Anyone seen MIDWAY ?

[DirtyDan]

I was wondering if anyone has seen the new MIDWAY movie and what thoughts were

Thank you in advance

Dan

[scooperhsd]

Not yet, but I would like to.

Comments on the battle itself - The Japanese came to the battle with more carriers, with well seasoned pilots / aircrew, much more surface combatants, and yet, due to their cockiness, they neglected to ascertain that the Americans actually had naval forces in the area until it was too late. They were surprised by the amount of air resistance they encountered by Midway itself, but right at the time they realized we had 3 fleet carriers there - Dauntless divebombers were on their way to taking 3 of their fleet carriers out of action (thanks in no small part to the gallant sacrifice of the torpedo bomber squadrons). 6 minutes changed the entire course of the Pacific War.

None of this would have happened without the stellar work done by the Navy Cryptologists who cracked the codes the Japanese sent their battle orders to the individual units, then confirmed that "AF" was indeed Midway.

After Midway, there was still plenty of fighting to go, but the momentum had shifted to the Allies (plus the fact that American industry could make up losses far more quickly than Japanese industry could) meant the eventual surrender of the Japanese. By August 1945 the American Pacific fleet was the most powerful naval force ever seen (and still is).

[Alpha Dog]

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.

I have heard a few people that have seen it giving it high praise.  So much better than that joke of a movie that was Pearl Harbor.

I sometimes think about that time how in less than 4 years, we fought a World War on 2 major fronts, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and utterly destroyed the enemies.  Greatest generation.

[Reb]

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.

I have heard a few people that have seen it giving it high praise.  So much better than that joke of a movie that was Pearl Harbor.

I sometimes think about that time how in less than 4 years, we fought a World War on 2 major fronts, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and utterly destroyed the enemies.  Greatest generation.

And the sacrifice not only made by the men in uniform during that era, but the women, and those unable to serve working day in and out supporting the war efforts back home.

I agree, the greatest generation.

[old2soon]

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.

I have heard a few people that have seen it giving it high praise.  So much better than that joke of a movie that was Pearl Harbor.

I sometimes think about that time how in less than 4 years, we fought a World War on 2 major fronts, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and utterly destroyed the enemies.  Greatest generation.

         And after what I heard on the "news" last night we Are losing The Greatest Generation of Warriors at the rate of 300 a Day!    And sadly-they can NEVER be replaced. This movie-Midway and Ford V Ferrari-are the only 2 hollywood offerings I've even come close to considering since Avatar. RIDE SAFE.

[MAD6Gun]

 My father talked to our next door neighbor Bill years ago about his service. Bill was a paratrooper in the Philippines during WWII. Although he has never talked about his service,even to his kids. He did eventually tell my dad that he was glad we dropped the bomb on Japan. If not he would have been called to parachute into the Japanese mainland and that it would have been a long and bloody fight. At 94 years old Bill lives on. He is still my neighbor but right now he is in a rehab facility. His kids and doctors are trying to get him to go into a nursing home but he is adamant he is going to die at home. Tough old bird.

[scooperhsd]

I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.

I have heard a few people that have seen it giving it high praise.  So much better than that joke of a movie that was Pearl Harbor.

I sometimes think about that time how in less than 4 years, we fought a World War on 2 major fronts, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and utterly destroyed the enemies.  Greatest generation.

          And after what I heard on the "news" last night we Are losing The Greatest Generation of Warriors at the rate of 300 a Day!   And sadly-they can NEVER be replaced. This movie-Midway and Ford V Ferrari-are the only 2 hollywood offerings I've even come close to considering since Avatar. RIDE SAFE.

Said with the greatest respect - "Time is doing what the war couldn't - taking them all down." RIP, men and women of the Greatest Generation - you've earned it.

[SpidyJ]

It's worth seeing.  This movie would never have been created without special effects.
It starts at Pearl Harbor and focuses heavily on the decoding and strategy related to Midway. It covers the bombing raid on Tokyo as well.  The amount of anti-aircraft fire depicted makes me wonder how anyone made it back at all. The bravery and patriotism shown by these men was nothing less than heroic.
Lump in throat for sure.

[Tx Bohemian]

  Although he has never talked about his service,even to his kids.

My dad served in the European theater. And he also would not talk about his time overseas!
Nor would he allow us to watch any "War movies" on TV!
the only information I overheard him say was he saw the concentration camps right after they were liberated and described the bodies "stacked like cord wood"!

At that time, 1941, all able bodied men were required to serve two years in the military.
My dad knew he was going to be drafted later in the year so he thought he was going to be smart and join earlier, thinking by the time his number comes up he'll have 5-6 months behind him and get out sooner.
Remember, this was early in 1941!
After Pearl Harbor his time was extended to "duration of the war and 6 months"!
Spent over 4yrs in the Army.

[old2soon]

             Ross-da prez-and I had an older half brother. Had we NOT nuked Japan my half brother would have been on the early waves of the landing craft. As it was he became part of the Occupation Forces Japan. After reading of our early losses in the Pacific Theatre I for one am cursed glad my brother was occupation forces and NOT attack forces. Had we been forced to attack the Japanese land mass our losses might have been unsustainable. RIDE SAFE.

[scooperhsd]

The truth was that by July 1945 Japan was beaten - the Pacific Fleet had decimated all opposition, the submarine force had successfully blockaded the main islands from their resource conquests - the only thing that remained was convincing the military dominated government to surrender.

The Allies were PLANNING on 1 million casualties for the invasions of the the Japanese homeland islands. THink about that - 1,000,000 casualties - killed and wounded.

The dropping of the atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were, IMO (and President Truman's at the time), utterly necessary to "shock" the Japanese into surrendering. The history books I have read of that time indicate that even after they had had the weapons dropped, the generals /admirals still wanted to continue to do "mass kamikaze" of the entire country. It was the emperor who stepped in and told them to make arraingements for surrender.

[old2soon]

        Diggin into what I pass off as memory banks  I believe the Code of Bushido does NOT recognize surrender. And i remember reading that if a Japanese Soldier Sailor Airmen did surrender they would become a non person. Better to go down fighting-even a losing cause-instead of surrender. Death with honor. RIDE SAFE.