Midway Blu-ray Review

Lionsgate Films presents "Midway" on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer, showcased in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Captured with the Panavision Millennium DXL2 and Red cameras at an 8K source resolution but finished at a 2K DI, this presentation offers impressive detail on practical elements such as human figures and props. Textures in costumes and facial features like pores and individual hairs are vividly rendered. However, the CGI is often noticeably soft, producing a somewhat artificial and hazy ambience reminiscent of the film "300." The background greenscreen effects appear slightly murky, compromising the realistic feel.

The color palette is another highlight, featuring shades of blue in ocean and skies, offset by vibrant explosions of red, orange, and yellow. Natural skin tones are well-maintained, though there's occasional black level crush. The lighting and grading choices add visual interest, with scenes desaturated for effect, especially in early sequences set in Japan. The addition of digital grain sometimes detracts from image clarity, particularly in brightly lit moments, creating an unwanted dirty appearance.

Overall, the Blu-ray edition delivers a mostly strong visual experience. While practical details are sharp and colorful, the heavy reliance on CGI and digital effects may not appeal to all viewers. For those seeking the highest visual quality, the 4K UHD version with Dolby Vision offers a notable upgrade.

The audio presentation of the Blu-ray release of Midway is a stellar showcase of Dolby Atmos technology, delivering an immersive and dynamic sound experience. Similar to the acclaimed Ford v Ferrari, Midway offers a continuous auditory spectacle, especially exploiting overhead effects in the numerous sequences involving aerial combat, machine gunfire, and explosive bomb drops. The LFE channel is particularly noteworthy, producing deep, rumbling effects that genuinely shake the environment, evoking the power of the original Sensurround experience. The score by Thomas Wander and Harald Kloser complements these elements beautifully, adding an emotional and intense layer to the overall soundscape.

This 4K UHD Blu-ray's Dolby Atmos track is demo-worthy, providing a thrilling audio experience from the very start. The sound design fully utilizes the speaker system, with roaring plane engines, whizzing bullets, thunderous explosions, and gunfire abundantly occupying the soundstage with fantastic directionality. The height speakers are put to excellent use, creating an immersive overhead field with sounds like aircraft flying above and missiles plummeting to their targets. The bass response is consistently profound and controlled, enhancing each sound effect with substantial impact. Even in quieter scenes, the audio faithfully reproduces ambient details such as reverb and echoes on Navy ships, maintaining a sense of presence and realism.

Throughout action-packed sequences, the rear speakers deliver robust and thrilling surround effects, enveloping the listener in the chaotic intensity of battle. The dialogue remains clear and distinct, ensuring comprehensibility even amidst the cacophony of warfare. Additionally, the soundtrack enhances the drama and suspense, further elevating the audio experience.

In summary, Midway on Blu-ray offers a high-caliber Dolby Atmos experience that is both technically impressive and deeply engaging, making it a must-experience for home theater enthusiasts.

The Blu-ray extras for "Midway" are a valuable addition to the film, offering approximately 68 minutes of bonus content that enrich viewers' understanding of both the historical context and the film's production. Roland Emmerich provides a comprehensive audio commentary that covers the real-life stories depicted, historical accuracies, and the challenges of filming on location. Features like "Getting it Right: The Making of Midway" and "The Men of Midway" dive deep into the making of the film and its characters, while succinct pieces such as "Roland Emmerich: Man on a Mission" highlight the director's passion. Historically themed extras like "Turning Point: The Legacy of Midway" and "Joe Rochefort: Breaking the Japanese Code" offer substantial educational value. Meanwhile, "We Met at Midway: Two Survivors Remember" stands out for its emotional depth, presenting firsthand accounts from veterans.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary by Roland Emmerich: Insightful commentary discussing various aspects of production.
• Getting it Right: The Making of Midway: Explores the filmmakers' dedication to historical accuracy.
• The Men of Midway: Highlights real-life characters featured in the film.
• Roland Emmerich: Man on a Mission: Discusses Emmerich's long-time interest in the subject.
• Turning Point: The Legacy of Midway: Analyzes the historical significance of the battle.
• Joe Rochefort: Breaking the Japanese Code: Focuses on cryptanalysis and intelligence efforts.
• We Met at Midway: Two Survivors Remember: Emotional recounting from two veterans.
• Theatrical Trailer: Includes the promotional trailer for the film.

Roland Emmerich’s "Midway" brings an intense and technically dexterous reimagining of the Battle of Midway to contemporary audiences. Building on the 1976 "Midway" film, characterized by dated stock footage and unremarkable dialogue, Emmerich offers a significantly more polished production. Emmerich integrates visually striking depictions reminiscent of Michael Bay's cinematic stylings, with sustained dramatic tension throughout pre-battle sequences and the climactic Pacific skirmish. This iteration equally distributes focus on crucial prelude events like Pearl Harbor, presenting authentic cross-cultural vignettes featuring Japanese and American perspectives, adding layers of historical depth.

Wes Tooke’s screenplay eschews fictional dramatization, embracing a more authentic portrayal of real-life military figures, such as Lt. Commander Edwin T. Layton (Patrick Wilson) and hotshot pilot Lt. Dick Best (Ed Skrein). This realism is further emphasized in the closing credits, where viewers are reminded of each character’s historical significance with accompanying photographs, amplifying the emotional gravitas. Woody Harrelson as Admiral Chester W. Nimitz delivers a noteworthy performance, subtly commanding his role against the seemingly insurmountable Japanese naval power.

While the emotional connection with Japanese characters remains minimal, focusing largely on strategic discourse, the American narratives, albeit infused with sentimentality, deliver moments of genuine emotional resonance. Emmerich's battle scenes are visually hyperbolic and adrenaline-inducing but occasionally stray into the realm of implausibility. However, from a technical standpoint, "Midway" excels with superior visual effects and a coherent narrative arc that edges past previous war film clichés. This takes "Midway" beyond its predecessor's limitations, despite occasionally veering into manipulative sentimentalism, ensuring it remains a visually and emotionally engaging experience.

Roland Emmerich's "Midway" attempts to bring to the screen the historic World War II battle with a steadfast dedication to factual accuracy. The film manages to maintain a focus on real-life characters and delivers its story in a concise manner, punctuated by explosive action sequences that demonstrate Emmerich's prowess in staging large-scale set pieces. Despite this, the dialogue can at times feel as wooden as its 1976 predecessor. However, the emotional resonance in this version arguably surpasses the earlier film, creating a more compelling narrative overall.

The technical execution of the Blu-ray is commendable. The 1080p transfer delivers solid visual clarity, ensuring that both the quieter moments and more frenetic battle scenes are rendered with impressive detail and color accuracy. The Dolby Atmos audio track is particularly noteworthy, providing an immersive sound experience that elevates the dynamic battle sequences and atmospheric tension. While the bonus features offer some insightful content, the lack of in-depth behind-the-scenes and visual effects discussions is an unfortunate omission, as these elements would've undoubtedly enhanced the viewer's appreciation for the film's technical achievements.

In conclusion, while "Midway" may struggle with character development and narrative depth, it still succeeds in delivering a visually and aurally engaging portrayal of this pivotal World War II event. The film comes recommended primarily for its technical merits and its dedication to historical authenticity, offering a cinematic experience that respects its subject matter while engaging audiences with its impressive action set pieces. Despite some limitations, it stands as a noteworthy addition to the canon of World War II films.