Pearl Harbor

2001 war film based on true event--
Empire of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

Directed by Michael Bay
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer
Music by Hans Zimmer

My friends who know me well, probably knew these three fellows are always my favourite filmmakers.
The chemical effects between them is clearly seen in "The Rock".

Jerry Bruckheimer pair up with Michael Bay for the third time since "The Rock" and "Armageddon".
But "Pearl Harbor" is a huge dissapointment.

This movie proves a fact that action movie director should not direct a war film.
Same mistake repeat by John Woo in "Windtalkers".

Two worst things in this movie is the screenplay and acting.

The essense of history in Pearl Harbor event is totally gone.
It's all fucked up by the triangle relationship between Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, and Kate Beckinsale.

If you divide this movie into parts according to plot by feature time, you will find how draggy the script is.

First part, it's all about romantic and "touching"(not for me) love story.
Feature time: 90minutes
Comment: Boring!!!

Second part, attack on Pearl Harbor.
Feature time: 30minutes
Comment: Michael Bay showed his character. Not bad....great sounds effect and editing!!!!

Third part, American revenge....and.....unresolved love conflicts.
Feature time: 60minutes
Comment: Oh no, not again!!!

There is lack of historical facts, truth and real characters portrayed in the movie.
The footage is a waste and doesnt really concern with the plot.

The love triangle itself can already be made for another movie independantly.
It is a waste because Pearl Harbor's attack is a huge event in world history, but unluckily audiences cannot get any meaningful message from the movie.

3hours is absolutely draggy, and suffering.
The 30minutes bombing scene is well-done but it didnt advance the plot.
It can only shows how talented Michael Bay is to explode buildings and ships.

Another poor thing in this movie is the bad acting.
Ben Affleck is one the lead actor that I hate the most.
I really don't know what the hell is going on to his acting skill.
He just, won't improve.

But ofcourse, there are still some good things you can find in this movie.
The soundtrack is good, Hanz Zimmer remains his quality in Pearl Harbor.
The music makes the movie beautiful and it fits well to those nice scenery at Pearl Harbor.

Some of the scenes' cinematography is great.
I like how the first armor-piercing bombs drops on the ship.
Very memorable!!!

Overall, Pearl Harbor is not a great movie.
Feelike vommit after watching....

Sorry Michael Bay!

新宿事件

一个拖拉机工人成为偷渡客，再成为华社老大的故事。

我个人虽然不是很期待这部电影，但知道是由尔冬升执导，还有成龙和吴彦祖主演，信心还是有的。

故事述说来至中国大陆的华人偷渡到日本谋生，被当地人歧视的悲惨事件。

看电影前，我并不知道成龙这角色“铁头”是不会武功不会打架的。
若无意外，这应该是成龙电影生涯里头一次没有动作场面。

成龙向来塑造了一个大英雄的形象，突然在“新宿事件”里不打了，看到坏人时更是不知所措。
说真的，这样的画面我看得很不习惯。。。给我的感觉是。。。他很明显是在“做戏”啦！

当然，虽少了动作场面，暴力镜头还可是多的不得了，而且几乎每一幕都拍得令人毛骨悚然！
整个故事的节奏拍得不错，但毕竟情节太多，尔东升在处理一些细节方面显得非常马虎。

例如“铁头”枪杀两名黑帮人物的一幕最糟糕，还有钱嘉乐被石头击中头部的一幕也蛮“儿戏”。
话虽如此，也别忘了这些画面可能都是因为太过残忍而被剪掉的，所以接得不美。
（大马剪了7分钟）

吴彦祖的演技接近完美，没有什么可挑剔的。
他的角色“阿杰”是众角色里最鲜明的。

我常常注重character development, 但看到阿杰痛苦的经历，我多么地盼望这戏里没有什么character development.

电影最特别的地方，是在故事大纲里有三大看点。

1.它让观众看到华人如何被欺压和歧视。
2.华人如何团结起来为自己挣回一口气。

通常一般电影人都会以这两大看点拍成一部“报复片”。
大家可能看了会感到非常痛快甚至拍案叫绝。

但，有看过尔冬升电影的人应该知道他绝对不会那么简单就给我们一个快乐结局。
电影第三大看点，就是。。。

3.华人搞内讧后的下场。

尔冬升向来注重电影含义和教育性质，“新宿事件”也不例外。
当我看到“铁头”和一班兄弟买了一部栗子车给“阿杰”时，心里感到好温馨。
林雪跳起舞来更是让我会心一笑。

电影结束前，让我们再次看回了这一幕。。。
那感觉是完全不同的。
心里深深地受感动。。。
我多么希望故事在那一幕后就结束！

尔冬升在电影后段仿佛掴了我们一个巴掌，让我们华人好好的自我反省。