to prolong the narrative for an hour after the climactic attack on Pearl Harbor to showcase an American retaliatory victory diminishes the impact of the initial tragedy, undermining the essence of the movie.
Ben Affleck’s screen presence contributes to the film’s rough patches, and its sole redeeming quality lies in its portrayal of the Pearl Harbor attack. The visceral depiction brings to mind the horrors captured in All Quiet on the Western Front, a more recent film illustrating trench warfare during World War I. A reference made by Danny’s dad in the opening scene of Pearl Harbor alludes to the trauma it caused and foreshadows the trauma the boys will experience. It may also be one of the best scenes in the movie.
The historical significance of Pearl Harbor is undeniable, representing a pivotal moment in U.S. global positioning. The attack propelled the nation into a two-front war, involving over 16 million military personnel. While the Doolittle Raid is portrayed in the movie, it pales in comparison to the later atomic bombings as a symbol of true revenge.
As we reflect on over 80 years since the attack, contemplation arises regarding alternate histories. Would the U.S. have risen to dominance without Japanese aggression? Despite its flaws, the film prompts reflection on the intricate interplay of love, war, and the unpredictable course of history.
Original Post at Reframing History