Pearl Harbor: The Movie and the Moment

Jerry Bruckheimer, Michael Bay

Hyperion Books, 2001

Approx. $35.00

O.K., so we have a new Pearl Harbor movie. Now of course in order to cover the cost of the blockbuster, which is loosely entailed around the actual event, we now also have the book.

If you want eye candy to savor after you lay down your hard earned cash to hear the roar of radial engines, and see an actual Zero doing mock combat with an actual P-40, this is your book. This is actually a book in my humble opinion about Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, with a few mandatory tips of the hat to those who actually fought. I found it interesting that the veterans were very polite in their comments of the movie, and of the book.

The saving grace of this book is that there are in fact one or two survivor tales that are interesting to read. The rest of the book is, like I said pure eye candy of the movie. If you like pretty pictures in koda-chrome color, this is a good book. If you are looking for Reel History, this is a good "How we made the movie" book. If you are looking for REAL history, pass this one up, and get East Wind Rain, or At Dawn We Slept.

Like real candy, it's sweet, but not very substantial. Go see the movie, after all that is what Hollywood is there: to make movies. Then go buy a history book. I will enjoy this one as some great photos on what is most likely a decent flick. That’s all.