Midway

A whole lot of bombing going on here, and not just from the planes. That assessment is probably too harsh, but it's undeniable that this film not only didn't hit its mark at the box office, but it also missed its target from a cinematic standpoint. Despite the urgency of the story--from both perspectives--and decent to good work from the cast (interesting to see Ed Skrein, for once, not playing a villain), this work never really comes across as urgent and dramatic. There's another problem, too, that hangs over the film: it was the result of a joint Chinese and American production, a fact (obvious from the start) that demands of the responsible viewer an awareness of the possibility that he's watching propaganda. In fairness, the filmmakers seem to have walked that line and showed understanding to each of the principal sides involved (though the follow-through on the Doolittle story line has obvious implications). Perhaps the joint production team led to a watered down movie. Whatever the cause, this flick sinks when it should have flown.