"Midway hits UK" Topic

Just been to see Roland Emmerich's lavish new blockbuster Midway, on it's second day of release here in the UK. I absolutely loved it. Read the review here:

link

Thanks for the review! I'm looking forward to seeing this.

Thanks for the review. I hope to see it soon.

Thanks for the review. My retired buddies and I are scheduled to see it on Thursday.

Jim

Sounds great, for a modern movie. I shall ask the fam to go with me for my birthday.

We went to see it at the weekend. I've read your review Sebastian Palmer and have to disagree with a few points. It's entertaining, but it airbrushes out great swathes of the Battle of Midway itself. The attack on the Yorktown is just a pastiche in the background of one scene, and the USN fighters aren't mentioned once never mind actually shown in any scenes.The CGI is very good however and the attack on Pearl especially the Arizona is quite awe-inspiring, but did we really need the Doolittle Raid and the Marshall islands to pad out the first half when that time could have been spent adding to the actual battle the film sets out to portray? It turned out better than I expected, but I was half expecting another Pearl Harbour turkey. At least the ships and aircraft were correct this time.

'Midway' isn't strictly aimed at WWII history buffs and discriminating wargamers. It is a commercial movie designed to appeal to the widest audience possible, most of whom do not have our depth of knowledge or luxury to nitpick.

As a movie dramatization (as opposed to a documentary), the filmmakers have to limit the perspective centering around a small handful of characters. It is impossible to make a marketable movie and do the Battle of Midway justice. And even though we prefer the movie to focus solely on the battle itself, most of the general moviegoing audience are laymen who require background and context like Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle Raid.

I know it's easy to gripe about the movie's shortfalls, but I'm just thankful that such a movie can still be made in Hollywood today.

At least it gave credit to Jim Best, the man who sank the "Akagi."

How many people other than historians, wargamers, veterans of the battle and history teachers actually know much about the Battle. It took place in 1942, and the movie was made in 1976, 43 years ago. I wrote a paper in graduate school on the battle and the Hornet's torpedo squadron under Waldron. When I see it I will be comparing it to my research and my paper, and then write a review.

"Miracle at Midway" authored by Gordon W. Prange would be my recommendation for learning about the Battle of Midway.

Watched this film today.

Wasn't present June 4, 1942 (lucky me), but the casualties suffered during the torpedo and bombing runs, thanks to modern CGI, puts the viewer as close as one would care to be inside any aircraft during combat.

Would this pivotal battle been better served by a multi-episodic retelling? Of course!

More time to develop characters and dialogue, Allied desperation mid-year '42, Wildcats and a world map of Axis occupied territories at that time.

Dark days indeed, June Third Nineteen Forty Two.

I hope this film does well because there are many stories that still need to be re-told without apology.