Midway

STORY: Based on true events, Midway chronicles the heroic actions of American soldiers, who combatted a deadly attack by the Japanese Navy on the Pearl Harbour. The attack led to the subsequent Battle of Midway during World War II.

REVIEW: The Battle of Midway was a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It started with the Imperial Japanese Navy attacking Pearl Harbour in Hawaii that lasted only four days. But as one of the Japanese characters in the film says, the surprise attack really did “awaken a sleeping giant” (read America).

The Pearl Harbour attack has been a subject of many Hollywood films before, yet Midway manages to retell the story with considerable novelty and character dynamics. What grips the viewer attention right from the beginning are the breathtaking long shots of the Pacific Ocean and the warships. And once the Japanese offensive begins, the film relentlessly features deadly combat operations between the two countries. The best in them are the many air strike scenes with edge-of-the-seat thrills. Even the fiery exchanges of torpedoes and exploding battleships are equally thrilling. The film’s cinematography deftly captures these crucial war sequences, making us realise the magnitude of destruction of life and property during a war. A few close shots, however, end up giving away the use of special effects and computer graphics.

Director Roland Emmerich also infuses a generous dose of drama to underline the dynamics between the soldiers, their leaders and families. This slackens the pace of the film, especially when the scenes are verbose and long. However, the narrative is also fairly simplified to ensure that the viewers understand the complex and meticulous planning of warfare strategies.

While there are too many characters, it’s the strapping young Ed Skrein as Lieutenant Richard Dick Best, who stands out. Skrein not only brings the sense of urgency in the proceedings but also strikes the right balance between strong headed and considerate. Among the rest, Patrick Wilson does a fine job as Lieutenant Commander Edwin T. Layton, who successfully preempts enemy actions. Nick Jonas (as the young Aviation Machinist Mate Bruno Gaido) looks the part due to his boyish appearance, but his performance doesn’t quite leave a mark. Meanwhile, the Japanese Army too gets decent screen time and satisfactory performances. But featuring so many characters takes a toll on the film’s runtime that seems a bit too long.

The film ends with pictures and brief information about each of the real life heroes. As a war drama, Midway manages to educate, inform and entertain its audience about a historic battle that changed the course of World War II in the Pacific.