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Ironclads (1991)

Rate: 5
Viewed: 3/13

3/13: The first ever battle between ironclads occurred during the Civil War.

It was the Monitor versus the Merrimack. Technically, the Merrimack was renamed as the Virginia after the steam frigate was raised, restored, and outfitted as an ironclad. The names were used interchangeably anyway. Neither survived long afterwards, and the term "ironclad" went out of favor about three decades later. What came after them are battleships, dreadnoughts, cruisers, and the like.

I give Ironclads high marks for portraying the ironclads as how they looked during that time. There's nothing fancy about it, and there's nothing fast in the action of the men involved. That's what I appreciate. On the other hand, the subplot involving Virginia Madsen's character takes a lot away from the film. In fact, the whole thing is unconvincing. Instead, the filmmakers should've showed the development of the two ironclads.

All in all, Ironclads is a good slice of U.S. history, but get rid of the stupid love story.

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