This past week I went and saw three new war movies that have come out (relatively) recently. Obviously, as a self-appointed war movie buff, I’m here to give a review of all three! It was so exciting to hear of all these films because it had been forever since Hollywood blessed us with a new war movie, I’m pretty sure the last big one was back in 2017 with Dunkirk. Anyways, you don’t even need to ask, of course, I cried in every single one of these. They differ from each other greatly but with one thing in common: they’re all amazing.
1917
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. This movie actually left me speechless. Best film since Hacksaw Ridge and I am being 100% serious. The cinematography, the essence of the characters, the way each scene makes your heart ache and tears fall. 1917 falls nothing short of a masterpiece. Listen to all the praise, it’s all accurate and true. By focusing on two small English soldiers amidst a vast war, it allows for the concentration on the mental turmoil the soldiers face on the battlefield. 
It emphasizes the emotion and the pain that comes with fighting in a war. Like Saving Private Ryan, it mainly followed a tiny group of people going on a mission separate from the war, but experiencing all the horrors the war has to offer. This makes it easier to keep up with the story and establish an attachment to the characters, and in doing so you get to really see the reality of war, the camaraderie that forms and the reasons why soldiers return home never the same. Personally, I love films like this because you’re more invested rather than trying to keep up with 50 different characters/stories or being bored over political talk among the higher-ups. 1917 puts you on the war front. It makes you feel loss, hurt, anxiousness, reminiscence, guilt, relief, amid a million other feelings. You’re transported back to the Great War, as if you were the third person on this mission. You know what’s on the line, you see and you feel. This close up, intimate following of lance corporals Schofield and Blake exposes the personal effect the war had on each and every single man and woman that lived it. If this movie doesn’t take your breath away I think you watched it wrong, because this is hands down THE film of the year. It’s already won a Golden Globe for best drama and it’s got tough competitors for best picture at the Oscars, but I believe this film has great potential to win it all.
It emphasizes the emotion and the pain that comes with fighting in a war. Like Saving Private Ryan, it mainly followed a tiny group of people going on a mission separate from the war, but experiencing all the horrors the war has to offer. This makes it easier to keep up with the story and establish an attachment to the characters, and in doing so you get to really see the reality of war, the camaraderie that forms and the reasons why soldiers return home never the same. Personally, I love films like this because you’re more invested rather than trying to keep up with 50 different characters/stories or being bored over political talk among the higher-ups. 1917 puts you on the war front. It makes you feel loss, hurt, anxiousness, reminiscence, guilt, relief, amid a million other feelings. You’re transported back to the Great War, as if you were the third person on this mission. You know what’s on the line, you see and you feel. This close up, intimate following of lance corporals Schofield and Blake exposes the personal effect the war had on each and every single man and woman that lived it. If this movie doesn’t take your breath away I think you watched it wrong, because this is hands down THE film of the year. It’s already won a Golden Globe for best drama and it’s got tough competitors for best picture at the Oscars, but I believe this film has great potential to win it all./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66084717/8V66_FP_V1678.0.jpg)
On another note, GEORGE MACKAY deserves all the recognition and all the praise in the entire world. This man is such a talented actor and exceptionally encompassed the character of William Schofield. I first saw him in Where Hands Touch (another war movie I’d also recommend) and it was clear that he is a fantastic actor. To be honest, if it were anybody else cast as Schofield, I sincerely do not believe it would have the same influence as George MacKay. In addition, Dean-Charles Chapman was also incredible in this movie. I’d give a raise to the casting director because these two genuinely CARRIED 1917 as a film. It felt like they were the embodiment of actual British World War 1 soldiers. Their charming youth partnered with their ability to express the impact of the hardness of war tied this entire movie together. Phenomenal performance. HUGE bravo for 1917. This is it.
Jojo Rabbit
You’d think a comedy about Nazi Germany would be weird, but throw Taika Waititi in there and you’ve got yourself an astonishing, hilarious, heartbreaking, brilliant movie. It does have many mixed feelings, however, which should be understood. You see humour and Hitler together and most of the time that doesn’t settle well with everybody because quite frankly, you just never see the two intertwine due to the sensitivity of the subject. 
It should be kept in mind that the message of this movie is change and acceptance. There’s Jojo, who’s convinced himself he’s a Nazi, has Hitler as his imaginary friend and is completely indoctrinated to Nazi beliefs, but throughout the film, you get to see his growth and development and the opening of his mind beyond the anti-semitic Nazi propaganda drilled into his easily-influenced, young mind. The beauty of this movie stands to show that bigotry is taught and that acceptance and love can shine through if the chance is given. All the while so, you’re laughing the whole time because Taika Waititi just happens to be a comedic genius. This film is truly one of a kind, I mean, how many funny WW2 movies are there? It offers a refreshing take on a popular topic, but instead of it being about soldier’s lives, hardships of war or political climates, it’s told through the life of a kid–a Hitler Youth who realizes his blind obedience for German nationalism is stupid when he meets a Jewish girl and she’s not as bad as he’s been lead to believe. It goes on to speak about the social impact of the war, more specifically Adolf Hitler and how children, like Jojo, manage to idolize him and Nazism based on nothing but propaganda. It also addresses the adaption of beliefs and how prejudice can be eliminated through experience and the opening of the mind. But of course to lighten such a dark subject: jokes. Lots and lots of jokes. Especially when Yorki and Jojo are together. Be prepared to laugh.
