Midway (1976) - Okay, Hear Me Out: Was it Too Clean?

Okay, so just finished watching Midway (1976) with the crew last night. It's...well, it's a war movie, alright? Lots of planes, lots of explosions. But something felt off to me. Like, TOO heroic? I know it's a dramatization and we're supposed to be rooting for the good guys, but I kept thinking about how sanitized it felt. Specifically, I kept noticing how everyone was always so…composed? Even in the heat of battle. Like, Charlton Heston's character, Captain Garth, barely even sweats! And when things do go bad, it's all very dramatic and noble. There's this scene where one of the pilots goes down, and everyone just stares solemnly. Real life is a lot messier, right? I'm not saying I wanted gore for the sake of it, but I think a little more grit would've made it way more believable. Plus, that whole romance angle with his son was kinda clunky. My theory is, because it was made relatively soon after the actual event (only 30-ish years), there was a lot of pressure to portray the American side as flawlessly as possible. Maybe they were worried about offending veterans or something? Or maybe war movies back then were just different, and the focus was more on the 'glory' than the real horror. It definitely takes away from the film's impact, and makes it easier to pick apart. Anyone else feel this way? Or am I just being a cynical millennial over here?