Best Naval Aviation movies

[Pags]

Midway is out in theaters

I went to see it last evening and it is pretty darn good. The writers and researchers put a lot of work into historical accuracy. There is, of course, a great deal of "Hollywood" in some of the flying stunts and some minor fouls in terms of historical timing (my wife was gripping my arm during a dive bomber attack and said "You better not fly like that!" I asked her, "Well, how will I land then?" It has all the right aviation players. Wildcat, Dauntless, Devastator, B-25, and even the B-26 makes appearances (but way too many from my recollection). The full range of Japanese aircraft are shown and the CGI isn't as bad as I thought it might be. The actors aren't too overblown and Woody actually does a decent job as Nimitz. The best part if you are into pop culture stuff...the movie ends exactly like the 1970's version with Yamamoto's quote about waking a sleeping giant.

In short, I recommend the movie. It is worth the cost of admission.

Thanks for the review Griz, I was certainly curious as to what a fellow stickler would think. What I've seen online has been a bit all over the place. But NPR and the local SOMD said nice (not great) things about it so I'll give it a shot.

 

[Griz882]

Thanks for the review Griz, I was certainly curious as to what a fellow stickler would think. What I've seen online has been a bit all over the place. But NPR and the local SOMD said nice (not great) things about it so I'll give it a shot.

I doubt there are any academy awards in the wings, but it is worth a few hours and chance to cheer for the home team.

I was stunned, however, to see that HSC played no role in the battle.

 

[HAL Pilot]

I was stunned, however, to see that HSC played no role in the battle.

I agree. I saw it too. Zero helos of any kind. What’s up with that?

 

[Griz882]

I agree. I saw it too. Zero helos of any kind. What’s up with that?

I told my wife they were off screen doing CSAR, Loggie runs, some Secret squirrel stuff, and out looking for enemy surface contacts. As for HSM...you don't see any Jap subs at Midway, do ya? ?

 

[Pags]

I doubt there are any academy awards in the wings, but it is worth a few hours and chance to cheer for the home team.

I was stunned, however, to see that HSC played no role in the battle.

Sure they did. Despite the fact that they briefed Stanhope Ring about all of their ASUW capabilities, he put them in Starboard D and had them run Chaps to the small boys.

 

[jmcquate]

I told my wife they were off screen doing CSAR, Loggie runs, some Secret squirrel stuff, and out looking for enemy surface contacts. As for HSM...you don't see any Jap subs at Midway, do ya? ?

..............well there was that one that sunk the Hornet.

 

[Griz882]

..............well there was that one that sunk the Hornet.

You’re right...well there’s a black mark against the Romeo’s.

 

[jmcquate]

Meh............I blame the lack of MAD gear on the P-8s.

 

[Renegade One]

Sorry to jack this back away from the VP and helo guys, but one of the better filmed depictions I've seen of the whole Midway thingie is Episode III of the TV miniseries "War and Remembrance". The major US strikes are dealt with, of course, and pretty well for this production, but the real centerpiece (for me) was the depiction of the tension between Spruance and his "inherited from Halsey" staff, particularly the acerbic Chief of Staff, CAPT Miles Browning. Lots of looking at the upper echelon decisions afloat; pushback from the air group pilots on "staff planning" that was out of range for the flyers; putting together a pick-up team from first strike survivors and those from YORKTOWN that landed on the other CVs; Spruance's decision to withdraw east on the evening of 4 June, and good coverage of the mop-up strike the following day. I recommend it to your viewing pleasure. Very good cast, as well.

 

[Austin-Powers]

Spoilersssssss

 

[Griz882]

Sorry to jack this back away from the VP and helo guys, but one of the better filmed depictions I've seen of the whole Midway thingie is Episode III of the TV miniseries "War and Remembrance". The major US strikes are dealt with, of course, and pretty well for this production, but the real centerpiece (for me) was the depiction of the tension between Spruance and his "inherited from Halsey" staff, particularly the acerbic Chief of Staff, CAPT Miles Browning. Lots of looking at the upper echelon decisions afloat; pushback from the air group pilots on "staff planning" that was out of range for the flyers; putting together a pick-up team from first strike survivors and those from YORKTOWN that landed on the other CVs; Spruance's decision to withdraw east on the evening of 4 June, and good coverage of the mop-up strike the following day. I recommend it to your viewing pleasure. Very good cast, as well.

They touch on that very, very briefly in the movie. If you know a bit of the history, as you do, you see it.

 

[Renegade One]

To get back to the helo guys...the War and Remembrance episode mentioned above was filmed largely onboard LEXINGTON for the interior and flight deck sequences. One ready room on LEX doubled as Torpedo Squadron SIX's ready room on ENTERPRISE, and one big sign in the room still says HC-16.

 

[Austin-Powers]

I liked Midway a lot! Some silly parts, but it was really enjoyable to me.

 

[RobLyman]

Meh............I blame the lack of MAD gear on the P-8s.

And lack of Zombie S-3s as well.

 

[HAL Pilot]

And lack of Zombie S-3s as well.

This is why the USS Nimitz was so successful in 1941. She had S-3s and helos along with her Tomcats. The Japanese did stand a chance.