Product Details

• Actors: Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jon Voight
• Directors: Michael Bay
• Writers: Randall Wallace
• Producers: Barry H. Waldman, Bruce Hendricks, Chad Oman, Jennifer Klein, Jerry Bruckheimer
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Touchstone / Disney
• DVD Release Date: December 4, 2001
• Run Time: 183 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1,951 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00003CXTG
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,509 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #10 in	Movies & TV > Military & War > War Epics
  #14 in	Movies & TV > Military & War > World War II

• For more information about "Pearl Harbor (Two-Disc 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
To call Pearl Harbor a throwback to old-time war movies is something of an understatement. Director Michael Bay's epic take on the bombing that brought the United States into World War II hijacks every war movie situation and cliché (some affectionate, some stale) you've ever seen and gives them a shiny, glossy spin until the whole movie practically gleams. Planes glisten, water sparkles, trees beckon--and Bay's re-creation of the bombing itself, a 30-minute sequence that's tightly choreographed and amazingly photographed, sets the action movie bar up quite a few notches. And in updating the classic war film, Bay and screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart) use that old plot standby, the love triangle--this time, it's between two pilots (Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett) and a nurse (Kate Beckinsale) who find themselves stationed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, during what they thought would be a nice, sunny tour of duty. Then, of course, history intervened.

For the first 90 minutes of the movie, Affleck and Beckinsale find a nice, appealing chemistry that plays on his strengths as a movie star and hers as a serious actress--he gives her glamour, she gives him smarts. Their truncated romance--the beginning of which is told in flashback so we can get right to the point where he has to leave her to go to England--works, thanks to their charm. They're no Kate and Leo from Titanic (a strategy the film strives hard toward), but they're pretty darn adorable in their own right. Hartnett, as the not entirely unwelcome third wheel, squints bravely but makes only a slight dent in the film. Everyone else in Pearl Harbor--from Cuba Gooding Jr.'s brave navy seaman to Jon Voight's able impersonation of FDR--is pretty much a glorified walk-on, taking a backseat to the pyrotechnics and action sequences that keep the three-hour film in fairly constant motion. But when that action does take hold, Pearl Harbor is quite a thrilling ride. --Mark Englehart

Product Description
History comes alive in the unforgettable epic motion picture PEARL HARBOR, the spectacular blockbuster brought to the screen by Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay. Astounding visual and audio effects put you at the center of the event that changed the world -- that early Sunday morning in paradise when warplanes screamed across the peaceful skies of Pearl Harbor and jolted America into World War II. This real-life tale of catastrophic defeat, heroic victory, and personal courage focuses on the war's devastating impact on two daring young pilots, Ben Affleck (ARMAGEDDON) and Josh Hartnet (BLACK HAWK DOWN), and a beautiful, dedicated nurse, Kate Beckinsale (SERENDIPITY). PEARL HARBOR is extraordinary moviemaking -- a breathtaking reenactment of the "date which will live in infamy" and a heartfelt tribute to the men and women who lived it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars another attack on Pearl Harbor - well, on the movie, June 5, 2001

By	Madison Graves (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

In the opening of Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor", we find two boyhood friends, Rafe Mcawley and Danny Walker, at a farm. We learn that Danny's father is a broken war veteran turned abusive father. Rafe assumes the role as an older brother towards Danny, loyally looking out for him. The audience is then jetted into the future, months before the historical, ill-fated attack on the actual Pearl Harbor, where Danny (played by Josh Hartnett) and Rafe (played by Ben Affleck) - still best buds, but much older - are training. They are both excellent, daredevil pilots; however they are very different.... However, the two are very nice to look at on screen!... Beckinsale and Affleck have no chemistry, and I, personally, did not care about their relationship... Surprisingly, Hartnett and Beckinsale played off each other very naturally and I found myself laughing a little and feeling touched. Harnett was very compelling on screen, more so than Affleck (the supposed star) but perhaps I'm just being wooed by his good looks!

The film picks up, and Bay did an incredible job at depicting the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle brigade. The special effects are dazzling and they will blow you away! Jon Voight portrayed Franklin Roosevelt and he had his character down to a T! Cuba Gooding Jr. also gave a great performance as an actual cook aboard one of the ships during the attack. However, his story was overshadowed and deserved much more time and development. Alec Baldwin delivered a laughable performance as an actual general, Doolittle, who led men to revenge on the Japanese attack. Dan Ackroyd also made, I guess what you would call a cameo, and he was great!!! But again, he was barely in the movie. Although the relationship between Rafe and Danny was pretty captivating, the romance (even for me, a girl) bored me to death. Affleck did what he could with his unbelievable lines, but Hartnett was very believable, he made me cry! Beckinsale was nothing amazing, but she did surprise me towards the middle of the movie - her character becoming more realistic and heroic. The supporting roles (the other nurses and men, etc) are your classic personalities and they added little to the movie

I hungered for character development, the politics of this time period and symbolism. Bay could not handle all the different levels that are vital to a movie. "Pearl Harbor" could have been a really amazing, great movie - but it lacked originality and patience. Bay was so anxious to tackle the action of the movie (which he did wonderfully), that he overlooked and hurriedly rushed through all the other GREAT stories! Also, "Pearl Harbor" is basically just a combination of other war movies...

Although "Pearl Harbor" bombed in my opinion, the romantic bliss of the beginning does provide a clear contrast and foreshadowing of the horror to come. And, the film is very effective and I feel, although it is more Hollywood, than history, it did give justice to those who actually experienced the attack. This movie is no masterpiece, that's for sure, and it won't get an academy award - unless it wins for something like sound or effects - but I have to recommend it. It really is pretty thrilling and entertaining, and it does move you! Hans Zimmer's score will form a lump in your throat! "Pearl Harbor" is a crowd pleaser, and I doubt many adults and teens won't like it... certainly one to see at the theatre. But, as a critic, I can't fall for the charismatic Josh (even though he did a great job and this should be a step up in his career) and it just disappoints me that Bay directed this film. If Spielberg had done it, it would have probably been up for 'Best Picture' or something... it really could have been great... oh well. But, despite MY attack on "Pearl Harbor" - go see it - it's worth it. No matter what the critics say, you are probably planning to see it - or have already seen it, any way.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One long movie full of cheesy lines and immature plot, February 13, 2002

By	K. Richter (Sunshine State) - See all my reviews

The movie was trying so hard to stir our emotions-without any success-it was like encountering a high-pressure salesman (the more they push, the more appalling it gets). Most scenes looked like it was borrowed from somewhere else, like a messy patchwork of all the past movies (especially Titanic and Saving Private Ryan).

The heroine is very beautiful, but the way she conveniently transfers her love from one man to another in a matter of months stirs no sympathy.

Also, the movie is strangely full of Caucasian casts while hundreds of native Hawaiians and Japanese-Americans also fell victim to the attack. The existence of Cuba Gooding Jr. was almost like an after-thought with no effect to the plot and no memorable dialogue. It is a dishonest depiction of history.

1 star for the spectacular special effect.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Loud, brilliant effects- mediocre writing, October 3, 2001

By	Robert W. Stoll "Coach Potato extraordinaire" (Whittier, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The womens auxuliary re-enactment of the attack of Pearl Harbor (as done by Monty Python) is as accurate and was more entertaining. If Hollywood was smart they would realize that the history of the events and the people who lived it, were alot more interesting than their contrived characters who have little more style than substance.