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Pearl Harbor (the Movie)NOTE: Becca references: Rebecca Hill is a girl in my class who loves this movie ^_^You can skip the really long summary (8 LONG paragraphs) and hit my opinion of the movie at the bottom. The really REALLY long summary, coupled with some of my opinions along the way: The story begins with two boys in a field pretending to fly a plane. When the two actually get into the plane, one of the boys' father immediately arrives and scolds him. The other boy runs to his friend's defense and strikes his friend's father. The father begins to strike back, but the boy yells something that makes the father remember his time in WWI, fighting in the trenches in France against the Germans. Okay, so then the movie skips ahead to where the two boys are all grown up (or are they still?), on Long Island in January 1941, learning how to fly. Meanwhile, some nurses make their way to New York. Along the trip, Evelyn Stewart tells of her encounter with her recent love, Rafe McCawley (insert Becca description of Ben Affleck here). The two reunite when Evelyn arrives in New York, but despite the romantic night they have, Rafe reveals he volunteered to join the British Eagles, to assist England's air war effort against the German Luwaffe (sp?). Evelyn is saddened, but the two promise to keep in touch. Meanwhile, we get our first bit of historic talk. We see President FDR, who is very passionate about the war effort. He wants more munitions given to Russia, however at the expense of the Pacific war effort. At the other end of the world, Japan decides on an attack on Pearl Harbor, and begin planning. The war decoding intelligence agency (I guess I could say) joins a meeting with other government officials to predict Japan's next move. Japan has been dropping news of possible peace talks, but the officials predict an attack near south Asia. However, Dan Ackroyd's character, a member of the decoding agency, predicts the Japanese will attack on Pearl Harbor. Here is Titanic similarity number one: they claim the Japanese would never attack Pearl Harbor, because it was too well armed and no one would ever plan to attack it. The Japanese continue their attack on the other side of the world, and the translations are still subtitled really small. Back to the love story, Evelyn and Rafe continue to exchange love letters across the ocean. Rafe is flying with the British Eagles, while Evelyn has been transferred to Pearl Harbor to continue her duty as a nurse. The war effort was nothing like Rafe had imagined, and longs to be with Evelyn. One fateful morning, so the archetypical story goes, Rafe finally crashes. To make the movie realistic, the scene shows Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character boxing on the ship with another sailor. After winning the match, Gooding's character, Dorie Miller, is taken to the hospital and helped by Evelyn (the ONLY character he meets that is tied to the central storyline). He expresses his disappointment with his life, leaving home to join the navy and fight only to be a cook because he is African American. Evelyn wishes him good luck and bids him goodbye when Rafe's best friend from the beginning of the movie, the ever-cute-and-handsome Danny Walker (insert Becca description of Josh Hartnett here) arrives with tragic news: Rafe has been reported dead. Evelyn is extremely saddened, and a small, informal tribute ceremony is set up that night. Code breakers meanwhile try to figure out the Japanese code and the Japanese continue their plans for annihilation. Well, an attack on Pearl Harbor. Three months later, Evelyn and Danny happen to be at the same movie theater, and see themselves out at the same time. The two have coffee and Danny continues to speak of childhood memories with Rafe. Okay, it is so blatantly obvious that he's in love with Evelyn that is not even funny. It's like he's Jack and she's Rose (Titanic reference number 2). Anyway, Evelyn accidentally leaves her handkerchief behind and uses it as an excuse to see her again. So, if she hadn't been stupid enough to leave it behind, Danny might've never had the courage to see her again and that would've been the end of the relationship and what not. But, that's not what happened; ahh, if we could turn back time. Okay, starting another paragraph because the other one was really long. Continuing the story, the girls tell Evelyn that its time to go on, and she goes to visit Danny at the plane hanger, where he is working. Encouraged by her visit, he asks to take her to see the sunset... in a plane. So, they have this extremely fun and romantic date. And, um, Danny sleeps with her. And it's been one hour and STILL not actual historical context. ARGH! Well, nice to see that the Japanese are really busy. They continue planning and U.S. admirals continue to contemplate the Japanese's next attack since one of their great fleets