Pearl Harbor: The Movie - Page 2

Thrillhouse · #16 05-26-2001, 02:39 AM

I am not even going to see it until it comes out on tape. Why waste time seeing an hour and a half of cheezy character development and 30 minutes of action. Like titantic, they have to please every demographic. I just feel sorry for the senior citizens who will see this movie over the weekend and see that it sucks.

newbie · #17 05-26-2001, 04:05 AM

Just got back from seeing it...major thumbs up! Worth the long, long wait in lines...

Loved the storyline, the action, and all the male actors..I thought they were pretty all good. And of course--I'm even MORE in love with BEN!!!

Only "downer" points for the movie, IMO--the love triangle and the leading lady , Kate Beckinsale. The love triangle was way too cheesy and kinda fell apart after a while. It was good in the beginning, but lost strength after that. And that's saying a lot, b/c I'm such a hopeless romantic! Kate Beckinsale, IMO, could have done better...she wasn't as strong as I would have liked...

The general consensus was that the love story was a bit forced, and that Kate wasn't all that "sparkling" shall we say..

But, overall, go see it! I have a feeling it's gonna be even bigger than Titanic..though I did like Titanic better (my fave movie)

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#18 05-26-2001, 03:17 PM

I finally saw the movie...and it was worth it to charge the tickets by phone so I didn't have to wait in line to get them! The theatres were great--for the Grand Opening it was free popcorn and soda refills!

It wasn't the perfect movie, but it was very worthwhile to see. The love triangle was a bit hard to see because I think both men were deserving of her. I loved Kate, despite what many people have said about her role. "Evelyn" was a real life PH nurse (now in her late 80s), and I found that out the night of the world premiere.

The concept of the movie was to portray a love story with the events of Pearl Harbor in the backdrop, and so maybe that's why it looked "forced".

I didn't cry at all during the lovey conversation, but I cried like a baby during the bombing scenes, seeing the pain of the sailors who were hurt beyond recognition and who couldn't be saved in time. I was also afraid that this movie was going to renew anti-Japanese sentiments.

Many of the PH survivors have said that this movie was surprisingly accurate, and I am so glad that they have given this movie their star of approval. Contrary to what ex greek said, I don't think they're trying to please every demographic. Millions of dollars were spent for this movie in hopes that no one should ever forget about PH.

There were some minor flaws in the movie: Old Haleiwa town did not look like that, and one of the intelligence guys even mispronounced it (I'm anal about Hawaiian words). It was impossible for them to get to the airfield so fast as Wheeler is a good 30 minutes drive into the country from the PH/Hickam area. Oh--and that Japanese Pagoda scene? That's a temple in Manoa, about 5 minutes away from my campus.

Not to be mean, but Titanic was a big snoozer. Titanic itself dragged on for 3 hours and it felt like 3 hours. PH was 3 and a half hours, but like James I was at the edge of my seat during the whole movie (with the occasional drying of the eyes). The only indication of a 3 and a half hour movie was the locking of my knees when I tried to stand. It was almost 2 in the morning when we left the theatres.

I hope everyone here can get a chance to see it!

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"I don't know the secret to success, but one sure way to failure is to try and please everyone."--Bill Cosby

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HeidiHo · #19 05-26-2001, 06:41 PM

I saw it last night, & agree about the love triangle thing. It was really unrealistic, IMHO. I give it a "A-" or "B+" overall, though. I really liked it.
Heidi

James · #20 05-26-2001, 09:07 PM

*****Warning possible SPOILER*****

*****Do not scroll further if you have not seen the movie!*****

********************************************

The love triangle IMHO, was more poingnat from a guys point of view. Best friend back stabs you with your girl . . . if he had lived and he and Kate had been together forever . . . that would have left me and most men I know gnashing their teeth . . . what is funny is that I had conversations today about the movie and we agreed that men and women would see the love triangle from totally different points of view . . . I am not sure where you ladies are coming from on it

At the end I thought the writer had a very good sense of justice in killing the one guy off.

As far as Kate went in her character . . . I missed 10 crucial minutes getting my date popcorn and soda so will ahve to resee the movie to guage the overall affect . . . but she seemed strong and consistant with the way women I have known reason . . . actually she may have been a bit more romantic in the sense of holding on for a long time . . .

