Lessons in time: Historical epics that get history (mostly) right
There's no such thing as a perfectly historically accurate movie. But these try to get more right than wrong.
Eight historical epics have managed to stay relatively true to history. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, set during the Napoleonic Wars, features a highly accurate depiction of the British Royal Navy. The setting, costumes, ship replica, and even the casting are spot-on, offering a fascinating glimpse into the cramped floating world of naval crews.
Titanic, despite its fictional love story, gets the ship’s sinking details right, thanks to James Cameron’s keen interest in the event. Apollo 13, while mostly set in a single location, accurately portrays the tension-filled mission through NASA blueprints and consulting astronaut Jim Lovell. 12 Years A Slave, based on Solomon Northup’s memoir, is brutally honest and visceral, depicting the physical, sexual, and psychological violence of slavery.
Lastly, Tora! Tora! Tora!, widely considered one of the most accurate war movies, balances and even-handedly portrays the complex events of that critical day.
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