this film a break! It is a better movie than 9 out of 10 films Hollywood releases each year.

USA had lost the battle. This picture realistically depicts the epic portions of the battle. Overall, I liked it and it was made with excellent standards in choice of words rather than trash talk.

usually commanded a Squadron such as Commodore George Dewey who won a victory in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War

Japanese, etc... the film does get the major 'plot' points down. i.e.: American signal intelligence intercepts revealing the Japanese plan, the sequence of carrier and land attacks, the critical decision s to arm and rearm the Japanese attack craft, etc...Overall, this film seems to be one of a lost genre - big-budget semi-documentaries. Similar to 'Tora Tora Tora' or 'The Longest Day'. A large cast of big-name actors, focus on factual retelling of the events.

events, than this movie do just fine.

Rochefort is well shown. Most, if not all of the time lines of the battle were correct except the sinking of the fourth carrier. I think the movie shows the heroics of the American torpedo squadrons but history has not given them enough credit for the victory. Overall, military history buffs would grade this movie very high but those looking for melodrama would not like it. The movie accurately depicts the "fog of war" and the some of the problems of communication and decision making processes. I never tire of this movie because of it's attention to detail. The turning point of the Pacific war only 6 months after Pearl Harbor.

always entrusted in the music, and the music here was excellent as always. Very fitting to the film. I have to say I am not one for war movies usually, so it takes something special to interest a history major like myself.

proper types of aircraft and ships for the time and situation, and re-release it, even if it goes directly to cable TV.I'm pretty satisfied with most of the film. They did a good job of staying historically accurate given the time constraints involved. Two key items that were glossed over were the interception of both Japanese strikes against 'Yorktown' by that ship's defending fighters out of Koboyashi's eighteen dive bombers, ten were shot down by fighters and one by flak before they released. The seven remaining dive bombers scored three hits. Three of the escorting Zeros were also shot down. and the submarine attack that finished off 'Yorktown'. The effort to save 'Yorktown' after Tomonaga's torpedo bomber attack would have been another movie in itself.The part I was most dis-satisfied with was the sequence dealing with the launch of the 108-plane Japanese initial strike on Midway which started the battle. Poorly executed, in my opinion, compared to the same sequence in 'Tora! Tora! Tora!'.This is one where you want to watch the movie, then read a good book about the battle. I recommend 'Incredible Victory' by Walter Lord.

shown, and, in the next scene, it suddenly becomes another type of plane; but, who cares, the movie is great! The black-and-white scenes at the beginning of the movie are from "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" 1944 with Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson, and, Robert Mitchum also in this movie . And...of course, a love story a controversial love story for this period is fitted into the movie, as in almost every other war movie ever made.A lot of people 'bash' this movie, but, I happen to love it; and, any and every library and collection of war movies isn't complete without this! :