Midway

Midway

Starring Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Woody Harrelson

Directed by Roland Emmerich

War films are always interesting to me, especially ones that take place after the 1900s, because when I was in high school, we never really got to learn about modern day wars before the school year ended.  I often joke about wondering who won World War II, because we never really got any information about it in our learning, so I've relied on films to fill in the blanks.  While I know movies never tell the whole story correctly, they at least provide an overriding context that is mostly true to form.

"Midway" is a remake of the 1976 film featuring Charlton Heston, and is purely a Roland Emmerich film - meaning there's loads of explosions, CGI effects, and rather thinly-drawn characters, but the experiences they go through more than makes up for the thinly-written script and really showcases the valor, dedication, courage, and determination that a small group of men had in order to turn the tide of the War.

The film centers on the Japanese attack on Midway, which was supposed to be a surprise attack but due to code breakers and intelligence gathering, the Americans were able to enact a trap of their own after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.  We meet a group of men who were actually real people who fought in the great battle, and feel a deep sense of appreciation for their sacrifice and courage in the face of insurmountable odds - and hope that we could find that same gusto if our lives were put in such situations.

While the film itself seems to want to just go from one grand war scene to another, there's still some character development that gives these men more than a one-dimensional feel, but not by much.  The main star is Ed Skrein, who plays Lieutenant Richard "Dick" Best, who was the executive officer of Bombing Squadron Six on the USS Enterprise, and who of course begins the film with a cocky, arrogant attitude and slowly begins to appreciate life and others around him.  The other big-name actors also have typical roles: Patrick Wilson plays Intelligence officer Edwin Layton, who's pretty much just the brains of everything; Aaron Eckhart is flight commander Jimmy Doolittle who - like his surname entails - has very little to do in the film, despite the actual man being larger-than-life; Luke Evans plays air group commander Wade McClusky, who at first clashes with Best's abrasive nature but eventually grows to appreciate it; Woody Harrelson plays commander-in-chief Chester Nimitz, who is tasked with the hardest job in America; while Dennis Quaid plays commander William "Bull" Halsey, who's gruff demeanor is pretty much a stereotype of generals during the 40s.  All these men - with the welcomed addition of young bloods like Nick Jonas and Darren Criss - all give admirable performances, even if they're a bit stiff and stereotypical.

For anyone who knows Roland Emmerich, you know that the main thrust of his films doesn't lie with scripts and stories, but with explosions and effects, and "Midway" shines the most here.  From the battle of Pearl Harbor all the way to Midway, each scene is shot with intensity, larger-than-life explosions, and top-notch effects that pull you into the film that other directors wouldn't be able to.  We feel like we're in the cockpit as our patriots embark on a seemingly impossible mission against all odds, and cheer for the underdog as they show what America is really made of - we might not always be the biggest, but we are still full of gumption and hardheadedness that won't allow us to give up, and give us the determination to fight and do the right thing even when it seems unlikely it will work out in our favor.  The film serves as an important lesson in history, and shows how the American spirit can overcome any obstacle.

"Midway" tells an important - if not often forgotten - story about the skirmish in the Pacific that turned the tide of the war, told through the lens of Roland Emmerich's immersive effects-laden touch while also providing decent performances that combines for an unforgettable experience that showcases the best Americans have to offer.

The Score: A+