Introduction
The music plays an important role in the success of the movie. The sound is aimed at reflecting the emotional side of the film’s episodes. Pearl Harbor is the famous movie by Michael Bay depicting the historic times of the World War II and the participation of the American troops in the war with Nazi Japan. The aim of this essay is to summarize the main themes and the content of the film and to describe its sound.
The Content and the Main Themes of the Movie
The film Pearl Harbor is based on the real historic events which took place during the World War II. The United States of America sent the marine and aviation troops to repulse the attack of the Japanese army on the “Pearl Harbor”, the American military base on the Hawaiian Islands. This attack, which was carried out in 1941, became the occasion for the American-Japanese War.
The movie can be referred to the genre of the military melodrama and the romantic relationships of the main characters take an important place in its plot. The major themes of the film are the love, friendship, betrayal, honesty and, undoubtedly, the war. The main characters are involved in the triangular situation. Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker have been the best friends since childhood. However, their friendship will be broken by the love to the same girl Evelyn. She is the nurse and she meets Rafe soon after finishing the medical course. They fall in love with each other but their relationships become interrupted by the Rafe’s decision to join the aviation squadron. He goes to war and, after a time, Evelyn receives a false message about his death. In reality, Rafe is alive and he will meet Evelyn again.
Meanwhile, Evelyn and Danny are sent to the “Pearl Harbor” military base. They start their relationships. When Rafe comes to “Pearl Harbor”, he gets to know about Evelyn and Danny. He feels himself betrayed and intends to sort out the relationships. The quarrel between Rafe and Danny comes to fight. Both have to escape from the police. It seems like their friendship cannot be broken.
At the same time, the Japanese army carries out a raid on the “Pearl Harbor”. The mobilization is announced and everyone becomes involved in the war. Evelyn provides the medical aid to the injured and cares for them at the hospital. Rafe and Danny participate in the operation of counterattack. Both of them manage the military planes and shake down the hostile aircrafts. After the successful operation, Rafe and Danny become involved in the military plan of the American army. However, they are taken prisoners by the Japanese. In order to save Rafe, Danny risks his own life and dies. Rafe turns back to the “Pearl Harbor”. Evelyn waits for a child from Danny. However, she accepts Rafe’s proposal to renew their relationships.
The Music of the Movie
The music has been used in the movie making for decades. However, not all the films have the remarkable sound. In my opinion, the successful music can do the job as much important as the plot of the film. It helps to feel the emotions of the main characters. The film Pearl Harbor won the Oscar in the nomination The Best Sound (Coleman n.pag.). It is not surprising as the music of the movie really deserves special attention. The soundtracks accompanying the movie’s episodes are aimed at reflecting the dramatic events of the World War II. The trailer of the film has been called as the success in the movie industry and this is due to its sound to the large extent. Undoubtedly, the soundtracks from Pearl Harbor are one of the most remarkable in the music industry of the last decades and can be compared to the lyrics from Titanic, The Pirate of the Caribbean, The Lion King, and many other movies. At the same time, the music and song lyrics combine the themes of love and war.
As it has been already mentioned, the theme of love is as much important as the theme of war in the film. The same can be said about the movie’s music. It reflects both the tension of the military actions as well as the emotional intense of the human relationships. The soundtrack There You’ll Be by Faith Hill is, unarguably, one of the best songs. It is frequently compared to Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On. Christopher Coleman in his review of the film’s music says that There You’ll Be does not match the feelings of the Celine Dion’s song (Coleman n.pag.). I disagree with this statement because I think that the lyrics and the general meaning of the both songs are rather similar. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the soundtracks from both films were awarded the Oscar.
The music for Titanic was composed by James Horner, whereas the soundtrack for the Pearl Harbor was written by Hans Zimmer. However, the plots of the Pearl Harbor and Titanic are substantially different. It is for this reason the songs may arouse different feelings. The plot of Titanic does not provide an insight into the future relationships of Rose. It seems like Jack will always remain her only love. In contrast, Evelyn in the Pearl Harbor renews her former relationships with Rife. It is difficult to understand about whom the lyrics of There You’ll Be is. The film creators try to show that Evelyn loves both Rife and Danny. “In my heart there always be a place for you for all my life, I’ll keep a part of you with me and everywhere I am there you’ll be” (“There You’ll Be Lyrics” n.pag.). It goes without saying that these lines are very similar to the lyrics of My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Both songs are devoted to the theme of the eternal love. And it is well-known that the true love never ends.
Conclusion
In order to sum up all above mentioned, it should be said that the Pearl Harbor is one of the most successful blockbusters of the 2000s. The movie was directed by Michael Bay and the sound was created by Hans Zimmer. The film uncovers the themes of war, love, and friendship. It narrates about the events of the American-Japanese military clash during the World War II. The film was awarded the Oscar in the nomination The Best Sound. The soundtrack There You’ll Be performed by Faith Hill is devoted to the theme of the eternal love. Overall, I think that the film is very interesting and the music effectively reflects its emotional part.
Works Cited
Coleman, Christopher. “Thin Red Thread”. Tracksounds.com. 2009. Web.
“There You’ll Be Lyrics”. Metrolyrics.com. 2013. Web.