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: Anamorphic, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS 5.1)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: July 2, 2002
• Run Time: 183 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1,951 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005Q3TZ
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,399 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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

  #12 in	Movies & TV > Boxed Sets > Military & War
  #42 in	Movies & TV > Military & War > War Epics

• For more information about "Pearl Harbor - The Director's Cut (Four-Disc Vista Series)" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Sometimes bigger is actually better. Nearly matching the size of director Michael Bay's ego, this massive four-disc set is a veritable Pearl Harbor archive, and ironically, Bay's film remains the least interesting component. It's a purely conventional Hollywood take on the tragedy, using a clichéd love triangle between two ace pilots (Josh Hartnett, Ben Affleck) and a Pearl Harbor nurse (Kate Beckinsale) as an "intimate" means of spectacularly re-creating the attack that thrust America into World War II. The director's cut adds little to the previous DVD release, apart from authentic R-rated carnage during the Japanese raid, and minor expansion of the Hartnett-Beckinsale romance. Commentaries range from superfluous (Bay and film historian Jeanine Basinger) to highly entertaining (Ben Affleck and costars) and technically informative (primary production team), and a spirited examination of visual effects (with Bay and ILM supervisor Eric Brevig) is guaranteed to fascinate anyone interested in physical effects and CGI. A broad "making of" documentary is noteworthy for one-time viewing, while abundant historical records make this a valuable compilation of definitive materials.

The History Channel's "One Hour over Tokyo" and "Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor" provide depth that Bay's movie lacks, and Charles Kiselyak's interactive timeline is arguably the finest feature included, providing an in-depth historical perspective on U.S.-Japan relations. Even a brief reenactment of a Pearl Harbor nurse's journal is moving in a way that Bay's film can only try to be, while the "Interactive Attack Sequence" provides a multifaceted exploration of the entire production process (a highly educational feature for aspiring filmmakers). All in all, these four discs offer an admirable balance between Bay's technically impressive but ill-conceived epic and a thorough, fitting tribute to those who endured hell on that fateful Sunday in 1941. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description
PEARL HARBOR: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT Vista Series DVD is the most extensive exploration of moviemaking ever presented. Four discs showcase more than 60 new shots in the film and over 12 hours of new special features. There's never been anything like it before. 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 Hartnett (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

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 'Enemy' denied humanity and believability, October 1, 2003

By	"moehiggins" (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pearl Harbor (Two-Disc 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition) (DVD)

In addition to the historical military inaccuracies which have already been mentioned in detail on these pages, I would add the unfortunate stereotyping of Japan's military leaders as a major negative. Indeed, we are at a time in history where such silly cardboard cut-outs are no longer necessary - if they ever were - in trying to portray the psychological truths that plunged the U.S. and Japan into war with each other.

The director was apparently lazy or just stupid. The idiotic rendering of Japanese and things Japanese in this movie dismisses it from serious consideration as a thing of value or merit.

It's trash.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A brief summary, November 29, 2003

By	ben (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pearl Harbor (Two-Disc 60th Anniversary Commemorative Edition) (DVD)

two guys fall in love with the same girl, and it strains their friendship. oh and just so you know the Japanese bomb...some ships. this movie was [awful] when it came out, and now after everythings happened, this movie just looks worse and even more pathetic. the only ups are the special effects and...special effects. this movie misses the point by such a margine its offensive.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Money, June 8, 2001

By	Jeremiah J. Timmins (Laconia, NH USA!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This movie was sad. Not romantic-sad, sad as in 'pathetic.'

If you want to see a good movie about Pearl Harbor, check out "Tora, Tora, Tora." This flick comes across as pure fiction, and is largely unbelievable. I think one of the ending scenes defines its lack of realism. Two aviators are being captured by the Japanese. One aviator is tied up, while his buddy manages to shoot three Japanese, and kill two with a grenade. Meanwhile, the tied-up guy is shot through the chest multiple times. Of course, the dying buddy is strong enough to keep kicking until he gives his farewell speech, while the Japanese are all instantly stone-cold dead.

Besides, this movie would have been about an hour shorter if it didn't show an American flag every five seconds. I love the USA, but come on, I know our flag's pretty.