Rating: 
Summary: Best Sub movie since Run Silent Run Deep
Review: If you liked Run Silent-Run Deep, and liked The Hunt for Red October - this movie is for you. The special effects and filming are first rate and the story line follows those of the classics and are more true to history. If you want to "experience" what it was like to be on a U-boat - this is the movie of choice. Much better than U-571. While a long movie, you never fall asleep. My favorite sub movie.
Rating:
Summary: This movie entertains - and makes you think.
Review: I (as a German) always wondered what I would have been like if I was born 50-60 years earlier. "Das Boot" showed me: Perhaps I would have been one of these young soldiers. When they enter their submarine, they just want to get to the battle, as they belive in Hitler and his promises. For them, the Allies are the "bad guys". But as the battle starts, they begin to learn that there's no glory and honor, but just pain and suffering on both sides."Das Boot" does not try to find an excusion for the crimes that where caused by the Nazis during WWII - it only shows the true face of war. And it shows real, normal and "small" people being in the war and trying to survive. But the movie is still entertaining - you won't see too much blood in it, you won't become sick because of a detailed view of exploding bodies. Because of this, you are able to keep on watching, and it's important to watch until the end. It is thrilling, yet realistic. You really feel like being inside. Not much to say about the weak points. The Special Effects are relatively poor sometimes, but that's not too important. BTW: If You like the film because of its message, try to get the second-best German anti-war movie called "Die Brücke". I saw it as a teenager and never even wanted to TOUCH a gun afterwards. And please excuse my terrible English... ;-)
Rating:
Summary: A NEW CLASSIC
Review: Originally screened in six 45 minute episodes, this film charts the story of a typical German U-Boat crew during WWII. But even trimmed to video length, this is one of the best WWII films ever made - The cast, script, soundtrack, and sets are all outstanding, but the triumph of this picture is that regardless of nationality or allegiances, the narrative direction is impartial in it's delivery - depicting the horror and futility of war. Through victory, loss, pain and laughter you become drawn in to the characters of each one of the U-Boats crew, and the movie is uplifting as well as emotionally engaging. Without the graphic splendour of many later underwater films, this movie is an intense human drama that few who have watched, have failed to remember. Although also available in English language format, it is best when viewed in its original German language so DVD is the best choice here, giving lots of options, and extra information.
Rating: 
Summary: A very human portrayal of young men and war
Review: I just had the priviledge of seeing this for the first time a couple of days ago. The version I saw had English subtitiles. I wouldnt want this movie any other way. It added to the realism of this fine film by Wolfgang Peterson. To me this movie was so real, it is hard to imagine the actors not being underwater, during actual combat. What I liked most about this film, was it finally showed war from the perspective of our "enemy" and what it does to them also. Im not condoning or downplaying the horrific tragedies brought forth by the Nazi's by any means. But the sailor's potrayed in this film were just young boys turned into men virtually overnight. Fear and apathy knows no geographical borders or political ideology, and this movie shows us that. Most of us see the Germans of WW II as ruthless adversaries. They werent; they were just doing their jobs and paying a hight price for doing so. I think this film teaches us that the costs of war is high on both sides. German mothers cried over the deaths of their baby boys too, not just we Americans, and the warriors themselves grieved over lost loved ones due to the war on the homefront. We're all human, no matter what side we're on. The sound effects are astounding for a film made in 1982. Of course they were revamped for the updated director's cut. The camera angles are amazing and give you a tight, claustrophobic feeling. The actors are all very believable, especially Jurgen Prochnow, as the young (but yet extremely aged) sub captain. Pick up this video today by all means. It is one that will keep you thinking long after you turn off your VCR. This movie certainly set a few standards by which all Submarine films should uphold.
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Summary: Finally a format which this movie deserves
Review: This is by far one of the best movies ever made. One item which makes this such a special way to watch this movie is the language and subtitles. Unlike the old VHS ways of finding a store whith the version you want it's all here. Myself I can not stand dubbed movies, too much is lost in the translation of emotions. I have watched this movie in all but Spanish in various formats and this has them all in one nice package. The only downside to this movie is the "making of", I was hoping to see allot more of how they did the special effects and the models used. Hopefully with enough excitment over this release the German 6 part tv series will be on DVD one day.
Rating:
Summary: 10 times better than U-571
Review: After seeing both Das Boot and U-571, Das Boot is the better movie by a factor of 10. The action and drama sequences are incredibly compelling, particularly the depth-charge attacks and the torpedo attacks. From a historical perspective, the movie coneys the incredible early success of the Unterseabootwaffe, it's incredible risk, and it's ultimate collapse. In doing so, Das Boot is a microcosm of the entire war. Comapered to U-571...no comparison. This is by far the better movie.
Rating:
Summary: this is a great film!
