Britannic (2000)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The ship Britannic was made by the same building firm as the Titanic. After the T's sinking, improvements were made and better evacuation plans formulated. But, now its WW I time and the B has just been given a new task. It will be a medical ship and is ordered to the Greek islands to aid the soldiers in Gallipoli. Yet, British Naval commanders are still ill at ease. They suspect that a German spy may make his or her way on board and sabotage the vessel. For this reason, Brit Intelligence places its own operative, Vera (Amanda Hays) on board. This is odd because few women are given such a big job at this time but male agents are scarce. Vera is also an odd choice because she was on the Titanic, where she escaped death but her husband did NOT. Nevertheless, she agrees to pose as a nanny to Lady Lewis (Jacqueline Bisset) and keep en eye out. The captain makes it clear he resents having to follow a woman's demands. Very soon, he changes his mind, as Vera foils attempts to damage the ship and/ore fight mutiny by the Irish coal stokers, urged on by the unknown spy. Who is it? Meanwhile, Vera takes a shine to the ship's chaplain, Mr. Reynolds (Edward Atterton). He seems kind and returns her affection. But, gasp, could it be that he may be the actual spy? Once in the Aegean, peril is near as the ship is indeed torpedoed. How will it all end? This very intriguing movie, based on a little known ship or event, is entertaining to view. The two lovebird actors, Hays and Atterton, are very attractive and talented while Bisset and the rest of the supporting cast, do nice work, too. In addition, the period costumes, sets (mostly on board), and manners are likewise wonderful to behold. Add on a competent script and direction and most viewers will indeed be happy with the results. If you are drawn to romantic, historical dramas, you will be fascinated with Britannic.

Here's some facts. Improved safety features included raising 5 bulkheads from E to B deck (it could stay afloat with 6 compartments flooded, dia instead of the Titanic's 4), making it 904 ft. long, 94 ft. wide, compared to 883 ft. and 93 ft. of Titanic, and weighed (est.) 48,000 tons, the Titanic 46,000 tons, so Britannic was the longest, widest, heaviest, and largest of the 3 "Olympic" class ships (Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic). Because of WW1, it never hauled a revenue passenger, it was used as a hospital ship. It's sinking was similar to the Impress Of Ireland in one crucial fact: many port holes were left open. Had the port holes been closed, it probably wouldn't have sank. Some say a torpedo sank it (there was a U-Boat in the area), but it was more likely a mine (the U-Boat had laying mines in that path). Here's a mistake in the movie: the explosion was from a bottle of ether in a coal bunker.

I believe this movie was made for TV, and I think that I have seen better special effects in an older video game. But I don't think that those things make this a bad movie, the plot is interesting and the movie never gets boring. If you are looking for a historically accurate story of the Britannic, then you might not like this movie. It is true that the Britannic was the sister ship of the famous Titanic, that it was suppose to be even safer and grander, and then the ship was commissioned by the British government as a hospital ship during World War One. But the story about spies on board, and that they were the ones that made the ship sink is not true. The ship was really sunk by a mine, or torpedo and I really doubt that there were any spies. The movie is not rated; I don't remember any swear words, or crude language. There is some violence, but it is not bad. But I was disappointed that the movie does have a nude/sex scene, in which Amanda Ryan shows off her stuff. This scene really disappointed me because the movie had been so clean and family friendly until that point. But I really do think that this movie was interesting, and if cheesy special effects, and nudity (You can always hit the skip button) do not bug you I would suggest watching this movie.

I wouldn't say this movie was tacked together to take advantage of the Cameron Titanic's fame and box office success. Honest! First off it's made for t.v. and contrary to how the film tells the story of Britannic, there are some pretty good CGI effects. So being on t.v. there is no box office to appeal to. I just wish the Fox Family channel who produced this would have pertained more to what really happened on Britannic. Perhaps that's what documentaries are for as in the Discovery Channel's excellent docu on the Britannic's story and filming of her wreck. But if you go into this movie with prior knowledge of the real Britannic, you can enjoy this movie for what it is. Like I said there are CGi effects in this that could rival the Cameron Titanic. The story concerns a female undercover agent recruited by the British in 1916 to fish out a German Spy on the ship. I won't say what happens except that she gets him in more ways than one. The film makers spend much time recreating and touring different sections of the Britannic as they tell their story. What the ship looked like in the engine room or on the bridge or the lifeboat area etc. So those are pluses in the movie. John Rhys-Davies as the Captain is improbable here(he doesn't look anything like the Britannic's real Captain Bartlett). But I like Rhys-Davies as he is very portly and looks 'Captainly' ... is that a word. Don't take this story about the Britannic 'too' seriously. It's not what happened except that the ship sinks. But enjoy it for the 2 hours it gives you. Better yet go to the web or to a library to find much more bonafide info on this somewhat forgotten tragedy.