A massive air attack. Brilliantly plotted by the Japanese (portrayed as somewhat humane and militaristic), it caught the sleeping giant recovering from a Saturday night hangover and totally unawares. And filmed, it must be said, in some style. It's the equal of the first thirty minutes of Saving Private Ryan and is what could be justifiably described as a tour de force. Whatever the flaws of the rest of the film, there is no doubt that the attack sequence is not only the highlight, but worth the entrance fee alone.
Unfortunately, once the air attack on Pearl Harbor is complete, the film takes another hour to finish. We learn that the army landed a surprise air attack on Tokyo in retaliation against the Japanese with, predictably enough, the Lazarus-like figure of Rafe and his old buddy Danny leading the way. This is a needless addition to the movie and only serves the purpose of cheering up American audiences who would have been upset to see a film ending with Yankee butt being whipped.
Nevertheless, it could all have been a lot worse. Director Michael Bay has made his best film to date (not surprising when you realise the competition is Armageddon, Bad Boys and The Rock), and for two thirds of the film he manages to keep the film on an even keel. Despite the lacklustre front trio of stars, there is some able support, notably in the shape of Cuba Gooding Jr, who steals the film's emotional highpoint.
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