HMHS Britannic Movie Review Lecture

Initial Impressions

• Initially enjoyed the film 3-4 years ago.
• Disappointment upon recent viewing with more knowledge of history.
• Critique of acting, production, animation, and historical accuracy.

Purpose of the Movie

• Created to capitalize on the success of James Cameron's "Titanic."
• Not expected to be a masterpiece, but fails in basic historical accuracy.

Set Design Issues

General Observations

• Low budget with limited constructed sets.
• Sets lack cohesion and accuracy.

Specific Set Problems

• Forward Boat Deck Set:
  • Confusing door placements with inaccuracies in officer's quarters and Grand Staircase layout.
• Grand Staircase:
  • Looks like it's from a different ship.
• A Deck Promenade Set:
  • Slightly more accurate but with significant errors (e.g., Marconi room placement).
• Patient and Dining Rooms:
  • Seem fabricated and lack authenticity.

Repetitive Use of Sets

• Limited sets lead to repetition, making the ship feel smaller.
• Key scenes repeatedly use the same sets, diminishing the experience.

Animation Critique

• Animated scenes likened to a "PS2 era game."
• Animation undermines the intended serious tone of the movie.
• Inconsistent and unrealistic ship model and lighting.

Historical Inaccuracies

Ship Model and Animation

• Britannic model appears as a poorly reskinned Titanic.
• Lack of detail in model and poor shading.

Events and Timeline Errors

• Incorrect timing for Britannic's departure and events.
• U-boat following narrative inaccurate and unrealistic.
• Incorrect depiction of Naples stop and storm timeline.

Sinking Scene Inaccuracies

• Changes made to the sinking that defy historical facts and logic.
• Unrealistic portrayal of damage location and timing of events.
• Final plunge depicted with poor buildup and incorrect physics.

Conclusion

• Overall disappointment with the movie's handling of HMHS Britannic's story.
• Numerous factual errors, poor production, and animation detract from the viewing experience.