Lots of action to make this worth watching but lacking in a good script.

Rating: 6/10 (9 November 2019)

Midway (3 out of 5 stars).
Midway is a fair war film delivered by Roland Emmerich who makes films that are big blockbuster action movies. Midway is not a great war movie or a great film in general. It delivers on plenty of action sequences with aerial combat. Realistically it is no Dunkirk with the realism on the practical stunts than having actors sit in a stage production with all visual effects. The visual effects are decent. The script lacks in delivering characters that stands out. The story was okay about the Battle of Midway. Roland Emmerich's focuses on building the action suspense but not leaving any satisfaction in the end. I feel like this film does make Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor feeling like a masterpiece when it comes to a story with a forced love story, better action and aerial combat that puts you on the edge of your seat, and the emotional impact you have with the victims and soldiers that was under attack.
What worked great with Midway? Well for a war film, Roland Emmerich does pack a punch with having a lot action in it. The cinematography was good and making you feel like you are with the pilots in the fighter planes. The opening sequence with Pearl Harbor being attacked tried to set the tone of the film. It was not as powerful like Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor. The rest of the film focuses on Dick (Ed Skrein) flying in the air, and getting into a lot of aerial combat with the Japanese. Dick is a cowboy, and cocky personality who flies and living on the edge when he is dive bombing. Evantually, the action sequences with aerial scenes do get repetitive. Dick and his other fighters flying high and dive bombing into a Japanese carrier. Hoping their missiles hit their ships.
The film has a great cast ensemble. Sadly, none of the actors have room to develop their characters. Ed Skrein, Woody Harrelson, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Mandy Moore, Nick Jonas, and Aaron Eckhart. None of the characters have a characterization which makes them standout. The script lacks in delivering actual people who went through these events. Instead, the film makes every character forgettable.
The plot about the battle of Midway is a great feature to be brought onto film. After Pearl Harbor, Americans sent out several carriers to aid in Midway. Which American fighter pilots were trying to stop the Japanese carriers from beginning another attack. The movie lacks in delivering an emotional story when it is too focused on bringing flat characters from one set piece to another. Then, having the repetitive aerial battle throughout the two hour time frame.
Overall, Midway is a fair war film. It delivers a lot of action and aerial combat. The visual effects are a little decent. The actors are forgettable with their characters from a shallow script. The story is lacking emotional depth with the characters.