Midway
MIDWAY centers on the Battle of Midway, a clash between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy which marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific Theater during WWII. The film, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds.
Vincent Reggiannini reviewed
August 9, 2025•
A true documentary would bore most modern audiences to tears. This movie is a cartoon, an expository-heavy collection of nonsense stories centered around the pivotal Midway theater.
It would be simply impossible to accurately portray the events or the people as they really happened, and as they really behaved to a modern audience.
The Pearl Harbor scene where enemy planes are literally flying between battleships 25’ above the surface is pure 6th grade-level realism, because some Hollywood suit thought “it would look cool”.
In one scene a sailor almost refuses to shimmy across a rope to save his life just because his hands were slightly singed? Were Ernie and Bert that guy’s squad leaders? Did Big Bird train him?
The honest truth is that even if the producers wanted to create a historically accurate depiction of the true events, and highlight some of the truly heroic and gut-wrenching decisions those kids made (yes, they were kids back then - 18-24 year olds with more fortitude than you’d find in people today) they wouldn’t be able to maintain the attention of today’s audiences.
Just because the people involved in this conflict didn’t wear capes and tights and fly around like super-heroes doesn’t make what they did unworthy of respect is an unfortunate reflection of today’s society.
I give it one and a half stars (instead of 1) only because I know this was loosely based on real events, no matter how poorly that was represented here. If you want Sesame Street drama then watch this, if you want anything else avoid this garbage.