Battle of Midway: What's left behind besides the visual experience?

In early November, "Battle of Midway" was released simultaneously in North America and China, directed by Roland Emmerich, the famous "master of disaster films" who finally made a magnificent war film. For Emmerich and some viewers, it may have been more than 20 years. More than 20 years ago, Emmerich wanted to make a film about the Battle of Midway, but it was repeatedly shelved because of lack of investment.

Emmerich has always been considered a "sensory director", and his films are known for their big scenes and big productions, whether it is "The Day After Tomorrow" or "2012", those shots of human civilization being destroyed in an instant are classics under his hands. Similarly, "Decisive Battle of Midway" is no exception, and the first element of its appeal is probably due to the grand narrative of the scene.

The opening chapter of "Decisive Battle of Midway" shows the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, a short period of bombing shots, which instantly brings the audience into the atmosphere of war, and then almost shows the Battle of Midway in a panoramic lens, whether it is listening to and analyzing Japanese intelligence, or the naval bombing shot, its grasp of literary and martial arts is in place.

The most blood-boiling scenes in "Decisive Battle of Midway" belong to dive bombing, which is the most dangerous and gorgeous tactic in the world, with a romantic color of war-style determination. Dive bombing, as the name suggests, refers to the bomber in an almost right angle posture from top to bottom dive bombing, this process must maintain the accuracy of the bombing, but also can not make the bomber crash into the aircraft carrier or rush into the sea, the bomber and pilot requirements are extremely high. Such a very difficult tactic is rare in film and television works, "Decisive Battle of Midway" uses aerial photography, overhead shooting, pilot's first perspective and other angles to show the thrill of dive bombing in an all-round way, which not only makes the audience addicted to foot and eyes, but also makes the audience feel immersed in the scene with a comprehensive display.

To some extent, "Decisive Battle of Midway" can be regarded as an American main theme film, with a large number of facts to review the bravery of the American people in the Battle of Midway, portraying the character group from the commander-in-chief of the US Pacific Fleet to the most ordinary soldiers. In addition to the U.S. Navy, the Japanese Navy and the Chinese people who appear in the film are equally impressive. What is valuable is that although the Japanese army in the film appears as an enemy army, it also avoids the face to the greatest extent, and does not do some dwarfing because it is an enemy army.

In the era of science fiction blockbusters dominating the screen, the scenes of space rescue and underwater war, and someone willing to invest in shooting a war film, it is not easy, after all, compared with other science fiction movies, war movies have neither IP and fan base, nor the possibility of making a sequel, but also grasp the scale of presentation.

Such a "Decisive Battle of Midway" with a bit of romantic feelings should strictly speak be a war science film. Judging from the title of the movie, it mainly focuses on the Battle of Midway, but in fact it also comes with a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor + the US military sneak attack on Tokyo, which is more of a documentary. For War White, "Decisive Battle of Midway" is quite friendly, but for many military fans, this is also its biggest problem - too ambitious and unfocused.

It is precisely because the ambition is too big that the film's expression of each scene is almost to the point. The initial Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is bleak and infuriating, but soon the style of the painting turns into a discussion of strategy; after the U.S. attack on Tokyo, the aircraft runs out of fuel, the pilots are forced to abandon the plane and jump into the sea, and when the audience is just beginning to fear the black sea and be moved by the courage of the pilots, the next shot turns and does not know whether they have successfully reached the coastline. Although this way of pointing to the end is restrained and objective, getting rid of the cumbersome sensationalism, it also loses the thinking and depth that the film should have to some extent, and cannot satisfy the audience's mood of immersion in the plot.

In addition, commensurate with the "ambition" of the film, there are a variety of characters. Although "Decisive Battle of Midway" avoids facialization to the greatest extent, it is also difficult to escape the problem of flat characters. In addition to a few characters who focus on performance, the rest of the "sub-emphasis" images, without exception, are portrayed on the surface, and almost lack control of the heart. Especially in the case of multiple clues going hand in hand, it is more difficult for movies to take care of them.

We can't measure Midway by a fixed standard, and it's irresponsible to say that it's "bold" or "popcorn" in general. "Battle of Midway" was screened, after that? The hints it gives us should not be limited to itself.

The sea is remembered immortally, while the film pays tribute to the warriors. (Hu Bugui)