Rating: 
Summary: LAUGHABLY HOKEY
Review: A claustrophobic, straightforward and mindlessly enjoyable World War II thriller about a U.S. Navy submarine crew's perilous mission to swipe a decoding device from a stranded German sub. A device that could change the outcome of the war itself.This movie, based on a series of real incidents that in actuality were carried out by the British, is given an oddly fictional American spin by writer-director Jonathan Mostow. The melodramatic, sometimes too obvious adventure is certainly at times suspenseful and borderline entertaining but never rises above a comic book level -- which is not necessarily a totally bad thing. Matthew McConaughy and Jon Bon Jovi demonstrate the one-dimensional pretty boy school of acting at it's best. A stern (surprise?) Harvey Keitel and a usually terrific Bill Paxton walk through their parts straight to the bank. Todd McCarthy's review in VARIETY said it best: "The submarine goes deep but the story never does." The DVD includes a making-of documentary, a feature commentary by director Mostow, plus additional bonus material about the Enigma code machine as well as historical footage of the British capture of a German U-505 and more.
Rating: 
Summary: Please People!
Review: Everyone please understand - this IS NOT a documentary, nor does it purport to be history. It's entertainment for gosh sakes so lighten up and just enjoy it for what it is!
Rating: 
Summary: Hollywood Fantasy
Review: U-571 was a Type VIIC submarine that was commissioned into the German Navy on May 22, 1941. U-571 did 11 combat patrols under two commanders (Helmut Mohlmann and Gustav Lussow), and sank 7 enemy ships. U-571 was lost with all hands on January 28, 1944 during an attack by Australian aircraft, after a combat career of nearly three years. Clearly the film "U-571" has nothing to do with U-571! Of course, one usually cannot expect much from a hollywood screenplay. The film could have been made about the British Navy capture of a German Navy Enigma device, using the title "U-110". Or a film could have been made about the U.S. Navy capture of a German Navy submarine and used the title "U-505". Or the film could have been about U-571!! Any of the three preceding options would probably be beyond the intellectual grasp of the average Hollywood producer. I have to wonder how the title "U-571" was chosen for a film that is not about U-571. Possibly, the script writer consulted a reader of tea leaves. Rather than this fantasy, I would recommend "Das Boot", "Run Silent, Run Deep", "The Enemy Below", or "Thunder Bay" (an Italian sub in a duel with a British destroyer commanded by James Mason).
Rating:
Summary: Misfires on both tubes
Review: Setting aside the insulting historical inaccuracies which predictably claim American responsibility for yet another act of British heroism in WWII, this film has a strong premise, a promising cast, and a writer-director with real talent - all of which only serve to make the cliched and boring results even more disappointing. This is allegedly a submarine action movie with an emotional subtext, but it misfires on both tubes. Despite the high-concept - 'US navy intercepts U-boat to steal Enigma code machine, and it all goes horribly wrong' - nothing much really happens. The commandeered U-boat is damaged and almost out of torpedoes, so the hapless American pirates spend the next hour limping around the ocean floor wondering how they're going to get out of this mess. I expected so much more from this - more action, more tension, more story. Historical accuracy was left back at the dock, so they can't blame fidelity to that. It feels like they shot the second draft of the screenplay - the one where the hero's character is only half-developed and some of the plot points still need to be worked out. It looks hurriedly cobbled together, too, with special effects that are annoyingly second-rate and some pretty static camera work. This wasn't a mega-budget movie, so maybe they spent most of the money on the cast. Yet this doesn't pay off, either, because they're wasted. They're given nothing to do. Paxton and Keitel have about 20 lines between them, and McConaughey just broods. Jon Bon Jovi disappears so early you're likely to forget he was ever in it. The ultimate problem, however, isn't the budget. You don't need a huge budget to make a decent submarine movie. You need a great story. 'The Hunt For Red October' and 'Crimson Tide' both rely on great stories more than special effects. 'U-571' has a great story IDEA, but it's under-developed. And it isn't helped by what has to be the most irritating score since 'Eyes Wide Shut.'
