MIDWAY - the movie

[Becinhu]

I thought overall the movie was very good. My one complaint was in every single air combat scene there was not a single solitary allied escort. Not even sight of a wildcat on a carrier deck, just SBDs and TBDs.

[The Fugitive]

I thought they did a pretty good job. CGI makes the action scenes far more intense than the original. I didnt like the lead either (Ed Skrein, played "Francis" in the Deadpool movie). Had he played it more like "Francis" I think it would have played better.

They did spend a good amount of time on the Midway battle. The other battles, Pearl Harbor, Marshall Islands and the Dolittle raid were all short segments. The Midway battle included the intel operations , some points of view from the Japanese side with the struggles they had as well as the fight itself.

Over all a good movie and well worth the money. Ill be buying the DVD. 

[Ack-Ack]

The original was the number six movie of the year at the box office.    This thing won’t even break even.

It has gotten okay reviews from movie critics and it was #1 over the weekend box office.  It also made more than expected, $27 million domestically, more than The Shining sequel.  Rhe studio plans on keeping Midway in the theaters for some time, which will help it break even domestically.  However, the movie is expected to make back its money internationally, specifically in China.  It will be popular in China because of the perceived anti-Japanese sentiment of the movie.

[Ramesis]

The CGI was very good.  A little too much time spent on character development for my taste.  And I kept expecting Woody Harrelson to pick up a glass and start polishing it with a bar towel.   

Character development is generally what people what... all  action
without it is uninteresting... but I will admit, the Pearl Harbor movie with
Ben Afflect did suck
 

[Hajo]

The Smithsonian Channel has a one hour documentary on the battle of Midway.  The facts will be there.  Unfortunately no CGI but you'll see the original aircraft used in the battle.

[Vraciu]

It has gotten okay reviews from movie critics and it was #1 over the weekend box office.  It also made more than expected, $27 million domestically, more than The Shining sequel.  Rhe studio plans on keeping Midway in the theaters for some time, which will help it break even domestically.  However, the movie is expected to make back its money internationally, specifically in China.  It will be popular in China because of the perceived anti-Japanese sentiment of the movie.

“MIDWAY” (2019) cost north of $100M to make.  It will not break even.  It is underperforming in China ($15.7M weekend total), losing by $3M to a local drama already in its third week of release.   Critics also are mixed.   

Like I said...a dud, especially compared to the original*, which it will be lucky to catch even in nominal dollars ($43.2M domestic, $22M international, $65M total in 1976), never mind inflation-adjusted ($194M domestic, $100M international, $294M total).


As of today it has made $17M domestically (not $27M).   That’s horrible.  Internationally, “Doctor Sleep” is beating it by almost 2:1.   (The original was Number 4 for the year internationally in 1976.) 

“TOP GUN: MAVERICK” can’t get here soon enough, quite frankly...

——
* People simply don’t appreciate what a blockbuster the original “MIDWAY” was.   It was such a hit they added footage and filmed additional scenes after the end of its theatrical run to make it a broadcast mini-series which aired regularly on tv for years to then-massive ratings.

[Brooke]

I did a post on my Facebook blog "West Virginians at War" this morning about Ensign Ulvert Moore and AVRM1C Tom Pettry this morning. Both were from West Virginia and served in Torpedo 8.

There is a great book on VT-8 -- I loved it.

A Dawn Like Thunder:  The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight, by Mrazek.

[lutrel]

I enjoyed the movie, it was much better than expected.

[Puma44]

I enjoyed the movie, it was much better than expected.

I often find that the case when the critics and other supposed experts trash a movie before it even  gets started. 

[Vraciu]

I often find that the case when the critics and other supposed experts trash a movie before it even  gets started.

Critics are generally unreliable.    In this case, since the reviews are mixed one can choose which unreliable half they choose to believe or disbelieve.  The reviews for the original were mixed as well as I recall.

[CptTrips]

I often find that the case when the critics and other supposed experts trash a movie before it even  gets started.

Weird.  I've heard several people say it was really not too bad.  I am surprised.  I was very skeptical.  I mean the skate-boarder hammerhead did look a little much. 

I guess I'll give it a try at matinee some time this week. 

I'm willing to support any WWII movie that at least makes an honest attempt to be good. If for no other reason than to reinforce the idea to those in charge that WWII topic is still viable.


,
CptTrips

[SlipKnt]

Dare I say, "Better than the original"?

 

[perdue3]

You guys are mistaking this to be some sort of remake or sequel. This movie is simply a movie about Midway, not an attempt to better or continue with Midway (1976). It is like comparing Saving Private Ryan to The Longest Day or Tora! Tora! Tora! to Pearl Harbor, these movies are separate despite them being about the same battle or events.

[Vraciu]

You guys are mistaking this to be some sort of remake or sequel. This movie is simply a movie about Midway, not an attempt to better or continue with Midway (1976). It is like comparing Saving Private Ryan to The Longest Day or Tora! Tora! Tora! to Pearl Harbor, these movies are separate despite them being about the same battle or events.

They shoulda’ changed the name, then.    There can only be one MIDWAY and that’s 1976.   Any other is a pretender to the throne.   

[TheBug]

Funny how Hollywood becomes the history..