Pearl Harbor

The film opens in 1941 Hawaii, with Rafe McCawley (played by Ben Affleck), a young and charming U.S. Army Air Corps pilot, flying a buddy squadron of Navy pilots led by Colonel Doolittle's command. Among these pilots is Danny Walker (played by Josh Hartnett), Rafe's childhood friend, who becomes uncomfortable with Rafe's new romantic interest, Evelyn Johnson (played by Kate Beckinsale), a beautiful Naval nurse at a local hospital. The two friends-turned-enemies engage in a friendly competition to win Evelyn's heart, but their loyalty towards each other and the friendship that has endured since childhood remains strong. Evelyn, a kind-hearted nurse at the hospital, is pulled between the two men, unaware of the depth of their friendship. Though she is drawn to the charming Rafe, her feelings for Danny, a more reserved and thoughtful young man, are more reciprocated as he genuinely cares for her. The love triangle between Rafe, Evelyn, and Danny escalates as tensions between them escalate in preparation for the inevitable entry into World War II. Just as it appears that their rivalry is putting a strain on their relationship, Rafe abruptly leaves for Britain to join the British Royal Air Force (RAF) after realizing Evelyn's feelings for Danny, in an attempt to prove himself in the war and prove his worth to Evelyn. This separation ultimately underscores Evelyn and Danny's mutual attraction to each other. When Rafe arrives in Britain and meets his commanding officer, he becomes transfixed by a British Spitfire squadron flight led by Major Harley Steel (played by Edward Burns). Under Major Steel's mentorship, Rafe gains valuable combat experience. In the midst of the chaos that erupts during the London Blitz, Rafe witnesses London's suffering firsthand. As he continues to fly missions with the British Air Force, Rafe and the squadron witness their leader brutally shot down by the German forces. In a heroic sacrifice, Rafe puts his life in harm's way in order to clear the wreckage and salvage the British Spitfires just before the damage is carried out by German fighter planes. Eventually, after his ace status is cemented by way of numerous combat successes in the "battles" alongside the British squad, the new location now adds an intense sense of heroism and camaraderie, though these sentiments leave listeners yearning for the love love he once had for Evelyn. Meanwhile, back in the States, Danny Walker, having long established a crush with Evelyn, turns down her engagement proposal because although he loves her, he cannot bring himself to be engaged with her while still hoping it won't actually be possible. At the same time, Pearl Harbor is the focal point in the film during which the Japanese sink U.S. Allied ships and aircraft in the Pacific. In the days following December 7, 1941, when General Sarno of the U.S. military urges U.S. Secretary of war for America to be at war with Japan in the presence of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and as America announces total war with Japan - who then declare war with the United States, they and Germany. Upon hearing the tragic news about Pearl Harbor, Rafe sets out to return home to Hawaii to see Evelyn and clear up any misunderstandings they had as lovers before the event. However, he arrives at the hospital with only seconds before a large Japanese battle fleet sets off, aiming to drive deep into U.S. attack territory with their naval forces right at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In the midst of chaos, Rafe joins the Army at Battle of Midway in his new aircraft as his new commanding officer Major Cooper (played by Alec Baldwin) gives him a difficult and perilous duty as his combat wing. With Rafe back and flying for the U.S. while, Evelyn, whom Danny has not only still loves, still keeps an affection for the dynamic duo that made her life seem richer along side watching the friendship eventually mend and rekindle again during times at an important and heroic hour in American history. Over a relentless Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor Harbor on 7th December 1941, numerous American planes lay among the fleet with Rafe watching helplessly from watching over Hawaiian skies to see Evelyn walking into the hospital at the center of battle scarred buildings. Before long however, a bombing scene unfolds where 5000 American Allied planes are destroyed or scorsrd around downtown Honolulu. Upon Evelyn finding these same two good men separated throughout horrific blood-stained battle-scarred fields, Rafe McCawley ultimately rises to conquer some aspects of love, bravery, and sacrifice in the middle of total chaos in American history. In the end, Evelyn realizes that what she truly has always loved is not who loved her the most (as Danny does have those same genuine feelings) - but by having both pilots within Hawaii provide solid character when its relationship blossoms out into the action of both U.S. fighter pilots providing her a new heart and her being a much stronger emotional heart by also appreciating what friendship means so much to Danny and Rafe, in closing.