Customer Reviews

Ironclads: The Monitor and the Merrimac [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although this film will never reach the popularity that "Gettysburg" and it's prequel "Gods and Generals" have achieved, "Ironclads" is still a worthy addition to anyone's library of Civil War films. The battle scenes between the Ironclad warships U.S.S. Monitor and C.S.S. Virginia (built on top of the captured remains of the U.S.S. Merrimac) are awesome to behold, and the acting and costuming are top notch. I hope that they release it on DVD soon! Grade: A+

I liked this movie despite the cheesy, tacked on love story. The battle scene at the end is great and mostly historically accurate- when you finally get there. This movie is for Civil War buffs only.

Definitely a flawed movie, particularly the stock love story. But the scenes about the construction and especially the battle scenes more than make up for it. The special effects are not going to impress you. But considering this is a made for TV movie they are quite acceptable.

This made-for-TV movie tells the story of some events that culminated in the first ever conflict between ironclad warships -- the Confederacy's "Virginia" (formerly the USS Merrimack) and the USS Monitor. The battle took place in 1862. The "Virginia" (aka "Merrimack") came downstream to break the Union blockade at the Hampton Roads, near Norfolk, VA, during the American Civil War (or The War Between the States). On the second day of action at that location the Monitor and the "Merrimack" clashed.

The movie's cast is highlighted by Virginia Madsen and E.G. Marshall.

The story line includes hints of a love triangle involving Madsen and a Union naval officer and a Confederate naval officer. While this part of the movie lacked some sincerity, it helps one realize that large numbers of people had friends and relatives on both sides during the Civil War.

I must say that I awarded this movie only three stars because the acting was not top-notch, the romance was not particularly romantic, and the drama was not especially dramatic. The reason it deserves at least three stars is two-fold. 1) When Madsen is faced with personal dilemma and questions her loyalties and motives, her mother's slave servant puts things into perspective for her by saying that things would not be so hard to put into perspective if she (Madsen) had been born a black slave. 2) The battle scenes, though somewhat lacking in the special effects department, were still quite good and may represent as accurate a portrayal of the battle between the ironclads as has been produced for the screen.

I would do a few things differently if I had a chance to do this movie over. I would cut or drastically minimize the romantic triangle. I would expand the opening scenes of the Union's withdrawal from the Gosport Naval Base, thus enhancing the premis for the story. I would also expand the role of the slaves who were used as couriers to smuggle information across enemy lines.

I recommend this movie to anyone who has interest in the American Civil War and to those who enjoy stories with a sea setting. If, however, you are looking only for an action adventure or a gripping drama, this movie will not satisfy you.

If you are looking for another Civil War era naval story that has more drama, check out the movie, "The Hunley."

I liked "Ironclads" but I didn't love it.

3 stars.

Alan Holyoak

What a terrific film this would have been if they had just stuck to historic fact and thrown the silly love triangle out. Good pre-CGI special effects make up for some of the awfulness.

I enjoyed this movie, first when I saw it on television and later when I acquired a copy for my vcr.

I enjoyed the opening scenes of the burning of Norfolk navy yard even though it was clearly done slightly on the cheap. I certainly enjoyed the interior scenes of the ironclads in action. I loved the costuming. I enjoyed the acting of Fritz Weaver who played the eccentric genius John Ericson though I really do wish his story had been better told. He didn't submit his design the Monitor. He was originally brought in by one of the contractors to examine another's design. He casually took his design for an Ironclad he had offered Napoleon III to show what he knew of Ironclad warships. Showed the plans, the model and then casually answered every question fielded about it. After which time it was taken to the board and submitted by this man without Ericson's knowledge.

What I really did not like was the patheticly done Love Triangle between Virginia Madsen and the two naval heroes. It comes across dry and stiff and a waste of time watching.

Other than that this is a good film to watch.

A comprehensive and closely accurate account of the development and implementation of the emerging techologies of the time, The American Civil War. Good cinematography, acting and story. Dramatic portrail of the emotions and will driving the men of the times w/ some idea of what it is like to endure close engagement with the firepower of large naval guns. Great History at a Great Price.

Great material but horrible video quality. It appears this was a former library copy. The seller did make a refund but not the shipping charge which was nearly as much. They did apologize, and I understand they can't vet every item going out the door. I'll keep looking for a DVD.

Completely ignoring the success of movies with a wealth of historical accuracy, such as Gettysburg, or even the Longest Day, the producers of this turkey give us poor acting (why does EVERY actress-wannabe insist on raising the pitch of her voice and using a GEORGIAN accent? Maybe use actresses who have actually LIVED in the South next time?) chopped up history, and special effects from the 1950's. Supposedly a female Southern spy uses her feminine charms to get details of new ironclad designs to her lover, who just happens to be in the Confederate Navy. Such a character DID exist, a Virginian woman was quite "popular" in the Washington Society of time and did pass on information, but nothing like this contrived silliness. The scenes concerning the shock caused by the CSS Virginia in Hampton Roads are fairly accurate, as is the final inconclusive battle between the Virginia and the Monitor-if you ignore the obvious model-kits-in-a-swimming-pool special effects. Either fast-forward the tape for the last 25 minutes or so, or better yet, watch the History and Discovery Channels for their occasional documentaries on these two revolutionary warships. This one was almost laughably painful...

Based on a true event, the producer had a good story-line to work with. The movie suffers with the addition of the love triangle and poor acting. Well done uniforms and civilian attire alone does not make it a good movie. The battle scenes are somewhat corny. Technical detail, in many instances, is poor. For instance, the Monitor could only have one canon at a time move out of the port. Several scenes showed both canons protruding - a physical impossibility. Its a shame that this historical event could not have been produced more historically correct.