It should be kept in mind that the message of this movie is change and acceptance. There’s Jojo, who’s convinced himself he’s a Nazi, has Hitler as his imaginary friend and is completely indoctrinated to Nazi beliefs, but throughout the film, you get to see his growth and development and the opening of his mind beyond the anti-semitic Nazi propaganda drilled into his easily-influenced, young mind. The beauty of this movie stands to show that bigotry is taught and that acceptance and love can shine through if the chance is given. All the while so, you’re laughing the whole time because Taika Waititi just happens to be a comedic genius. This film is truly one of a kind, I mean, how many funny WW2 movies are there? It offers a refreshing take on a popular topic, but instead of it being about soldier’s lives, hardships of war or political climates, it’s told through the life of a kid–a Hitler Youth who realizes his blind obedience for German nationalism is stupid when he meets a Jewish girl and she’s not as bad as he’s been lead to believe. It goes on to speak about the social impact of the war, more specifically Adolf Hitler and how children, like Jojo, manage to idolize him and Nazism based on nothing but propaganda. It also addresses the adaption of beliefs and how prejudice can be eliminated through experience and the opening of the mind. But of course to lighten such a dark subject: jokes. Lots and lots of jokes. Especially when Yorki and Jojo are together. Be prepared to laugh.
Studded with big-name celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Rebel Wilson and Sam Rockwell, the one who actually stole the show is Roman Griffin Davis, who plays the young Jojo. He’s absolutely hilarious and has this youthful glow to him that captures the spirit of Jojo. I hope to see more of him in the future, this kid is a wonderful young actor who is versatile in emotion, got me crying and laughing at the same time. Honestly, an astounding film worthy of praise. If you have time, I implore you, please watch Jojo Rabbit.
Midway
Big Pearl Harbor vibes from this one. Midway is not as famous as the previous two nor does it have a lot of nominations and I think I understand why. Midway is essentially an action movie. It doesn’t focus on emotion as much as 1917 or on social impact as much as Jojo Rabbit, however, Midway is a beautiful spectacle. It goes quite fast, I won’t lie it’s a little hard to keep up at times, there is just so much happening, which I do believe reflects the chaotic nature of the attack on Pearl Harbor and all the battles following it in the pacific theatre. 
This one’s got a lot of big names and familiar faces though, from Woody Harrelson to Nick Jonas to Luke Kleintank (my fellow The Man In the High Castle watchers get it), but don’t let that distract you from the insane battle scenes that will literally make you sweat. This movie is great for those who don’t really like deep messages or dramas. It’s straight to the point, presenting only facts: the battle of Midway as a turning point in the fight against Japan. The entire movie is practically just air battles, which, don’t get me wrong, is AWESOME. If you want epic fights, guns, explosions and fire, this is the film for you, my friend. I also liked how it brought attention to lesser-known events in the second world war, such as the heinous atrocities committed by the Japanese against the Chinese. Since most WW2 movies are about the European war theatre or solely America’s involvement in the pacific, facts like that are not as common in the big movies, so there’s something that Midway underlines that isn’t popularly seen everywhere else.
This one’s got a lot of big names and familiar faces though, from Woody Harrelson to Nick Jonas to Luke Kleintank (my fellow The Man In the High Castle watchers get it), but don’t let that distract you from the insane battle scenes that will literally make you sweat. This movie is great for those who don’t really like deep messages or dramas. It’s straight to the point, presenting only facts: the battle of Midway as a turning point in the fight against Japan. The entire movie is practically just air battles, which, don’t get me wrong, is AWESOME. If you want epic fights, guns, explosions and fire, this is the film for you, my friend. I also liked how it brought attention to lesser-known events in the second world war, such as the heinous atrocities committed by the Japanese against the Chinese. Since most WW2 movies are about the European war theatre or solely America’s involvement in the pacific, facts like that are not as common in the big movies, so there’s something that Midway underlines that isn’t popularly seen everywhere else.
The only critique I would have for Midway is that it’s too sudden and fast. There was no gradual climax of the plot nor was the dialogue that great, I think they were just trying to stuff too much into 2 hours, which I won’t reprimand them for doing. This is a large battle with immense detail, of course, it would be hard to fit it into one film, especially considering they included the attack on Pearl Harbor as precedent (I mean, Pearl Harbor was its own 3-hour movie!). It just felt a bit rushed how it started so slow and mellow then all of a sudden Pearl Harbor was being bombed and you’re introduced to 15 new and different characters. But at the end of the movie, you’ll honestly forget about all that because you’ll walk out of that theater with only the memory of the amazing battle scenes. Round of applause for the editor of Midway because oh my god, that was spectacular. I was gripping the armrests and my eyes could not peel off of the screen. It was mesmerizing. The effects were stunning. The artillery, the torpedoes, the constant state of anxiety. Are they gonna hit it? Are they going down? Are they making it back alive? Those questions circle your brain every time you watch the planes fly up and witness this back and forth, neck and neck battle of Midway. All in all, quite a remarkable movie, really toys with your emotions too.
So please, if you’re looking to spend some money, let these movies rob you. Trust me, you’ll be saying “take more of my money” after watching them. For my Calgarians reading: 1917 should still be in theaters everywhere for a while so no need to worry. Jojo Rabbit, I believe is just about to be out of theaters, but should be premiering at Canyon Meadows Cinema ($5 tickets!) soon. Midway is already out of theaters and in Canyon Meadows Cinema, but I don’t know how much longer it’ll be there for, so be quick or wait to watch a pirated version online.
