Pearl Harbor

Why was it such a hit? It was the largest piece of tripe I have seen for a long time. The fact that it lasted for 3 hours is a joke. The Sun hearalded it as a triumph of popular opininion over the critics. I for one think that many people went to see what all the hype was about and mostly left feeling bored. Sure the dogfight scenes were good but that doesn't make a good movie. I for one am fed up of films that rely so heavily on special effects they neglect the basic building blocks of films (i.e. script and characters we actually give a shit about). See also my moan on The Mummy Returns. 🙁

It was long enough alright, but it had some brilliant effects of ships blowing up.

The fact is that is was a crap movie. The reason it did so well is because most Americans can be lured in by testosterone packed action scenes and a crappy love story. And it's amazing as to how many Americans are ignorant to their own history. Not only was this movie not very good but it was historically inacurate. One thing I don't understand is how many veterans enjoyed the movie. I can understand veterans getting emotional while watching Saving Private Ryan but not Pearl Harbor. Being an American I guess I just don't fit in with all the people who enjoyed the movie.

What was so historical inacurate?

Most of the problems I had with the movie most people probably wouldn't notice but I am kind of a history buff. 🙂 For one the attack began around 7 in the morning and in the movie there were kids playing baseball as Japanese planes flew by. Another problem actually has to do with Britain before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ben Affleck's character helped the British Air Force fight the Luftwaffe before the US had even entered the war. Then after the attack pilots from Pearl Harbor participated in the Dolittle Raid which caused Japan to send Carriers back to the mainland in order to provide defence and allow the US to win Midway. It's not possible that American pilots were involved in Germany's attack on Britain, Pearl Harbor, and Dolittle's Raid. I was a little upset that references to Japan's eventual defeat were avoided in order to prevent upsetting the Japanese. The movie basically showed the basics of the Pearl Harbor attack, which is what it set out to do. The only thing most Americans know about Pearl Harbor is that Japan attacked the US and the movie did a good job of keeping it basic to attract viewers. It bugged me because like I said I know a little history and recognized the problems, and the problems could have been avoided if the producers and directors got help from historians instead of survivors from the attack. Even if these corrections were made the movie still lacked in more important areas.
(Sometimes it scares me that I took the time to know these things. I really need to get a more exciting life) 🤣

Well observed Wozz. You probably have equally strong views on U-571 which was not only crap but again historical mumbo jumbo. It's frightening isn't it that Holywood can rewrite history like that and have people believing it.

Well, Pearh Harbour is way more accurate than U-571

This is MY area too...

It is not IMPOSSIBLE for an American pilot to be in all three battles, just unlikely. Several American pilots joined the RAF and fought in the BoB, though most Americans who fought for the RAF died. None of them went back to be able to fight at Pearl Harbour, but it was not impossible for them to do so.

So historically there is no precedent for such a character, but when you are making a fictional charatcer you are allowed a little leeway. Just look at Sharpe and Hornblower...

Despite all the little historical flaws that the movie had it still made money and that is the goal for any Hollywood movie. It is the producers and directors job to make money even if it means ignoring certain things that most people won't notice. But none of us would be talking about this if the movie was any good.

Oh yes, indeed. But bad film as it is I still would criticse U-571 a lot more on being unforgivable historically.

The reason that I would complain personnally is not due to the humungous errors in historical information and the fact that it was an unlikley development, but simply that I didn't enjoy it, I felt that it was sentimental rubbish. Thes script maybe tried to be powerful but I think it over did it and made it too rich to be palatable. HOwever this is simply my opinion and I understand that others enjoyed it, so fair enough...

What are you talking about Pearl harbor was a great movie well atleast to me Josh harnett was a great actor so was ben affleck and the rest of the cast i mean it was a great love story and war story that only thing i did not like was that they dint show more of how we attack them !!!!

one of the reasons I'm not going to rent it is because it's again a war movie with the Americans as the good ones, that always win, patriotic thingie...

Pearl Harbor is a great movie! Well we wherent all that good but we where not the bad ones! We where attack first! Come on That Japanes attack us and kill so many of our people! Innocent people!!!! i am glad this movie show everything that in needed to! And I am glad this script was writting like this! they show how the american people really come togthere when is time to go to war! JUST LIKE WE ARE NOW! PEARL HARBOR is a Great Movie!!!!!

no , now guys it was the worst movie in all aspects that coud be possible . pearl harbor was a movie made becuase their are people out there that are brain dead and still in the movie industary . its like the oscar's instead of giving best actress to ellen burnysnt they give it to a unworthy just down right horrible actress julie roberts

It... it... it just didn't work. I'm sorry, but no matter how hard I try, I can't enjoy this film.

I had high expectations of the movie. The trailer made it look like it was going to be the best movie ever.

I liked the movie. And not just because I'm an American. The movie made it very clear that the Japaneese were NOT bad guys, and that they had no choice but to attack. It wasn't innacurate, it just left out a lot of stuff.

In the hands of a different director, I think the movie would have been much better. Michael Bay is a TERRIBLE director.

I think the only area in which it was demonstrably inaccurate was in the number of downed Japanese planes, but you tend to gloss over that sort of thing in war movies so it wasn't really a problem.

Like I said, history wise, there is much worse than this. But that did nothing to improve the quality of the film.

I think they should have shot it in black and white.

that would be a rip off from "Schindlers list"

and to be honest, I thought somethings would get inaccurate...

it wasnt as bad as alot of people said, i was expecting much worse, aside from all the war cliche's it was entertaining i thought.