Quick Cuts

‘Pearl Harbor’ Days

Starting production this weekend in Hawaii is the much talked-about World War II drama “Pearl Harbor.” The film, which stars Ben Affleck, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kate Beckinsale and Josh Hartnett, is being directed by Michael Bay, whose three previous films--”Armageddon,” “The Rock” and “Bad Boys”--have all been blockbusters. The historical drama will chronicle the events of the Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor and will focus on several key characters and relationships. The large-scale production of the epic film is said to rival that of James Cameron’s “Titanic.” Disney plans a 2001 Memorial Day weekend release.

Imaxosaurus

The powers-that-be at the California Science Center caused a stir in late 1998 when they opted not to show “T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous,” one of the most technologically advanced and enjoyable of the Imax 3-D movies because they deemed it not educational enough. Angelenos who wanted to see “T-Rex” had to trek to outlying Orange, Ventura and San Bernardino counties to catch a screening, but come Thursday “T-Rex” will debut in L.A. at the brand-new Imax screen at Universal CityWalk.

Three Amigos

Burt Reynolds, who’s currently on screen as a steely FBI negotiator in the indie drama “Pups” from British filmmaker Ash, is now shooting “The Hollywood Sign,” with Tom Berenger and Rod Steiger. The three play rugged but washed-up actors of different eras who are trying to launch comebacks. The comedy is being directed by German filmmaker Sonke Wortmann, his first English-language effort, but American director Garry Marshall is doing a cameo as--what else?--a director in the film-within-a-film.