marianoe-11449 Reviews

Secret History: Jutland - WW1's Greatest Sea Battle (2016) Season 16, Episode 3

Jutland was WW1's Greatest Sea Battle but "we didn't do a good job"

[9/10 · 12 March 2017]

First I really hate the use of WW2's updated HMS Barham CGI model to represent absolutely all the battleships (even the German battlecruisers!) at tactical level along the whole program, repeatedly stealing the center of the scene. Even more disgusting is that same ship appears at Opening Titles. It seems that someone was producing another documentary (about the sinking of HMS Barham, I suppose) and also did think: "HMS Barham was in Jutland… who cares about technical, pictorial or historic accuracy?" But honestly we know that isn't the only program with that kind of errors.

Many other accuracy ship's CGI animations are showing: HMS Indefatigable, HMS Black Prince, HMS Queen Mary but they sadly switch to WW2 updated HMS Barham when translated to tactical quad map. "Jutland WW1's Greatest Sea Battle" made me remembers that TV shows are entertainment and in order to keep us well documented we need to read books.

This documentary sails on wake of Jutland's Centennial but improves technical resources using surprising "Multibeam" Survey (April 2015); but I feel a little disappointed because the famous historian-diver don't dive, it may be that he explains why in his Naval Archaeology's book. There are also information about conditions of wrecks and even one interesting explanation about HMS Indefatigable case. If you want to know more… get the book.

Another original approach is based at Jellicoe's grandson claim for ancestral redemption, based in a map "fortuity founded between wall papers". The situation moves me to investigate and this man also wrote a book about Jutland's Battle. But he hasn't the last word because Dr. Grove comes to rescue the objectivity sentencing: "We didn't do a good job".

The Battle of Hood and Bismarck (2001 TV Movie)

Well balanced of entertainment, history, drama and technical facts

[9/10 · 13 February 2017]

This documentary in two parts (part one "Mighty Hood" & part two "Sink The Bismarck") combines well both past history narration and reconstructions with sixty years later undersea videos from 2,000 meters below the surface captured by remote control vehicles which bring us much more than only the views of wreckages; British and German veterans add they own combat experiences to that of naval experts; specially emotive is the participation of Ted Briggs (one of three survivors of HMS Hood's demise) and former Bismarck crewmen. No doubt the British point of view rules the documentary but it includes also some technical aspects and human suffering from German side. Contrary to the fictionalized "Sink The Bismarck" movie from 1960, Admiral Lütjens is described by his son as a traditional non Nazi naval officer. So the program makes good balanced conjunction of entertainment, history, drama and technical facts. I really appreciate the CGI images because HMS Hood and Bismarck are each one represented by her own silhouette. Also it's very interesting when a former FAA pilot explains that Swordfish torpedo airplanes were forced to retire from final act of retaliation against the Bismarck.

Battle of Jutland: The Navy's Bloodiest Day (2016 TV Movie)

It seems to be something wrong when thousands young sailors die in exploding ships

[9/10 · 8 February 2017]

Produced to commemorate the Century of Battle of Jutland, this program shows more or less same things we have watched several times in TV. The great new value is that human aspect of the battle improves to include not only casualties but also relatives and it breaks national boundaries displaying shocking long term effects on German civil population. It's the new strategic point of view that outclasses tactic accounts going beyond the battlefield, beyond the Northern Sea, beyond 1916 to the whole World and to the future; so today young generations learn how to appreciate his Heritage, seeing a parallel between then and now; military and civilian people read fragments of first hand Jutland History; with same intention Royal Navy locates some sites of undersea graveyards. New goals include an explanation about use of WWI optical telemeters, takes of gorgeous models of battlecruisers at Maritime Museum, actual battlecruiser plans, first time no CGI wrong ship's silhouettes, some views of Admiralty rooms, and again: the Human Dimension. Propellant ignition tests are very demonstratives but I don't like the "surprise" that Dr. Engineer exhibits seeing combustion of confined cordite; a scientist must know how powder, cordite and similar substances burning on function of circumstances (that's precisely the reason why they are used as propellants). The wood model sinking simulator remains below the level of credibility of any episode of "Mythbusters". Curiously according to new Grand Strategy approach, First Sea Lord changes previous opinion about Admiral Jellicoe. So the Blame Game aims today to some procedures at various levels of command.

BattleField Detectives: World War I: Jutland (2006) Season 3, Episode 5

Very interesting; very complete

[9/10 · 7 February 2017]

Honestly I didn't like much this episode first time I saw it; but on base of comparing with all others programs about the Battle of Jutland: it's excellent. The information is condensed but enough to let the spectator following all the stages of deduction process. Without losing time this episode details both tactical and technical reasons for the amazing casualties of British Fleet: battlecruiser concept and design, importance of signals and visibility, necessity of knowing ranges for aiming the guns and spotting splashes to correct shots, shows procedures for ship's damage control, explains the nature of cordite explosion and propagation of flash; obviously there are questions about decisions of Vice Admiral Beatty including attack without support and the order to firing quickly trying to compensate less accuracy. Like many other programs it shows the only existing WWI Superdreadnought; unlike other programs we can see how it had worked all safety systems, interlocks, doors and hatches between magazines, barbettes and turrets. Finally it brings two different explanations according to individual opinions of USA and UK Specialists; there's not one only conclusion: the results of analysis may change for each individual person. Two critics: I hate the use of small cruiser's GCI views representing battlecruisers; also the idea of magnifying a cordite magazine explosion comparing it with that nuclear others only shows less knowing about A-bomb (and H-bomb, of course).

The Great Ships (1996– )

Partial but good documentary about some kinds of ships

[8/10 · 5 February 2017]

I like this documentary series; it's very interesting because both the variety of ships selected and the level of details; but except when the topic predating U.S. Revolution that may generalize the spirit of show by renaming it "U.S. Great Ships (and some British participation)". For example in episode "The Destroyers" did mention neither one single foreign destroyer name nor any battle between German or British ships at WWII and post war sequences refer exclusively to U.S. Destroyer ignoring totally that ships damaged or sunk in other conflicts. "The Aircraft Carriers" just counting Japanese vessels at two battles but no one single of those ships is named and ignores totally the carriers of UK following H.M.S. Argus (the first one). Ghostly ROW's participation marries with a very subjective valuation of certain events. No doubt the Narrator's work outclasses the narration itself. Probably the better point is the accuracy of computer design graphics especially comparing with dozens of others later naval topic series which almost always make use of wrong representations for illustrating each particular ship. "The Great Ships" by contrast is very realistic utilizing the H.M.S. Dreadnought lay out for the H.M.S. Dreadnought, Iowa class 2 view for Iowa class, Arleigh Burke class side view for Arleigh Burke class, etc. I think that is an important goal for general public and also for naval enthusiasts and it enhances twenty years later.

The Battleships (2000)

Best documentary about Battleships

[9/10 · 22 January 2017]

The program describes the ships and also tries to watch all those battleships conserved as museums; I like the selection of real takes, silent old movies and new films; the great variety of consultants includes the most recognized specialists in naval history, retired commanders, retired constructors, and includes people from different countries. Narrating the history of battleships in more than three hours lets extend the political context information from latest 1800's to Word War One which brings the chance of learn about the reasons of some actions and developments. The correspondence between images and narrative situations is very accurate. No doubt it could be better if including details about all the battleships or at least references to others Japan WWII's battleships than Yamato and Musashi. I still think it's the best documentary about Battleships.