My one complaint is that there didn't seem to be a really well expressed time line between things.

I wouldn't mind dicussing the Triangle more with those of you with an opinion . . . because I really thought it was so WRONG for the best friend to become involved with her.

carnation · #21 05-26-2001, 10:26 PM

OTW, I am so very afraid of anti-Japanese sentiment because of this movie... every time some unthinking teacher assigns my daughters' classes a novel such as Under the Blood Red Sun or has them watch a WWII video, it seems that my daughters get, at the least, dirty looks or sometimes a comment from some trashy kid.

Oddly enough, we've gotten no grief from veterans of WWII; they seem to feel like the Japanese soldiers were mostly scared boys following orders just like they were.

HeidiHo · #22 05-26-2001, 11:11 PM

James- I guess you're right that guys & girls will see the triangle differently. I thought it was insane for Ben's character to hold a grudge for so long. "Hello!? We thought you were dead!!" Evalyn & the friend guy both felt guilty, but followed their hearts. Ben decided to leave, he should have been prepared to deal with whatever happened because of it.
I am interested to hear your point of view on the situation.
Heidi

Miami1839 · #23 05-26-2001, 11:31 PM

HeidiHo, I feel the same way on the grade for the movie. The movie definitely should be movie of the year. I absolutely loved it. It had so many great elements to the movie. I could see how it might inspire some animosity towards the Japanese, but I dont see it that way. I'd like to think if anything else it builds a sense of pride in our nation and respect of our Men and Women who died at Pearl Harbor. Thats how I like to look at it.

James, IMHO, I feel the same way about the love triangle. Wow, talk about knife in the back *L* After Ben swears his love carried him through to get back to his Kate in Pearl Harbor. Yeah, I agree with you Heidi, but I guess to me I found it suprising she didnt hang on the idea of Ben longer. I mean 3 months? I could see some that might have waited a year or so just out of respect for that significant other. Plus, it was his best friend. If I was in Bens shoes and my best friend did that to me our friendship would be history. However, I guess the fact they were soldiers and how they were assigned made things even more difficult for their friendship. I guess that just coming from a guys perspective

I would never ever make a move like that on a best friends girl. IMHO. Dead or Not. Just out of respect for our friendship. Granted she was having the baby and couldnt go back with Ben until they killed off his friend. Though *L* I just cant see how there wouldnt be some big issues going on for awhile in that marriage between Ben and Kate *L*. Kate was definitely lovely to watch in that movie.

Kevin

[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited May 26, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited May 26, 2001).]

Lots-a-Heart · #24 05-27-2001, 11:08 AM

***DON'T READ UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE***
I saw the movie last night and found it really good (especially since in one of my political science classes this year we studied the "American Intelligence Failure" that lead to Pearl Harbour and the American's increasing their intelligence budget by gazillions of dollars!)
I started to cry whent he first bomb was dropped in Pearl Harbour and was still crying at the end in the field with lil'Danny. (In saving Private Ryan I started crying when they showed the crosses at the beginning! I'm an Army Brat what can I say! I was taught all this stuff from a very young age)
As for the triangle...it rubbed me the wrong way! I understand how Ben could feel upset. Hello, he was fighting in a war his country was not, he almost died and he comes home and his girl is with his best friend! She was on an island where it was 4000 sailors to one girl...chick's grieving process was a couple of days it seems

Come on girls, you know you would feel the same if one of your soror's was dating your Ben Affleck!! I also didn't like the mission to Japan where Danny died, b/c it seemed like Evelyn got what she always wanted...Raif (Ben). That made me seriously dislike her.
All in all, I thought it was a good film. I can't compare it to Titanic, as I never saw it!

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Sarah
Sister Lots-a-Heart, #9
President, Iota Beta Chi Sorority
http://welcome.to/iotabetachi

Rudey · #25 05-28-2001, 06:17 PM

I have no idea why any of you would call this a "must see". It was a complete flop. Everyone in the theatre generally sensed it. It was three hours long. It was filled with complete horse crap love scenes and then war scenes. There were bodies everywhere but not one emotion arose in you. The love scenes just seemed too fake - like they were made for the movie and way too cheezy. In fact I'm still wondering how Ben could be dyslexic and not pass his eye exam but still write and read love letters.