Rating:
Summary: it didn't sink
Review: U-571 is a great American film that is taken too seriously. Many people over look it because of the "historical errors" in it. Nobody seems to be able to look past the factuality of it. The way I viewed this film is without caring or taken too deep into thought of the historical background on the film. Everything was terrific about U-571, except for the pacing in the beginning. The first half of the movie set it all up, but it took too long at times getting to the action. Sure, the plot was important, but I just feel it dragged a bit at times. The acting was fantastic. Everyone in it did a great job. I thought McConaughey had the best performance of his career. Jonathan Mostow had a fantastic effort with the directing. And what can you say about the special effects? They were awesome. Everything looked very realistic. U-571 is a great addition to the war genre. 5 Stars
Rating:
Summary: Sunken Sub Film...?
Review: U-571 is an exciting film set in the grips of World War II. Matthew McConaughey leads a cast of young actors that display good on screen chemistry. The film takes some liberties with actual events in order to tell its story. The crew of an American U boat sub has been ordered to board a badly damaged German Nazi sub, disguised as the enemy, in order to steal a top secret decoding device. After they do that, then the crew must sink the submarine before the Germans discover what is going on, and send in reinforcements. This movie has blasted for using an American crew aboard U-571, instead of a British crew, as history records. I can see why this "revision" of history might be upsetting for some. However, I think that most folks by now, understand and know the truth, about the film. Controversy aside, the movie is highly entertaining, and very well made. I don't think it has quite the cinematic legs, as say, DAS BOAT, or HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, but as actioners go, it has what it takes. There are several key sequences in the film that are heart pounding. Directed by Jonathan Mostow, watching the film is like being on an enjoyable amusement park ride. It is thrilling and fun, and you hate to see it end. The Collector's Edition DVD has a mixed bag of extras. The making of featurettes are o.k., but are too short. Sure, the commentary track expands on the filmming of the movie but more footage would have been better. One of the featurettes on the disc gives proper credit to our British friends for actually capturing a German Sub during events that inspired the movie. I, and most other Americans take the film for what it is, and can separate fact and fiction. Enjoy. Highly recommended
Rating: 
Summary: Totally absorbing; meticulous detail w/spot-on acting
Review: The powerful cast and gripping story are perfectly balanced with a force and buoyancy that left me exuberant even while watching a film about war. Jonathon Mostow magnificently volleyed the story and the power-packed performances of his cast, never leaving either with too much or too little weight. Mostow produced an intensely believable work of fiction based on actual events surrounding British and American captures of German Enigma code machines in WW 2. This drama spreads out the story and action over many key players and there's not a clinker among the cast. Matthew McConaughey was absolutely commanding in his role, as was Bill Paxton. Each man does his job so well that all of them hold up without abrasiveness or giving a sense of something being missing on repeat viewings. There is a humble, non-Hollywood attitude about this movie and the cast that captures more of the true spirit of the times than is often seen in present-day historical movies. I saw this first on VHS but I learned much more about the events in the movie when seeing the DVD bonus material. See the DVD if you can!
Rating: 
Summary: so many heroes
Review: Looks like a B-Version of "Das Boot" mixed with old-fashioned "we-are-the-heroes-the-others-are-criminals" patriotism mixed with "one-shot-from-us-kills-10, but we are invincible and keep on fighting even after being shot". The director seems to have seen to much B-Westerns from the 50s. Nevertheless worth to be looked at if propaganda and patriotism is your favourite subject or simply if you are interested in action movies without regards to the plot.
Rating:
Summary: Why do we accept this American propaganda?
Review: Right, so this film isn't actually based on the real life event, so therefore we British shouldn't feel offended by the disgraceful revisionist ideas of this film?
This doesn't stop you Yankees waving your stars and stripes every time an American hero (no matter if they're fictional or not) kills a nasty Russian, Vietnamese or German does it?
This film may be made up, but a very similar event did take place, so you can understand why we British feel offended at whats being implied.
If you can't tell I really did not like this film.
Rating:
Summary: Not Bad: Except it is a slam to British people
Review: The movie was exceptionaly good. I still watch is alot. Though Hollywood as made a simple almost misktake into and American Covert Special Ops Mission. The Royal Navy got the Enigma from a U-Boat in mid '42 I think. Though the Americans did get an Enigma from the U-505 not to mention towing the entire boat back to America. I also have a problem understanding how they could hit a submerged U-Boat. I don't know how easy it would be but they make it out to look like;"FIRE"-BOOM-"SURFACE". I still like the movie just because of how entertaining it is and most of the Naval Warfare accuracies.
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