Gettysburg/Midway Double Review. Gettysburg was filmed more than thirty…

Gettysburg was filmed more than thirty years ago. Midway much more recently. Both films depict battles fought almost a century apart in very different technological environments. But the irony is clear: the wars were lost for the South and Japan before they even started. Neither could hope to win a war of attrition against the North or the US. Both battles were turning points in the US Civil War and World War Two in the Pacific, but mistakes by Admiral Nagumo and General Lee brought ultimate defeat even faster.

Lee’s march into the North was a strategic blunder. The South lacked the resources for such a campaign. Lee also had poor intelligence, as his cavalry led by Jeb Stuart disappeared. This forced Lee to commit his troops to a blind confrontation against a force much larger than he imagined and entrenched in defensive terrain more formidable than he thought possible. The film showcases the Battle for Little Round Top, made famous by Col. Joshua Chamberlain’s charge down the hill after his men ran out of ammunition. The battle is frenetic and heroic. The music and photography are riveting. A must-watch, even if there’s a bit of melodrama.

Fast forward to the Pacific, with Japan’s navy triumphant after Pearl Harbor. Admiral Yamamoto sends his aircraft carriers into an American trap despite having a numerical advantage. Poor communication dooms Admiral Nagumo. Most of his carriers are sunk within five minutes. The American Navy had cracked the Japanese naval code. Poor reconnaissance prevented the Japanese from discovering the US carriers in time. The CGI makes for thrilling combat scenes, as the entire battle is fought between planes with rival ships never within sight of each other. The dogfights and final plane dives pump up the viewer’s adrenaline. Admirals Nimitz and Spruance win the day.

Both battles may have been turning points in wars already decided, but don’t tell that to the combatants. The fighting was brutal and courageous. It was an out of body experience. War remains for many humans a key life experience and for most civilizations a critical mythological event.