Yes, Roland Emmerich's Midway is the hollow explosion porn you expect it to be, but it's also a respectful and (at times) rousing one. Unfortunately, this true to life tale is given a heavy coat of "Hollywood," greatly reducing the frank realism a film of this nature requires (Dunkirk this isn’t). The story isn't the only thing lacking depth either, as the impressive cast of actors assembled here are given mostly forgettable material to work with. Sure there are a handful of heartfelt speeches, but it's mostly all boilerplate dialogue that we've heard before. Luckily, there are lots of big explosions to help keep us distracted, with Emmerich's big screen aerial attacks and fly-by battle scenes making for some awe inspiring cinema. The light 'em up razzle-dazzle isn't enough to defeat the limp screenplay however, as Midway ultimately lacks a heart at the centre of its destruction.