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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22721 in DVD
• Brand: AFFLECK,BEN
• Released on: 2002-07-02
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 183 minutes

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

Customer Reviews

another attack on Pearl Harbor - well, on the movie
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.

One long movie full of cheesy lines and immature plot
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.

Loud, brilliant effects- mediocre writing
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.