Storyline

For this task I have summarized some of the main events from the 2001 movie, Pearl harbor. This will make it much easier for me to refer back to the film, its characters and events, during my further research tasks. It also helps explain the film to any of my readers that may not have seen it.

Pearl Harbor, is a Film directed by Michael Bay, released in 2001. The movie is based on the true events of the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Oahu- Hawaii, on December 7th 1941.

The film focuses on two main characters, Raif and Danny, who are lifelong friends. They shared a childhood as neighbors, and had a passion for flying from a very young age, so as soon as they could they joined the American Army Air force together. During their medical assessments Raif meets a nurse, Evelyn. She recognizes he is dyslexic, but passes him anyways as she has seen first hand what happens when a pilot loses his wings- through her father- and doesn’t want Raif to feel that pain.

Evelyn shares her and Raif’s story to her fellow nurses, introducing us to another main character – Betty. Betty is jealous of Evelyn and Raif’s seeming love at first sight, as she craves the love she never received when she was younger. Soon she meets Red, and they have a love story of their own.

Raif was eager to enter into war, so at the first opportunity he volunteered to fight alongside England’s Royal Air Force, in their attempts to victory across Europe, during the Second World War. Raif is immediately faced with the harsh realities of war, when during his induction after arrival at England one of the first conversions he overhears is “only eleven returned sir, that means we’ve lost two”. A few weeks later, Raif ignored warnings that there was a problem with his plane, when eager to protect his troops from a German air strike, the problem causes an oil leak leading to a fire inside his cockpit, meaning Raif’s plane is shot from the sky, and he is presumed dead – leaving behind his beloved love interest, Evelyn, and his brother Danny. Evelyn feels guilt over Raif’s death, as she believes it never would have happened if she didn’t pass his medical.

Bonding over their grief, Evelyn and Danny became extremely close and before long found comfort only in each other. To begin with, the two are reluctant to admit their feelings as they feel extremely guilty, however their peers encourage them to move on together, as it has been months since Raif was presumed dead. Just as the couple decide they can move on together, Raif returns from the dead, creating an uncomfortable and confusing love triangle. Understandably hurt, Raif picks a fight with Danny, and no matter how hard Danny tries to explain it seems their brotherhood has come to an end.

Alongside the focus of the love triangle between Raif, Evelyn and Danny, we also get an insight into Betty and Red’s relationship, which moves fairly quickly, as by this point the two are engaged. More importantly, we are shown the Government’s response to warnings about the attack on pearl harbor. Multiple warnings were received, but they were all brushed off by generals, as they believed it was more important to focus on the war in Europe. They believed there were no concerns at Pearl Harbor as torpedoes could not be used, due to the shallow nature of the water bed, and they believed they had enough resources to give them plenty of warning for an airstrike. Little did they know the Japanese had been working hard to tackle this problem, allowing them to carry out a totally surprise attack. When a warning was officially sent to the fleet at pearl harbor, after a Jap transmission had been intercepted, it did not arrive in time to prepare the Us navy, in fact the message was not received until after the attack had been completed, and the Japs had recalled their forces.

On December 7th, at around 8 am, the men are awoken by the sounds of explosions- the beginning of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Raif and Danny realize they can’t afford to lose each other again, so put their differences behind them and team up to enter into battle.

In a huge battle scene we are shown the true, harsh realities of war. Each main character shows a different perspective of those who are fighting in the war, and how it may affect their lives. During the battle Betty dies after suffering fatal injury, re-introducing the subject of grief, and showing how hard it would have been for all those that knew her to carry on as if nothing had happened – but they had too, as war strops for nothing. We are also shown the discussions between the president, his advisers and the heads of the military divisions and are introduced to how guilty they felt for dismissing the warnings they received. Then, the call of congress and declaration of war against Japan, leading to America’s entry into the second world war.

Raif and Danny’s efforts to protect their peers in the battle of Pearl Harbor earns them both a promotion to Captain, and an invitation to a Top Secret mission, as they are among the small percentage of men left with real combat experience, after the huge amount of deaths during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Just before the team departs, Evelyn has a quiet word with Raif. She explains she will always have love for him but had to move on after what she thought was his death. Furthermore, Evelyn asked Raif to protect Danny with all he can, and make sure they both come home, as she is pregnant with Danny’s baby – but he is yet to know.

Initially, Raif tries to talk Danny out of attending the mission, in order to ensure his safety, but Danny is having none of it. He wants to be there with Raif, to make sure they don’t lose each other again. So, on April 22, 1942, the US Hornet sets sail toward Tokyo, to complete a bombing on the city, flying Army bombers from Navy ships, for the first time ever. Evelyn asks another officer to repay her for saving his life, by getting her into the transmissions office so she has first news if anything goes wrong – and as much as he is reluctant to do so he eventually agrees to sneak her in.

“We may lose the battle, but we will win this War.” This quote helps to clearly show how dangerous this mission really is. The men are ordered to target Military bases, aircraft and tank factories, and are even told to aim for the largest possible military target if they had to crash land. On April 18, 1942 the men were sent into combat, way earlier than planned, after their position was compromised by a Japanese patrol.

The troops first surprise attack was successful, however during the second attack the Japanese were poised and ready to fight back, causing substantial damage to the aircraft meaning they had to crash land. Once on land the team are ambushed by Jap patrols, were initially Danny takes out the enemy by landing his aircraft directly over their camp, however, a second ambush saw the team taken prisoner. The boys fight back, saving themselves, but Danny is shot by Japs during the exchange. Raif does all he can to save his brother, but realizes there is nothing more to do, so he reveals Danny’s news, telling him he can’t leave because he is going to be a father. However, as hard as Danny tries to hold on he soon tells Raif that he is the one that will be becoming a father (essentially giving Raif and Evelyn his blessing to rebuild their relationship, and raise his son together) and passes in Raif’s arms. Soon after the Chinese find the team and rescue them, returning them home – with Danny forever remembered as a hero.

The Battle of pearl harbor changed America, in the eyes of war, forever. Not only did this battle mark the first major victory for America, but also saw the first Black American, Doorey Miller, awarded the cross.

After the war ended, Raif and Evelyn married, and raised the child together, naming him Danny, after their true hero- his father. They returned to Raif’s childhood home, and buried Danny on their land, assuring he was always with them.