8/6/2019 Pearl Harbor Essay

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Being a historical love story, one might think the facts in the movie Pearl Harbor werefudged quite a bit, however, while it might not be entirely accurate, it still gives great insight tohow life was before and after the US entered World War II. Set in the early 1940s, before WWIIhad truly begun. It very accurately portrays many aspects of the American mindset and how theyvalued things before they were bombed.

The plot follows Danny and Rafe, two boys who have always wanted to fly planes. They join the Air Force where Rafe meets Evelyn, a nurse. The two fall in love, but Rafe volunteers togo to the British Royal Air Force and help out there, where he crashes and is presumed dead.Meanwhile, Danny and Evelyn hit it off, only to find out months later that Rafe is still alive.Pearl Harbor is bombed slightly after Rafe returns, where Danny and Rafe fight against enemyJapanese planes. Subsequently, both are awarded the Silver Star and given a volunteer assignment in Japan that they both agree to take part in. However, Evelyn reveals to Rafe she is

pregnant with Dannys child, which Rafe tries to use to keep Danny alive after the mission goeswrong. Danny dies, and Rafe returns to Evelyn to help raise the child.

One main character is Rafe, who takes part in the Doolittle Raid, is there during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and joins the British Royal Air Force to help Britain defend againstGermany. He tends to be more loudly spoken than Danny, and also the most emotional andirrational thinker. Another character is Danny, who is Rafes best friend. He is the soft-spokencounterpart to Rafe and stays home while Rafe is out being a hero. He is more awkward withwomen according to Rafe.

This movie was rather accurate in its portrayal of the event. However, the speech andmanner of the people in the movie did not seem to accurately portray some of the moral values of

the era. The hairstyles were not accurate either, as many of them seemed to be what one couldwalk out wearing today, but dramatized. The location was very accurately depicted, as werehouses. One period prop they did well was the way things that were happening around thecharacters were referred to, as well as Roosevelts speech.

This movie was a wonderful movie. The graphics were excellent; the lighting was verywell done, as were the graphics. I was pleased to note that no matter what mood the scene wassupposed to be, Evelyns lipstick was always red. However, there were historical discrepanciesthat somewhat put me off. The movie makes people more aware of history by putting them in a

place where they can see how it could have happened and how it could have been. I would

recommend this film to another student because of its historical significance as well as itsmarvelous making.