War film enthusiasts tuning into Film4 tonight can catch Midway, the 2019 remake of the 1976 classic, which has been hailed by some viewers as "the best war movie ever". The film, praised for its historical accuracy, brings to life key events from the first six months of the Pacific Theatre of World War II, including the Attack on Pearl Harbour and the Battle of Midway.
Star-studded cast and box office disappointment
The movie features a cast of notable Hollywood names, including Woody Harrelson, Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, and musician Nick Jonas. Despite this, the film was a box office bomb upon its release. Nevertheless, fans continue to champion its heartfelt storyline, with one reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes dubbing it "the best war movie ever" and another calling it a "great historical action-packed movie".
Historical accuracy praised by veterans and historians
While critics may have opinions on casting or visual effects, Midway's dedication to sticking to real-life events has not gone unnoticed. Creators Emmerich and Tooke were adamant about being historically accurate, and the film has since received praise from veterans and historians. In comparison to the 1976 film and the 2001 movie Pearl Harbour, they claimed this was a more "accurate portrayal" of what really occurred.
Viewers have echoed this sentiment. One person wrote: "As a history lover and 35-year history teacher, I highly recommend Midway." Another shared: "The movie was well balanced, spanning personal stories (based on real-life characters) to superbly filmed battle scenes. The movie covered Pearl Harbor, the Doolittle Raid and finally culminated in the Battle of Midway. An excellent movie for those who want to understand key events of World War II. Full of action."
Plot and where to watch
The film follows events in May 1942, when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched an attack on the island of Midway, hoping to use it as a base for operations against Pearl Harbour and the US west coast. However, US Navy intelligence uncovered their plan, and Admiral Chester Nimitz sent two US task groups with three aircraft carriers to set a trap for the Japanese, leading to one of the most important battles in history. One fan remarked: "It was true to history and an 'on the edge of your seat' movie. Absolutely GREAT movie....and a must-see for the history buff."
Midway airs on Film4 tonight at 6:45pm and is also available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
