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Rating: 2 out of 5
The Battle of Midway was one of the most decisive battles in World War II and showed the world and Japan that the United States meant business. The battle was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater on June 4-7. It happened six months after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea. The United States was in its Drake mode, looking for revenge! The United States defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy while inflicting devastating damage on the Japanese fleet. Many historians call the victory one of the most stunning and decisive blows in the history of naval warfare. In the battle, four Japanese and three U.S. aircraft carriers participated in the battle. The result was devastating to the once invincible Japan. The Japanese fleet carriers—Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, and Hiryū, which were part of the six-carrier force that had attacked Pearl Harbor, were all sunk, as well as the heavy cruiser Mikuma. The U.S., on the other hand, lost the carrier Yorktown and the destroyer Hammann but the USS Enterprise and USS Hornet survived the battle fully intact.
Midway centers on the Battle of Midway. A clash between the American fleet that was shattered in the attack of Pearl Harbor and the Imperial Japanese Navy that currently rules the Pacific with a mighty fist. Midway is based on the real-life events of the heroic men who fought and died in the battle. After bombing Pearl Harbor, the Imperial Japanese Navy sets its sights on the island of Midway in the Pacific Ocean. Midway is an important strategic point as it will allow the Imperial Japanese Navy to go uncontested and allow for an attack against the United States’ west coast. The United States sensing even further danger, picked themselves up and worked on a plan to initiate a surprise counterattack and claim the Midway for their own. The new commander, Admiral Chester Nimitz, sends two U.S. Task Groups with three aircraft carriers to set a trap for the Japanese fleet. The battle will be one that will forever change the course of the Pacific Theater and war for each country.
Midway is one of those films that tries to cram the famous battles into about two and a half hours while attempting to spotlight many brave servicemen who fought and died. It doesn’t quite get off the ground like many other war films. Midway was an important battle in World War II between Japan and the United States. It was the turning point for the Pacific Theater, and the film tries to explain the feelings and motivations of many of the characters.
The film does start off well with why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. It also relays the feelings of the men after Pearl Harbor was bombed. You see the disappointment in the servicemen of the American men and how they are ready and willing to get back at the Japanese. Many senior officers question themselves and the decision they made for the failure of Pearl. The film tries to run with this feeling and motivation but doesn’t maintain it. The reason is because so much is going on. We see Doolittle’s Raid, and then he is gone from the film until we get an epilogue on him.
The main story mainly revolves around Lieutenant Dick Best and his combative relationship with Lieutenant Commander Wade McClusky. Best is a hotshot flier who wants what Drake speaks about REVENGE. It is entirely understandable, but Skrein comes off as a major dick who disregards orders and wants to do things his way. Best could’ve been like that, but his attitude took too much away from the movie. Best has the film’s best parts as he is all combat and pushes himself to the absolute limit. You are conflicted because you know what he is doing is for the best of the military, but he is also such a dick.
The second storyline deals with the senior officers as Lieutenant Commander Edwin Layton and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Layton feels like he fucked up, and he did. He takes full blame for Pearl because he is the intelligence officer. When Nimitz rolls in and takes complete command, homeboy could’ve demoted Layton but kept him on to redeem himself. Layton’s storyline was trying to figure out how the Japanese fleet would attack next and set up a plan.
That leads us to the Battle of Midway. I must admit that I was entertained with the special effects and what was happening. The film should’ve focused on the battle, but it felt like it tried to speed it along rather than let the audience take in the importance. Most of the action was around Best and his bombings, but this battle was INSANE. Watching the U.S. Navy bomb each ship was okay, but the filmmakers seemed to really let up on the gas with the destruction. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of destruction as ships explode, but it could’ve been more. It was a letdown in the end.
Hey, the special effects and giving the battle a modern look did help. It was one of the film’s highlights, making everything look crisp. When the Yorktown slowly sailed after being quickly repaired in the fog, it gave a nice effect to the viewer because it was like a ghost ship, but it kicked ass. The overall bombing scenes were good and intense, but sometimes they looked a little too CGI and took away from the film. I guess you can’t really have life bombings going on.
The acting was all over the place. You had some good performances and then some performances that were headscratchers. The cast is freaking large, as many war movies are. It seemed like if you needed a job, you could’ve been in this film. War movies seem to have more stars than needed sometimes. Sometimes, no real performance stands out. I don’t want to highlight one person because, like in any war, many people stand out. Unless you are Patton. He is a larger-than-life figure and seems to hold his own.
Midway is an okay film to learn about the famous battle. It is honestly like sticking your toe in the water. I would say watch this film and then read a few books or watch a documentary. The story is a little all over the place and really never finds its footing. The acting is also okay because there are so many characters. Watch this film during Memorial or Veteran’s Day and give respect to the people that fought for our freedom.
