MYST Post #1

Pearl Harbor:
            There are so many great things I have to say about this film, but first I want to talk about some of the things that people might not appreciate as much or pay attention to. Some of the "cinema" components that Michael Bay used in this film I thought were very well done, like the soundtrack. In the most impactful scene of the movie when Japan surprises the United States and bombs Pearl Harbor, Bay does a wonderful job fully capturing the moment with the soundtrack. He really brings the viewer in and helps them be able to feel the pain of the fallen soldiers. The editing of that scene as well was spot on. When the planes are soaring from the sky, dropping bomb after bomb making enormous explosions and destruction while the poor American soldiers are running for their lives, these edits really grabbed my attention and brought me in. I also think another scene that had very well done editing was when Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett were battling enemy planes in the sky trying to defend what was left of the harbor.
             This movie does an excellent job telling the story of one of the biggest tragedies to strike the United States. I believe that this is one of Michael Bay's finest work, but if I had to compare this film to another great war film, I would have to put it up along side Saving Private Ryan. Both films do a very good job capturing the sense of what it would be like in war and two very important events in Americas past time. The cinema components are very similar, especially in the very first scene of Saving Private Ryan when the Americans are invading enemy territory. The editing had me stunned and really gave me a better sense of what goes on during war. I also thought the camera angles really brought the scene together nicely. When Tom Hanks was blown off his boat and trying to gather his thoughts together again, the low angles that were used to view Hanks really brought out his confusion to the audience.
             Their were many heart pounding scenes in this film, but if I had to pick the scene I thought really had an impact on me was when the hospital was caring for all of the soldiers and by standers of the attack from Japan. People were pouring in from the streets needing immediate care. Everyone who worked inside the hospital was running around in circles doing their best to treat each patient. One of the main characters just started her duty of being a nurse for the army and was extremely flustered doing her best to help out. She was handed one of the American generals with a blotted clot in his throat and was forced to place her fingers inside in order to prevent this man from bleeding out. The way she took control of the situation with the little experience she had on the job was a very inspiring aspect of the scene and movie. She ends up being able to save this man and he ends up being a big help to her towards the end of the movie.