Review: Although i haven't seen this on a proper video (only recorded off the TV), this has got to be one of the best films of all time. I am going to buy this directors cut for my father, as i'm sure he will enjoy it enormously. It has everything: suspense, humour, drama... I can't wait to watch it again (i've counted 4 times now). Anybody who is interested in the way the german sailors thought (none of that nasty german rubbish here: they had feelings too!) should watch this film.
Rating:
Summary: DESTINED TO BECOME A CLASSIC
Review: Some here have said this is an "anti-war" movie. That may be optimistic. Maybe it is a movie about the misery of being a submariner on a suicide mission near the end of a war they know has been lost. But I think director Wolfgang Petersen tried and succeeded in presenting an honest portrayal of the once proud German "wolf pack" U-boat hunters of the sea who would sink anything afloat for the Fatherland. Exhausted and demoralized men, the film opens with their drunken cabaret party in occupied France just before they ship out on yet another mission. The tough, thoughtful captain played by Jürgen Prochnow is becoming contemplative. He loves his men, and he seems certain each mission will be their last. Yet he is the strictly by the book warrior who will follow his orders to the end. What carries the film is the conflict between military commeraderie and purpose, combined with certain failure and danger, and imminent death under the sea. Yes there is an undercurrent throughout DAS BOOT of repressed contempt by the U-boat captain for the Nazis, their discredited ideology and even Hitler and his henchmen. But one cannot help wondering whether this is part of loyalty to the truth of the actual U-boat officers' attutudes to the politicians in Berlin in 1945 ... or a contemporary impulse to be politically correct in Germany of the late 20th Century. The combination of superb acting and unbelievably skillful camera work aboard an actual submarine made this among the 20th Century's most outstanding war films from any country. Also it froze in time a group of mostly young and bewildered submariners who had to function highly efficiently while at the same time, nearly constantly paralyzed by fear. There is some glory and very much sadness and tragedy in DAS BOOT. Mainly, the film exhibits the terrifying absurdity of life on a German U-boat at the end of the Third Reich, lived by gallant but doomed young men ... and that of their leaders who while not much older than their subordinates have been made ancient by their ordeals in warfare. This film is intense and continually absorbing. No one can be indifferent while viewing DAS BOOT. A real spellbinder.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Movies of All Time, on a Stunning DVD
Review: Das Boot is one of the few movies that does everything right. It is a riveting, true story of a Nazi U-boat tour during the 2nd half of World War 2. The Allied Navy at that time was numerically and technically superior, and U-boats had to play some incredible cat & mouse games just to survive. In it's last half, Das Boot turns into a disaster movie as the U-boat sinks to impossible depths, and the crew races to fix the ship before their air runs out. Although 3 and 1/2 hours long, Das Boot is never boring, and simply takes its time and gives life to every character onboard. The acting is suberb - these are young sailors, naive about war, who question the Nazi regime and fight hard just to stay alive. They truly witness the horrors of war, and Das Boot has many great scenes that you will never forget. The picture has been cleaned up for this DVD, and is bright and clear throughout. The movie is presented in 2 parts, one on either side of the disc. That's right, you have to flip this DVD over to finish the film, but because of the length amd power of Das Boot, this is a good thing - you will need the emotional break! Das Boot will always be best DVD to show off your surround sound system. As a great submarine movie, the film relies on sound to portray much of the action and tension. From all directions, metal creaks and snaps, bolts burst, and water drips. The sound effects for the entire film were completely redone to take advantage of Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS. This movie was originally shot in German, but the overdubbing is the best ever done. Many of the actors performed their own dialog in english, and thus carry the same weight and resonance as their german performances. Still, the german is powerful and fitting for a Nazi U-boat film, and generally easy to understand without needing to turn the subtitles on. The best extra on this DVD is the full length commentary by director Wolfgang Petersen and leading man Jürgen Prochnow, both whom feel this film was the greatest work of their lives. Not only do they discuss the unique special effects used for this film (the entire u-boat interior set was placed on hydrallics to simulate explosions) but they also discuss the difficulties of making a realistic WW2 movie 20 years ago. Germans at that time had tremendous guilt about themselves and the war, and felt that any Nazi soldiers had to be protrayed as inhuman, evil killers, when in fact they were often normal men caught up in a huge conflict. Wolfgang also describes the first american viewing, during which he sat terrified of the reaction he might receive from such a sympathetic opinion of the Nazis. As the film ended and the lights raised, the audience gave him a huge, standing ovation. He deserved it - Das Boot is a wonderful, wonderful movie.
Rating:
Summary: Superb!!
Review: This is the definitive submarine movie by which all others should be judged. But more than that it's a movie about men going about the nasty business of war as they face the threat of imminent death. The only negative (if you can call it that) is some of the special effects are a notch short of top quality however this is nowhere near enough to detract from the superb theme of this truly great film. In the DVD version I recommend at least one viewing with the original German audio turned on and using the English subtitles. This directors cut is very well done and in spite of being over 3 hours long it keeps your interest. I highly recommend this movie and for an even greater understanding you might want to read the book too. I read it first and it made my anticipation of the movie that much greater and I was not dissapointed.
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