I seldom, if ever, use the word "dumbfounded". Nevertheless, that's the way I felt when I read the unbelievably negative reviews that dominate the viewer reactions to this movie.
I could understand that some people may have quibbles with "Dauntless," but the long run of 1 and 2 star ratings is simply incomprehensible. I'll bet that a few of those who rate this movie so low would give a higher rating to "Plan 9 From Outer Space."
I should mention that I have a personal reason for my interest in this movie. You see, my father actually helped build these planes at Douglas Aircraft. I am, therefore, very familiar with the plane and its place in history. And, of course, with the battle of Midway.
"Dauntless: The Battle of Midway" is not flawless. I won't discuss its shortcomings here. Rather, I would like to mention what, in my view, is right with the movie. The actual battle, I feel, is treated pretty well. The acting is fine, and I have no complaints regarding the visual effects.
The main strength of the film is its portrayal of the challenges faced and the sacrifices made the pilots who, let's not minimize this, basically won the War in the Pacific in a few short hours. It's easy for us, many decades after the battle, to ignore what it must have been like to have one's plane go down in flames, with little chance of rescue even if one had survived the crash.
"Dauntless: The Battle of Midway" may not be a great film, but it simply cannot be viewed as equal to the worst Hollywood has turned out. Yet, that's just what all the reviewers who have given it a 1 or 2 have done. I really wonder it they saw the same movie I did.
I could understand that some people may have quibbles with "Dauntless," but the long run of 1 and 2 star ratings is simply incomprehensible. I'll bet that a few of those who rate this movie so low would give a higher rating to "Plan 9 From Outer Space."
I should mention that I have a personal reason for my interest in this movie. You see, my father actually helped build these planes at Douglas Aircraft. I am, therefore, very familiar with the plane and its place in history. And, of course, with the battle of Midway.
"Dauntless: The Battle of Midway" is not flawless. I won't discuss its shortcomings here. Rather, I would like to mention what, in my view, is right with the movie. The actual battle, I feel, is treated pretty well. The acting is fine, and I have no complaints regarding the visual effects.
The main strength of the film is its portrayal of the challenges faced and the sacrifices made the pilots who, let's not minimize this, basically won the War in the Pacific in a few short hours. It's easy for us, many decades after the battle, to ignore what it must have been like to have one's plane go down in flames, with little chance of rescue even if one had survived the crash.
"Dauntless: The Battle of Midway" may not be a great film, but it simply cannot be viewed as equal to the worst Hollywood has turned out. Yet, that's just what all the reviewers who have given it a 1 or 2 have done. I really wonder it they saw the same movie I did.