Also it was looooong. This movie was long and had a hundred stories in it. If you want to tell me what the black sailor had to really do with anything, please go ahead because that could have been another movie on its own.

The movie is just one of those movies that's so stupid that you laugh. "I'll never look at a sunset without thinking of you" is a line that gets every single guy that's watching it to turn to his buddy and make a gay face and act stupid. My favorite was having some old guy fart as soon as the girl said that line and everyone in the theatre laughed.

If I was the director I would have rejected half of those scenes and made one solid movie with a plot that didn't digress every 5 minutes. I would have used actors that are able to connect with emotions. I would have made it more...lifelike.

And this wasn't life like (wahine?). They threw in a couple of facts, but the rest was done for affect. This isn't a bad thing at all...but it definitely isn't meant to be twisted into a documentary with a seal of approval from WWII vets (which it wasn't).

[This message has been edited by Rudey (edited May 28, 2001).]

#26 05-28-2001, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by Rudey:
If you want to tell me what the black sailor had to really do with anything, please go ahead because that could have been another movie on its own.

You're right. Dorrie Miller deserves his own movie. He's significantly important because of his heroism during the bombing. Though his skin color prohibited him from ever handling a weapon, he came forward and shot down at least two Japanese planes. Though African-Americans were limited to kitchen duty, Dorrie Miller still found it necessary to care for his dying captain. He was awarded the Navy Cross although many critics feel that he should've been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. What's ironic is that he died just two years after the PH attack as his boat was sunk by Japanese submarines. That's why "that black sailor" was significant.

If I was the director I would have rejected half of those scenes and made one solid movie with a plot that didn't digress every 5 minutes. I would have used actors that are able to connect with emotions. I would have made it more...lifelike.

But then your movie would be like all of them other action movies...testosterone filled with Japan and the US competing to see who's c**k was bigger.

And this wasn't life like (wahine?). They threw in a couple of facts, but the rest was done for affect. This isn't a bad thing at all...but it definitely isn't meant to be twisted into a documentary with a seal of approval from WWII vets (which it wasn't).

I think you mean EFFECT . Did I say in my previous posts that the movie was supposed to be accurate? Hmm..I don't think I did. Um, if it was supposed to be marketed as a documentary it would've been sent straight to MSNBC.

Getting the approval of PH survivors is indeed important. The movie itself is a depiction of their war, and many of the main characters were modeled after real people. News clip after news clip you hear the cast and crew repeating over and over "this movie is to honor them."

It's a shame that you didn't enjoy the movie...but too bad the movie already got your money!

LeslieAGD · #27 05-28-2001, 11:12 PM

I really wish you people hadn't ruined the movie for me! Next time I won't go on a movie board until AFTER I've seen the movie!

#28 05-29-2001, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LeslieAGD:
I really wish you people hadn't ruined the movie for me! Next time I won't go on a movie board until AFTER I've seen the movie!

Leslie, I know how you feel. I came on the boards during the Survivor season and a few episodes were ruined for me...I learned my lesson though.

That's why on opening day I refrained from reading this topic. I knew that the movie was already playing on the mainland...so I waited till after I saw it to come online.

SSS1365 · #29 05-29-2001, 09:47 AM

I thought the movie was horribly long too, but then I have a short attention span. I don't like movies over 2 hours. But, disregarding the length, I thought it wasn't half bad. It was definitely more interesting that Titanic, which it has been compared to.

Rudey · #30 05-29-2001, 11:54 PM

wahine,
two things.
1) Having a solid plot does not turn it into a "testosterone" flick. By your reasoning, "Fried Green Tomatoes" and any other "chick flick" is really a "testosterone flick" if it involves having a straight solid plot that doesn't digress.
2) Don't correct my spelling. I find that incredibly annoying. I made a simple mistake. I wasn't revising my BA paper. People do things and don't understand how it makes someone else feel. Well correctings my spelling is insulting my education. If you really want me to, I can be an arrogant person from my side of the screen and search through your posts for spelling and grammatical mistakes. I can take this even further and just insult your capabilities in other ways as well. But I'd rather not. I'm a civil person, and I'm sure you understand that going to a top 10 school, having great stats, and working hard are going to get me places in life rather than my spelling on the greekchat.com forums. Thank you for understanding.