is missing. Philippines? Korea? One guy still thinks its Pearl, but the other guys are just in disbelief. Well of course, this is a movie! Now we're at December 5, 1941. Evelyn has been sick lately. Hmm, what could that mean? -_-;; To top things off, Rave turns up alive. His plane crashed, but kept alive by the thought of her and was rescued by a French merchant ship. Unfortunately, Evelyn expresses things can't be like before, and Rafe realizes that his best friend and the woman of his life have fallen in love. Now don't tell me that shouldn't yield any hostility. Meanwhile, the Japanese listen to the Hawaiian radio, because if Pearl Harbor knew of the attack, it would be on radio. That night, the hostility between Rafe and Danny finally clash into a fight in the restaurant, but being drunk, the two simply fell asleep in the car (oh, they drove away b/c the restaurant owner called in police). Then, we reach the morning of December 7, 1941. A Sunday. All are sleeping, not knowing of the attack that was ahead. After 1 and 1/2 hours, there is finally action and history as the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. We see a point of view from a Japanese pilot, and a letter he writes to his family about his willingness to sacrifice his life for his country. Sound familiar? It's called patriotism. For some reason, patriotism is bad for all countries except the extremely developed ones, especially America. The radar picks up the japanese attack, but the general waves it off as a flight of B17 planes to deliver mail. The main Admiral is playing golf when he receives the alert, but he sees planes flying overhead. Washington breaks a code from Japan to the embassy, demanding Washington to destroy all decoder machines and important documents. The Japanese see the coast. So many planes! "We have achieved surprise." You can say that again. Everyone is still sleeping peacefully. So sad. The captain of the ship tells Gooding's character, Miller, that although his job as a cook may seem degrading, he is extremely proud of Miller. This gives Miller confidence and a tender respect for his captain as seen later in the movie. The attack begins. AND I'M ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH MY NOTES!!!!!! (I take notes during the movie then create the summary) Everyone is obviously surprised. A guy near Rafe and Danny's car has a camera and begins filming as they drive off toward the Harbor. Destruction is everywhere! The torpedos with fins are extremely successful in keeping them swimming through the water to hit the intended targets. FINALLY Evelyn wakes up and realizes the attack and demands everyone get to the hospital. Everyone is frantic as they discover the attack. Many are scared, but others are brave enough to fight. Dorie's captain however is shot, and this evokes a courage in Dorie. Later on he mounts on a machine gun on deck and shoots a Japanese plane down. The Japanese begin bombing the hospital as well. Rafe and Danny see the scramble at the Harbor, people powerless to stop it, some bravely fighting back. "Danny, get me into a damn plane!" The nurses at the hospital are frantically trying to save as many supplies as possible in the midst of bombing. Evelyn sees the patients as a priority and begins to cut them from their casts and on the floor for safety from the windows. Danny takes Rafe and the film guy to a mechanic who owns a small airfield. ARGH! Meanwhile ships are sinking, torpedos exploding, machine guns blasting away. So many are trapped IN the sinking ships without a way out. People dying because they're forced to drown, some being shot in the water. The whole ordeal was horrifying. Back in the US, President FDR receives word of the attack, and in a powerful dramatization, he drops all his papers. (Can we take notice of his African American caretaker?) Back at the hospital, Evelyn seems to be the only nurse keeping her head on straight. In midst of frenzy, many nurses are extremely frightened while trying to keep calm to do their duty correctly. Okay, I need to get going on this summary. I have other homework assignments and I've been typing for 3 hours (well, not typing straight for 3 hours, but I've been looking at my notes and putting them into sentences). Geez, who would read such a long summary anyway? -_-;; Okay, so Danny and Rafe are on the base and take to planes and remarkably shoot some down. The Japanese admiral decides to withdraw the force as they have lost the element of surprise. It is remarkable Danny and Rafe are still alive, however there are several men in the hospital. The doctor tells Evelyn that only so many can be saved, and that she must mark those that can be saved. Stepping out, Evelyn sees hundreds of burned men with pity and desperation in their eyes, determined to reach the hospital. Evelyn uses her lipstick to mark several men, those whom she thinks can and cannot be saved. Many are hostile