Lawrence.com

At a final cost of roughly $140 million, Disney's big movie of the summer, "Pearl Harbor," looked like a bargain after the original price tag of $180 million first presented to Disney executive Michael Eisner. The challenge that still lies ahead is how to make this two hour-and-50 minute film into a money-maker.

After all, despite the $140 million budget, the film's lead Ben Affleck is "only" making $250,000 plus some profit participation, while co-stars Kate Beckinsale and William Lee Scott will each get $50,000.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer explained to Entertainment Weekly "every nickel's going into making the movie."

This number does not look as daunting as it did one year ago. The film, which will be release May 25, is already in the midst of a publicity campaign that has been nothing but moving in high gear.

Disney is set to incur an estimated $70 million in domestic print and advertising costs and other $50 million overseas.

While the studio has not commented on what the film needs to bring in, Variety estimated that it will have to hit $300 million worldwide before Disney can break even.

Studio executives have not gone on the record about their marketing plan, but it is becoming clear they are setting the tone for the movie.

Bruckheimer recently told Variety, "Our aim is to appeal to the broadest audience. It is an emotional campaign that we are being careful not to overdo."

One of the emotional triggers are the movie's posters, imitative of the widespread campaign in the United States in the 1940s to get citizens to join the war effort.

Each of the film's posters show one of the stars � Affleck, Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding Jr., � in character, in a re-creation of a recruiting poster.

The film's trailer has been described as emotional and patriotic.

Disney is playing on the hope that its marketing blitzkrieg will pull people from around the world into movie theaters.

The marketing campaign is moving into full swing as the Memorial Day weekend approaches.

Only time will tell if Disney will be able to win this battle or if it will be a casualty of the summer films war.