Midway (the movie, the new-ish one)

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Brad W

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I watched it last night through Netflix. Enjoyed it.

It has been a long time since I studied the history of that time, and it seems like they streamlined things a bit too much...but not a surprise really, that's the way almost all movies are...

Most of the CGI was good enough for me watching it on my small-screen Chromebook. There was a couple moments that looked a bit 'off' but only short moments...

What did you think?
 
Watch the (1976) version with real airplanes, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Glen Ford, Pat Morita . . . not that over-the-top unrealistic video game CGI junk. Both devote too much time to side stories, but in the original Hal Holbrook has a bathrobe to die for.
 
Rene said:
Watch the (1976) version with real airplanes, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Glen Ford, Pat Morita . . . not that over-the-top unrealistic video game CGI junk. Both devote too much time to side stories, but in the original Hal Holbrook has a bathrobe to die for.
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Didn't the "original" midway, have Charleton Heston's son matched up with a Japanese girlfriend or wife? Potentially, the worst diversion in the film. I think I remember that it was filmed in what I'll deem an older style with little character development and somewhat wooden characters.

I didn't think either movie was particularly good. Same for both Pearl Harbor movies.
 
kyleb said:
Didn't the "original" midway, have Charleton Heston's son matched up with a Japanese girlfriend or wife? Potentially, the worst diversion in the film. I think I remember that it was filmed in what I'll deem an older style with little character development and somewhat wooden characters.

I didn't think either movie was particularly good. Same for both Pearl Harbor movies.
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Plus the flying footage was just random clips from battles that happened after Midway. The most egregious was Charlton approaching in an SBD Dauntless, it switches to an SB2C Helldiver and crashing down the deck in flames in an F9F Panther jet. Decent enough movie, but the girlfriend side plot and the bargain basement budget for flying scenes drag it down.
 
ateamer said:
Plus the flying footage was just random clips from battles that happened after Midway. The most egregious was Charlton approaching in an SBD Dauntless, it switches to an SB2C Helldiver and crashing down the deck in flames in an F9F Panther jet. Decent enough movie, but the girlfriend side plot and the bargain basement budget for flying scenes drag it down.
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Don't forget the C-130 standing in for a Catalina in one of the flight scenes. C'mon guys, there were plenty of PBY's around in 1975ish... Alternately, there was plenty of archival footage ('cause they used plenty of that in the movie too).
 
Not exactly historically accurate, but a decent watch. For the history, the book: Shattered Sword, is probably the definitive work.
 
The newer one's CGI is distracting, but the essence of the story is good, and more historically accurate.
 
Kristin said:
Not exactly historically accurate, but a decent watch. For the history, the book: Shattered Sword, is probably the definitive work.
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Amen on Shattered Sword.
 
Kristin said:
Not exactly historically accurate, but a decent watch. For the history, the book: Shattered Sword, is probably the definitive work.
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The book is always better than the movie.
 
RyanShort1 said:
Unless the book is also fictional, which is what Shattered Sword corrected.
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Wait, you mean the flight decks of the Japanese carriers weren't loaded with aircraft ready to launch against the Enterprise, Yorktown, and Hornet?

<that's the historical misrepresentation shattered by Shattered Sword>

I just saved several of you $25. Although Shattered Sword is an outstanding read...
 
kyleb said:
Didn't the "original" midway, have Charleton Heston's son matched up with a Japanese girlfriend or wife? Potentially, the worst diversion in the film. I think I remember that it was filmed in what I'll deem an older style with little character development and somewhat wooden characters.

I didn't think either movie was particularly good. Same for both Pearl Harbor movies.
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Yeah, that's the one. And I agree that Japanese girlfriend situation detracted from the movie.
But other than that, that was one of my all-time favorite Naval war movies.
 
JOhnH said:
Yeah, that's the one. And I agree that Japanese girlfriend situation detracted from the movie.
But other than that, that was one of my all-time favorite Naval war movies.
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The original Midway movie was done as a Pacific theatre complement to The Longest Day but IMHO it missed the mark. The girlfriend story was trite and hokey and a distraction, and the historical accuracy was sketchy at best.

For a good fictionalized Midway book, try reading “The Eagle’s Claw” by Jeff Shaara. Good accuracy and a compelling read.

My favorite WWII movies are 12:00 High, Command Decision, and The Longest Day, pretty much in that order. Oh - and Operation Petticoat. Can’t forget that one. ;)
 
Half Fast said:
The original Midway movie was done as a Pacific theatre complement to The Longest Day but IMHO it missed the mark. The girlfriend story was trite and hokey and a distraction, and the historical accuracy was sketchy at best.

For a good fictionalized Midway book, try reading “The Eagle’s Claw” by Jeff Shaara. Good accuracy and a compelling read.

My favorite WWII movies are 12:00 High, Command Decision, and The Longest Day, pretty much in that order. Oh - and Operation Petticoat. Can’t forget that one. ;)
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Personally, I like the 'Periscope' films . . .
but some people have told me that I'm "different".
 
For YouTube videos, Zenos Warbirds are great. Original Army Aircore training films.

Another YouTube suggestion is Greg’s Automobiles and Airplanes series that provides a great deep dive into factual, technical analysis of WWII aircraft’s performance, technology, design, etc. There’s one that is a data analysis of US use of 50 caliber ammunition vs Axis use of cannon.

Longest Day seems to be mostly fact based, but somewhat sanitized. Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers seems more actuate.

Masters of the Air seems to be too Hollywood, IMHO a bit disappointing.
 
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Half Fast said:
My favorite WWII movies are 12:00 High, Command Decision, and The Longest Day, pretty much in that order. Oh - and Operation Petticoat. Can’t forget that one. ;)
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what about "In Harms Way" or" Run Silent, Run Deep"?
 
I suspect the girlfriend situation was pretty common at the time. There were a whole lot of young single servicemen, and 1/3 of the population of Hawaii were ethnic Japanese. IYKYK.
 
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Half Fast said:
Outstanding movie. Fred March gave an impressive performance.
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He got the Best Actor Oscar.

I know Harold Russell got an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but I liked Dana Andrews’ character best.

It really is a great movie with lots of great performances.
 
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