towards the Japanese doctor, displaying the immediate reaction and false accusation of Japanese Americans for the attack. It is discovered on of the fellow nurses was killed- while one nurse finally breaks down, Evelyn manages to keep her head straight. We then see that Dorie is alive, and rescue efforts begin. The Admiral finally receives the notice of Japanese attack. ONE hour late. Meanwhile, the Japanese commend their admiral, however, this smart guy (who did stop the attack from continuing to California) commented that "I'm afraid all we've done is awaken a sleeping giant." Rafe and Danny give blood to the hospital to help out as they watch another man die in the hospital bed in the company of a priest. The two then go to help rescue those trapped in the ships. In Washington, Roosevelt makes his famous speech, calling for war. After, Roosevelt talks with his board. He wants to attack Japan as they had attacked the US, but they complain that it is impossible. However, in a remarkably dramatic scene, Roosevelt stands up, without assistance, and declares "Do not tell me it can't be done." He then gives the order to fire away at any retaliation they have. The others at the Harbor suffer the aftermath of the attack: death. Rafe and Danny however, are called to another mission to report to in 2 hours. While he is packing, Rafe demands to know why Evelyn continues to choose Danny. Evelyn expresses that although she still loves Rafe, she is pregnant with Danny's child and thus will give her whole heart to him but will always love Rafe. Evelyn also doesn't want Rafe to tell Danny about her condition, as it would only worry him. As Rafe goes off to leave, Evelyn finds Danny. Danny confesses that he is afraid that she will return to Rafe, however Evelyn confirms her love for him and awaits his return. Rafe and Danny are faced with the option of taking on a secret mission. Later, Rafe burns Evelyn's love letters and he tells Danny he shouldn't take up the mission, but Danny wishes to fight back. March 3, 1942 they are faced with new aviation training for the secret mission. April 2, 1942 aboard the USS Hornet, plans are announced of a bombing in Tokyo. As a retaliation attack, the 16 planes will bomb Tokyo then land on Chinese ships. Somehow, Evelyn joins the command post to learn who will live or die during the mission. April 18, the ship is under attack and must go forward with the plans to attack Tokyo 18 hours early, however it is most likely the planes will not have the fuel to return. The plans successfully take off a floating platform and bomb Tokyo. Roosevelt, however, gets word that the Chinese landing ships will not be on schedule. The pilots have no landing docks, no fuel. They see all ocean and no land. Remarkably, the ships find land and well, land in rice paddies. However, they have landed in Japanese territory. Japanese soldiers encircle the enemy planes. Crap. They are captured, however as Rafe is about to get shot, Danny shields him and is shot. Crap. In rage, Rafe shoots the Japanese soldiers around him and tells Danny that he cannot die and will be fine. However, Danny knows better. Rafe then reveals that Danny must stay alive because he is going to be a father. Danny's last words: "No, you are." Rafe is extremely saddened by the death of his best friend. Upon arrival back home, a now visibly pregnant Evelyn awaits the arrival of Danny. She sees Rafe emerge from the plane and is hopeful of Danny's safety, but is struck with sadness at the sight of a coffin. AND IN THE MOST ANNOYING ENDING EVER, Evelyn and Rafe get married and name the little boy Danny. Grr. Oh, and that attack was called the Doolittle raid. Funny, I never heard of that before. My personal opinion: Umm... Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character, Dorie Miller- whose name they practically *never* mention, is noble, but.. he doesn't even get to meet Rafe or Danny. He should have at least met them once so the storylines tie in together! And poor Dan Akroyd. His character like, practically foretells the future and he's just ignored. My main disappointment with the movie was the ending. I am extremely sorry, but I'm one of those people who thinks that Evelyn should have ended with Danny. That's just the way it should have been. Instead, it ended archetypical. As always. It's a Disney movie anyway (Touchstone is owned by Disney), so what can I expect. Sorry, the ending just bothers me. I continually drew tons of parallels from this movie. Titanic. Overconfidence of safety, Jack and Rose imitation (Danny and Evelyn-- Danny even dies as Jack dies!), element of surprise, sinking ships, people in the water, large budget, real moment in history... need I go on? WTC attacks. Threats taken lightly, loss of thousands of lives, family and friends affected, the public saddened in general, a hatred of the opposing ethnicity, and retaliation attacks. But it was an okay movie. ^_^ |
