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nmmigrad
Reviews
Winning Formula (2015)
Cute and fun little movie!
I love this movie. Cute and fun, the acting is enjoyable and silly at times. Very fun independent movie and one that I definitely recommend watching as it is better than a lot of main stream films these days. Worth the watch!
Dauntless: The Battle of Midway (2019)
An excellent movie telling smaller stories in the big battle
I really enjoyed this movie. First, if you watch the Bayou Pictures YouTube behind the scenes, you can see how much care time and effort the filmmakers put into it. This heart really shines through in the movie.
Second, this movie tells three stories that while aren't directly related, are completely related. (Yes that sounds a little weird) From the search plane to the downed pilots and the arguing commanders, they are all related indirectly. I think the movie does a good job showing this. Which is really hard when trying to tell this story in the Battle of Midway! The producers are truly trying to highlight the men who fought, and not just the large spectacle of the battle.
Third, the acting is pretty good (enjoyed seeing Judd Nelson and C.Thomas Howell) and I was shocked to learn that the tension with the commanders was actually toned down! Kinda crazy to think that is the case. Much of it reminded me of my own military experience as I have dealt with lots of these same issues and I think they nailed it in their portrayal.
Fourth, the acknowledgment of the filmmakers in their research of the AAR comments and reports really jumped this up for me. I enjoyed it even more after reading this in the end credits. It's clear that the filmmakers really tried to be as accurate as possible with a very tight budget. This is what jumped the film to a 10 for me (It was initially a strong 8). It's enjoyable to watch, you can see the heart and dedication put into it, and the strive for accuracy given budget constraints makes it a 10.
There is nothing earth shattering in the CGI or special effects, but I wouldn't expect there to be on a tight budget and in a WW2 film. That said, the effects and flight sequences are good and enjoyable to watch, adding to the story.
I recommend you watch this film. It's a good movie and one I wish I could have seen in theaters.