Few movies are as nerve-shattering as Das Boot and, for once, I can recommend the Director's Cut of a movie. Unlike such foolhardy examples as Terminator 2, the special edition of this movie adds to its overall value. I strongly recommend a minimum of one viewing of it.
Sound in Das Boot is a strong factor, the Academy was totally stupid to ignore the level of detail here for E.T. In submarines, sound is the basis of life and death, no other movie has captured the essence of being stuck in a tin can 500 feet beneath the surface of the ocean.
Realism is the second strong point of Das Boot, from the boredom of the hunt (thrill is the exact opposite word to use) to the terror of being hunted. I found the way the camera is thrust through the bulkheads and hatches, following the crew, to be a strong saving grace in the cinematography department. Kudos.
The crew is presented not in a stereotypical fashion, but as sailors without patriotism and not in the mood for dying or heroism. There is no glory in war, everything is futile...that's the message of Das Boot.
Overall, a superior war movie to others. Too bad Wolfgang Petersen has fallen into a "money pit" with such garbage as In the Line of Fire and Air Force One. See this instead of U-571. 4 out of 5 stars.
Sound in Das Boot is a strong factor, the Academy was totally stupid to ignore the level of detail here for E.T. In submarines, sound is the basis of life and death, no other movie has captured the essence of being stuck in a tin can 500 feet beneath the surface of the ocean.
Realism is the second strong point of Das Boot, from the boredom of the hunt (thrill is the exact opposite word to use) to the terror of being hunted. I found the way the camera is thrust through the bulkheads and hatches, following the crew, to be a strong saving grace in the cinematography department. Kudos.
The crew is presented not in a stereotypical fashion, but as sailors without patriotism and not in the mood for dying or heroism. There is no glory in war, everything is futile...that's the message of Das Boot.
Overall, a superior war movie to others. Too bad Wolfgang Petersen has fallen into a "money pit" with such garbage as In the Line of Fire and Air Force One. See this instead of U-571. 4 out of 5 stars.