ijnfleetadmiral

Got to see an advance screening of Roland Emmerich's film Midway. Here are my thoughts on the film.

**WARNING: Below Be Spoilers**

We start off with a scene of Edwin Layton at a party in Japan before returning to the United States from an assignment overseas. ADM Yamamoto chats with him in a room filled with large, framed photographs of various IJN vessels (many of which we've all seen before). This is the only time a Japanese person speaks English in the film; all the rest of the Japanese scenes are in Japanese. ADM Yamamoto is - at the time this scene occurs - serving as Navy Minister. He is wearing full ADM's insignia, which is inaccurate; he was not promoted ADM until 15 November 1940, after assuming command of the Combined Fleet. This minor point is indicative of how the IJN is going to be passed off in this film.

As to the Japanese ships themselves, from what little they are shown - the USN is the main focus - don't look too bad at a glance. Akagi and Hiryu have their islands on the correct side (at least that much was accurate), though the bridge sets for the Japanese carriers could've been done a little better. The character of Genda Minoru is wearing Captain's insignia; again, incorrect; he was a CDR at Midway and was not promoted CAPT until May 1944. He also appears to have taken over the role of Nagumo's Chief-of-Staff, as RADM Kusaka Ryunosuke was apparently eliminated from the film entirely.

Yamato is shown in the film three times, but I was unable to tell if she is accurately portrayed (by that I mean did she have her wing turrets). Nagara is seen a couple times briefly during the air attacks; she doesn't look too bad at a glance. A Tone-class CA is also seen briefly in the same scene. There is a Kongo-class BB that the main character (LT Dick Best) flies over, though she appears to be portraying an early 1930s version of the ship as the bridge structure is horribly wrong. Tone #4 sights the Americans, and the vessel shown is a Colorado-class BB steaming along accompanied by what appear to be some DDs. I visibly cringed.

Another main character is Bruno Gaido. His capture and execution as a POW is portrayed, but it is done inaccurately. According to numerous sources, Gaido was tied to some fuel cans and dropped overboard. In the film, he is tied to a spare ANCHOR and dropped overboard. Where a DD got a spare anchor I have no idea; also, one would think fuel cans would be an easier prop to use than an anchor, but what do I know? Again, the insignia is wrong; the officer portrayed as Makigumo's CO (CDR Fujita Isamu) is wearing Captain's insignia; he never wore that rank while he was alive (posthumous promotion after being KIA as CoS of CruDiv 14 aboard Naka in November 1943).

Nautilus is shown attacking the Japanese fleet, though she is depicted as firing a torpedo at Akagi, which hits, but is a dud. I'll have to re-read Shattered Sword, but IIRC she didn't attack a Japanese carrier until AFTER the fatal attack occurred, and the ship she attacked was Kaga, not Akagi.

The sinking of the Japanese carriers is done well; Emmerich excels at explosions and his destruction of Kaga (pretty much the explosion of the White House in ID4, only put a carrier in place of the White House and no alien ship firing a laser beam at it and you've got it) is perfect proof of that statement. As in the 1976 film, the sinking of Mikuma is eliminated entirely. Yamaguchi's final moments aboard Hiryu are depicted correctly for the most part; the only inaccuracy is that it is apparently his Adjutant - a LTJG - who asks to stay with him and not his CoS CDR Ito Seiroku. Also, Yamaguchi does not hand over his cap as a souvenir. While Hiryu is shown being torpedoed, she - like the other Japanese carriers - are not shown sinking on screen.

One plus this film does have over Michael Bay's cluster-you-know-what Pearl Harbor is that there is NO love story focus. The film does show interaction between one of the main characters (LT Dick Best) and his wife, but it is by no means a focal point of the story.

In closing, if you're a fan of war movies, exciting aerial action, or explosions, watch it repeatedly...you'll love it. If you're a history buff, definitely see it once. If you're an IJN fan, see it once, but that's about all you need. The 1976 film - while more inaccurate, shows more of the Japanese side than this film does. Stick with that.

My grade for Midway: A low 'B' or a high 'B-'. It's definitely worth seeing once, but I won't be paying to see it again in theaters, nor will I be buying it for my DVD collection. I might change my mind once it hits Walmart's $5 bin, but for right now, no.

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Went to an event in Jackson, MS this past weekend called the Trail of Honor. It's a function put on every year by the Harley Davidson dealership there that honors veterans of every conflict the U.S. has been involved in. While there I got probably the greatest honor I have ever received. This is a pic of me with 102-year-old retired LTC Richard "Dick" Cole. He is the last surviving Doolittle Raider, and was GEN Doolittle's personal copilot. You never forget meeting living history, and I know I'll definitely never forget this moment.

Yesterday, the world lost an acting icon and a legendary Marine. Actor and retired Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee Ermey passed away due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 74. He will forever be remembered as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket, and his lines from that film will continue to be quoted probably until the Lord calls us all home. "The Gunny", as he was affectionately known, was also the spokesperson for the Young Marines and a proud and fervent supporter of America's men and women in uniform.

Semper Fi, Gunny...we'll miss you.

Please sign the petition!
Posthumously Promote R. Lee Ermey to the Rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant

President Trump has announced a ban on any and all transgender persons serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, and I completely support this ban. Now, before any of you Radar-holics out there start blasting me and saying, "WTF, Radar?! We thought you was easy-goin'!", allow me to explain myself.

The U.S. Armed Forces needs to concentrate on defending our country. We've got radical Islam infesting the world (yes, I used the term 'radical Islam'; I'm not afraid to say it), our borders are wide-open (but hopefully soon to be slammed shut and padlocked), and there's a roly-poly little kumquat over in Pyongyang with a psychotic smile on his chubby-cheeked face whose cheese has not only slid off his cracker, it fell on the floor, he done stepped on it, slid, and busted his ass, and he's got his finger on North Korea's Big Red Button. With all that to worry about, we don't have time to be 'all-inclusive' anymore. I personally don't give a damn what kind of equipment you're packing south of the border, but if you wanna serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, you gotta stick with the equipment the big Supply Depot Up Yonder issued you.

Rock on, Mr. President...keep on keepin' on.