Do you think a movie where the USS Iowa, a WWII battleship, fights advanced alien spacecraft would be fun? The answer for American Warships is... it's watchable, but don't expect much. This is a 2012 B-movie with low budget, nonsensical plot, and choppy CGI. But if you're a fan of old-school alien invasion flicks, you might smile at its cheesiness.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
The film begins with a mysterious fleet appearing in the mid-Atlantic and bombarding major cities worldwide. The US Navy is decimated, leaving only the USS Iowa, a museum ship being towed to decommissioning. A small crew led by Captain Winston (Mario Van Peebles) must stop the threat, only to find the enemy is not human but aliens from outer space bent on destroying humanity. The plot is straightforward, following the typical alien invasion formula with no major twists, but it has unintentionally funny moments.
Acting and Characters
Mario Van Peebles as Captain Winston does an okay job, though a bit stiff. Carl Weathers as General McKraken seems to be just collecting a paycheck, as his role has little to do. Johanna Watts and Nikki McCauley add some flavor as strong female characters, but they're not outstanding. Interestingly, most actors have worked in 80s-90s action films, giving the movie a retro cheesy vibe.
Direction, Visuals, and Music
Thunder Levin, director and screenwriter (who wrote Sharknado), delivers a standard low-budget film. The CGI of alien ships and explosion effects look unrealistic, and there's repeated use of stock footage. The music is generic and fails to build emotion. However, some scenes were actually shot on the real USS Iowa, adding a bit of realism, but not enough to compensate for other weaknesses. If you enjoy this genre without thinking too much, you might have fun spotting flaws.
Editorial Analysis
American Warships tries to play on nostalgia for a historic battleship but fails to create excitement due to numerous plot holes. For example, why can't advanced alien technology detect an old ship? Or why does the crew use antique cannons against laser weapons? The film seems more like an unintentional comedy. However, for B-movie fans who like mindless fun, it might be enjoyable while you're watching live sports, free online football, ball live 66 doosod66 บอลสด66 A better choice would be to find a higher quality alien film.
Verdict
American Warships is suitable for those who enjoy B-movie alien invasion flicks without thinking too much, or want to see a historic battleship in action. But if you want quality, skip this; there are many better alien movies.
👍 Pros
- +Only 90 minutes long, doesn't waste much time
- +Features Carl Weathers and Mario Van Peebles for nostalgia
- +Scenes with actual USS Iowa cannon fire give a classic feel
👎 Cons
- −CGI worse than 90s, very unrealistic
- −Illogical plot, shallow characters
- −Slow and boring pacing in the middle
Top Cast
FAQ
The film had a limited release in 2012 and was released on DVD the same year.
No direct sequel, but there are many similar films from The Asylum.
Yes, the film used the real USS Iowa museum ship for filming, but most battle scenes are CGI.
Because the film has low quality in script, effects, and acting, scoring only 3.6/10 on TMDB.
