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Tom Cleaver
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Review: Barret Tillman says "Devotion" delivers the goods

November 23, 2022 · in Reviews · 18 · 1K

Knowledgeable reviewer Barrett Tillman says Devotion's the real deal.
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2022/december/movie-review-devotion-delivers-goods

Reader reactions:
9  Awesome

18 responses

  1. Good news. This is the first movie that I’ve been itching to see in years.

  2. Great news, I've been trying to figure out how to fit it into my week/weekend. All the more excited now!

  3. Bearcats on film? Say no more.

  4. Thanks for the intel, Tom. Since reading the book, from local author, Adam Makos, I too have been waiting for this movie. Plan to see it this coming Monday. I am also hoping they make a movie of another of Adam's book, A Higher Call.

  5. Thanks for this info, Tom!

  6. We’ll go see it tomorrow. Thanks for letting us know ! Looks like it will be worth it.
    Midway was the last one of this caliber we saw. My teenage Son loved that one too.

    • Ummmm... any relationship between "Midway" and reality is... minimal. The real Dick Best was a friend, and he was the polar opposite of the "Joisey Boy" he's portrayed as. Then there's the fact if any airplane, including an SBD, managed to attempt to come aboard that way, it would be a ramp strike, and if the pilot made it, the CAG would rip his wings off his shirt as soon as he climbed out of the airplane, if not before. The sad thing - which is why this movie is on my shtlist - is that it could have been good. They had the facts and chose not to tell them and go for the horse hockey that never existed.

      • TC: I thought "Midway" was awful. I only watched it to see the Devastator replica which looked pretty realistic. I'm dubious about "Devotion" but I will check it out this weekend as I don't think this one has any "legs" for the movie going public.

      • Yes, you are right Tom . I relise that most of this is not possible on the realism scale. ( especially the stupid landing manoeuvre )Why I liked it is that Young people can get interested in History with this one. Woody Harrelson plays a believable Nimitz and shows he can take on serious roles

        We have streets in my Town called Nimitz, Callaghan and Rickover.

        With that the link to history and some of our street names was made for Teenagers. My parents and grandparents got us to be quiet when they recounted their stories. Except over WW1 . That was never answered how it was. Too horrible.

  7. Glad to see that they got this story RIGHT! To do otherwise would have been no less than a crime...

  8. Added to the list of must to see movies, Tom @tcinla

  9. Thanks for the heads up.

  10. My father got to meet Tom Hudner while serving in the Air Force. Hudner was a exchange pilot in October 1957, flying for two years with the 60th Fighter-Interceptor based at Otis. Dad flew in the 58th. Hudner would often try to recruit dad into becoming a Navy pilot. HIs response, " I didn't want to having anything to do with crashing airplanes onto to a ship." Lets hope this movie has good writing and doesn't get lazy and rest on using CGI. The best movies have the best writing. Things like a beginning, middle and end. A story arc. Character development. Nothing to do with the current franchises in whose ever universe. I hope the movie can hold a candle to "The Bridges at Toko-Ri.

  11. I saw it yesterday. Pretty good. Gut wrenching at times .I wonder why the Corsairs did not drop the auxiliary tanks when taking on the MIG 15 . AA fire , as usual starkly exaggerated density wise. This judging by WW2 footage. ( besides Okinawa where nothing came through mostly )

  12. I just saw this.I really liked it.It struck me as being very close to real life.

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