Midway

I used to say that there “are no bad WWII movies.” Of course, that was before Michael Bay (Armageddon, Transformers) dropped Pearl Harbor into theaters in 2001. Bay knows how to capture explosions, but still hasn’t learned to tell a compelling story.

So, when I heard that explosive-prone director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Patriot, White House Down) was remaking Midway, I can’t say that I was optimistic. The original, 1976 film is a staple for WWII film-watching weekends. It features Henry Fonda, Charlton Heston, and most every working actor of its time.

The good news is the new film is less of a remake and more of a retelling. 

The original film focused on fictional characters; there are no fictional characters (or love stories) in this new, straightforward film. While the new film begins with Pearl Harbor, both films cover the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, the Battle of The Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway. 

If you’re looking for an answer to why we need a new film, the answer hit me as soon as I saw the meticulous visual effects and the modern technology added to the aviation scenes. The dive bomber scenes produce more rush of adrenaline than any recent Star Wars film has.

If you want to take a youngster to an engaging history lesson, this rated PG film will do the trick — and the impressive screen spectacles will keep them interested. Or, if you’re looking for a film to play on Memorial Day weekend, the straightforward, Hemmingway-esque approach is captivating. But if you’re looking for me to fully recommend this soulless, two hour and 18-minute film during the best film season of the year, I just can’t do that.

In a nutshell: Dynamic effects put you in the seat for a visual retelling of those famous battles.

Award potential: There is a case to be made for Best VFX, but I expect other films will take those noms.

The Ten Buck Review: Not bad, but not tenbuckworthy either.