The new WWII Midway battle movie comes out tomorrow.

[bushmaster1313]

My wife and I enjoyed the movie

I bit hokey, but it was very worthwhile.

 

[oldbrownhat]

...it seemed somewhat sympathetic toward the Japanese....

The review I read (can't remember where, but it was positive) said that many of the American commanders knew their Japanese counterparts from before the war, as they had been on dipolomatic service or had otherwise spent quite a bit of time in the US, and as a result had a measure of respect for them as they had got to know them personally, which reminded me of Clint Eastwood's film, Letters from Iwo Jima, where the Japanese commander (played by Ken Watanabe) was portrayed very sympathetically. Not the case for all of them, of course.

The review commented on the "accuracy" of the special effects, but the clip I saw did look very "CGI" to me.

 

[oldbrownhat]

... I stopped watching anything but old re runs when I saw a warning that the movie included scenes with "Historical Smoking"

Good grief Proposition 65 for the movie industry. (Does that mean they're actually smoking 75 y.o. cigarettes?)

In my local grocery, when you go to the cashier with a bottle of wine, if the cashier is under age, he/she has to get an "adult" to ring in the bottle. The last time this happened to me, I made a mock protest and warned the girl to "look away, lest you be corrupted!". The "adult" explained that it's OK to actually SEE the bottle and (possibly) touch it, but verboten to actually ring it through, due to some idiot governmental regulation.

What next? Um.... let's just not go there.

 

[GaryS]

It's odd that you should mention this book. Over the summer I bought a copy of the paperback version at a yard sale. Paid a whole $1.00 for it. It's in my stack of "to read when I have a chance" books. I might need to bump it up.

Thanks for pointing out how good it is.

A group of my pals and I are going to see the film on Monday evening. My expectations are well-tempered. Nonetheless, it is always a welcome event for me when the remarkable achievements of America's fighting men and women are given attention these days.

One of the best books I have read on the subject of Midway in recent years, and there have been several excellent studies of the battle, was "A Dawn Like Thunder" about the story of the Navy's Torpedo Squadron 8. Written by Richard Mrazek, it is both a sobering and inspiring account of this famed Squadron not only at Midway but in the South Pacific campaign to follow. Highly recommended.

 

[max]

I saw it this afternoon for $5.00 and did not think it was all that bad. I heard some familiar quotes from the original movie.

 

[sigp220.45]

I've turned the corner on Woody Harrelson. He was good in a fairly small part in No Country For Old Men, then knocked it out of the park in Season One of True Detective. He followed up with a great performance in Three Billboards.

As a retired FBI agent, I know Woody hates us. We booted his door and hauled off his Dad to die in prison for the contract murder of a federal judge.

But I still like him.

 

[hoosierone]

Wife and I saw it yesterday. Overall it was a great movie. The dive bombers looked very realistic as did the Jap carriers.. Look for the chrysantemum rose on the sterns of the carriers and the Hinomaru on the decks.

 

[ancient-one]

Well, I saw it yesterday and liked it. About the only thing they didn't get right was the pilots carrying 1911s in GI holsters. As far as I know S&W Victory models were standard issue. Although I have seen F-4 pilots carry the odd 1911 or BHP.

I did like the 1940s swing music and singing. And I was impressed to see all those smokers lighting up with those Zippjos! Many years ago I liberated one from my veteran father who had it for a long time. exact same thing. Diagonal grooves and all on the case.

As to CGI, there aren't too many SBDs available any more. They did pretty well.

I will probably go see it again—and take my neighbor's home schooled kid along.

The SBD was one of a kind. Not fast but really tough. I spent quite a few hours in the back seat of a SBD, not in combat but in training. It just made you feel safe with no doubt it was going to put you back on earth safe and sound. I loved evry minute that I was in one.
The Curtiss SB2C, a different story.

 

[Camster]

It's odd that you should mention this book. Over the summer I bought a copy of the paperback version at a yard sale. Paid a whole $1.00 for it. It's in my stack of "to read when I have a chance" books. I might need to bump it up.

Thanks for pointing out how good it is.

I've read this book and recommend it. (author's first name is Robert, not Richard)
My best friend is a friend of the author.

 

[bobcat]

Watched the movie last night after renting it at the Redbox, a little hokey, but I thought they did a descent job. The CGI looked pretty good, The SBD's and SBD's looked good. They even showed the B-26 Marauders, to bad they didn't show the actual event of of one them flying the length of one of the Japanese carriers right off the flight deck. I'd recommend it, certainly better than even some of the old flicks, with the wrong plane clips and model ships.