14 The giant movie set
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| Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times |
| Ben Affleck, described in idiomatic parlance as a 'Baldwin,' a.k.a. hunk. |
Hollywood's biggest hunk of the year is in Corpus Christi -
42,000 tons of solid steel.
During July and August of 2000, the Lexington Museum
on the Bay acted as one of the sets for Disney's "Pearl Harbor,"
released May 25 of this year. Hundreds of local residents also
got to act as extras. Many posed as flyboys on the Lex's deck.
Also starring
Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Alec Baldwin.
Dual role
Like Peter Sellers in "Dr. Strangelove" and Eddie
Murphy in "The Nutty Professor," the Lex played more than one
role - the USS Hornet, the carrier that launched B-25 bombers
led by Col. James Doolittle to attack Japan in retaliation for
Pearl Harbor, and the Akagi, the flagship for the Pearl Harbor
attack.
Advance publicity
The Lex turned up in national publications and
on Web sites because of a pre-shooting controversy about its
portrayal of the Akagi.
Other attractions
The IMAX-like Joe Jessel mega theater with a three-stories-tall
screen opened in March, 19 retired military aircraft and five
self-guided tour routes.