The Plot: Romantic drama based on real events. Two best friends fall in love with the same nurse. The movie takes place during the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

In the end Pearl Harbor hits its target with solid performances by Hartnet and Affleck and its incredible action sequences.
   In this stunning film - life-long friends, played by Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnet, are caught up in the events that draw the United States into World War II. One enlists with the U.S. Army Air Corps - the other is assigned to the British Royal Air Force. Both find themselves in love with the same woman, played by Kate Beckinsale.
   Ben Affleck is perfect as the steel-jawed Rafe - who wants nothing more than to get into action before hes too old. Affleck uses every ounce of his all-American boy-next-door charm.
  Josh Hartnet is Danny, Rafes childhood friend. Hartnet plays Danny with an honest innocence - effectively balancing out Afflecks character.    In the middle is Kate Beckinsale as Evelyn. Beckinsale wowed audiences in Cold Comfort Farm and Much Ado About Nothing. Unfortunately while bouncing from Affleck to Hartnet her character degenerates into little more than window dressing. Too bad, because a strong female lead would have given this love triangle equal sides and a more believable story.
  Rounding out the film are exceptional performances by Jon Voight as FDR, Dan Aykroyd as Captain Thurman and Tom Sizemore as Earl.
  In the end Pearl Harbor hits its target with solid performances by Hartnet and Affleck and its incredible action sequences.
  Pearl Harbors biggest problem is it cant decide if its a love story or a war story. As a war story Pearl Harbor fares better. Its acting and jaw-dropping special effects under Michael Bays direction make it a film worth seeing.
  When the film moves into its love story subplot it becomes uninspired and predictable. The relationships between the three are not well defined and seem more worthy of a Lifetime TV afternoon special than a multi-million dollar epic.
  Its other problem is slighter - some historical inaccuracies occur (The Japanese didnt use as many planes, the Dolittle raid and magic radio messages, etc.) but I count these as dramatic license.
  I took away 1 point for its predictable soap opera love story - leaving a total of 4 out of 5. Its terrific you got to see this film.
  Pearl Harbor carries a PG-13 rating for wartime violence and images and language. The film also stars Alec Baldwin and Cuba Gooding Jr.