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Pearl Harbor is a two-hour movie squeezed into three hours, about how on December 7, 1941, the Japanese staged a surprise attack on an American love triangle. Its centerpiece is 40 minutes of redundant special effects, surrounded by a love story of stunning banality. The film has been directed without grace, vision, or originality, and although you may walk out quoting lines of dialog, it will not be because you admire them.

Roger Ebert#47

FilmCriticismFilm criticismLoveStorytellingHistory

About this quote

What does it mean?
Ebert criticizes Pearl Harbor for bloating a simple love story with redundant special effects and lacking vision. He notes the dialogue is memorable only for its poor quality, not its artistry.
In plain terms
The movie wastes time on effects and tells a boring love story without originality.
What can you take from it?
Spectacle cannot replace originality or coherent storytelling in film.

Where it applies

  • watching blockbuster films
  • reviewing historical movies
  • critiquing screenplays

Putting it to work

  • prioritize story over effects
  • identify redundant scenes
  • assess directorial vision

Questions to consider

  • Does spectacle justify weak storytelling?
  • How should history be adapted for film?

Another view

Some audiences may value spectacle and romance over originality regardless of critique.

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