Customer Reviews

Das Boot (Director's Cut)

5 star:		(171)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This film is amazing.

I served in the US Navy's submarine force, and Petersen's movie is the closest you can get to being in a sub without actually signing enlistment papers. This is one of the few war movies that is not relentlessly propagandistic. Petersen presents a story of humans--not stereotypes, not jingoistic misrepresentations of sailors. By the end of the film, you'll probably find yourself cheering for the Kriegsmarine crew, or at least hoping that they get home safely. As an American, raised after World War Two, I grew up with nothing but negative images and stereotypes of WWII Germany and Germans. Petersen and his cast do an amazing job of breaking through those representations and portraying a story of young, proud men who defy the odds and the elements and do what they perceive of as their duty, even though they find no glory--just despair.

I would recommend that you read Herbert Werner's memoir Iron Coffins in addition to watching this movie, especially if you are unfamiliar with the Battle of the Atlantic. Also, after the end of the movie, you should go outside, stand in the sunshine, and be glad that you are.

This is most definetly the best war movie I have ever seen. I have never seen anyone that has not taken interest in war after watching this movie. I have seen this movie many times and each time I learn something new. It is interesting to see how the other side was during WWII. I recommend this movie for anyone that has time to watch it.

Is this the greatest war (or rather, anti-war) movie yet? I certainly think so. Before I saw Das Boot, my favourite movie with a war theme was actually Judgment At Nuremberg. But great as that movie was, it fell to second place even when the first time I saw Das Boot, it was a very badly annotated version.

Here we have the director's cut and the full suspense, horror and tragedy of Wolfgang Petersen's masterpiece has captivated me once again. The suffocating atmosphere of a WWII German U-boat is so real, you almost have to open a window in your home just to get through watching it. One can only imagine the stench in that tiny space crammed with dozens of men eating, drinking (and of course, defecating) whilst pouring with the sweat of effort and sheer terror.

You finish up wondering how it is that men can put themselves through such a ghastly experience in such a terrible environment. And then you realize that throughout the history of warfare it has always been so. From the hopelessness of the Spartans holding off the Persians at Thermopylae to the grisly trenches and massive casualties of WWI, the maxim that old men of dubious morals have always been able to convince young men of the glory and excitement of participating in war and of the moral right of doing so.

Only when they experience the reality of actual combat do these young men realize how truly human (even child-like) they really are and the horror of what they've gotten themselves into. And when you see the talents that many of them have, from the mechanics, electricians and other specialists that keep the boat running while at sea, to the human-management capabilities of the senior officers, you realize what a truly wasteful endeavour the practice of war is.

For those of us who have been fortunate enough never to have had to go to war, this film will reinforce our gratitude.

tres bon film a voir et a revoir,la qualité en blue ray est excellente et en plus il est en français.

The only way it would be better if it was the entire mini-series in Blu-ray. Best submarine movie every made - bar none.

The realism here is among the best you will ever see in any film. The characters, the sets, the script, the action...nothing seems contrived. It is like you were there. This film set the bar for subsequent "action" films, in terms of getting the details right, but few if any of its imitators have measured up to the story and the acting here.

The U-boat crew become so familiar, so human and fallible to us that one cannot help sympathizing, and hoping they survive. The author of the book of the same name, on which it is based (Lothar-Gunther Buchheim), was unhappy with this film as he felt it did not adequately portray the anti-war sentiment of his book. But by no means is this film pro-war, it really highlights the futility, and the senseless waste of life.

Watch it in German language with subtitles! Watching it in dubbed English seemed completely unrealistic, plus there is so much noise and confusion in many scenes that you can't hear what is being said. With the subtitles you miss nothing.

How much did I like it?...I have the DVD Director's cut, plus the Superbit edition, have ordered the new Blue-Ray release, and bought copies of the DVD for both my adult kids. They need to see what war was like: ugly, gritty, tragic, senseless. Plus they will see some of the best acting in moviedom.

I cannot speak from experience as my closest experience with the navy was taking the ferry to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. Nevertheless, this has to be one of the most realistic and finest war movies of all time. Honestly, when you watch this movie, you feel like looking up at the ceiling to see if a depth charge will fall on your house. No wonder this movie helped launch Wolfgang Petersen's directing career in the US, as well as that of its star, Jurgen Prochnow.

Probably the best war film/mini series/TV programme I have ever seen. It makes feel like your really there and you feel the ups and downs of the crew with them. By the end I was on the side of the U boat and felt bad when anything happened to it.
Anyway the story line is brilliant and gets you in to it and it is well acted. Its a must have

Das Boot is THE Best Submarine movie ever made !!!!! Even if you dont understand German,It keeps you in suspense..Of course Theres English !!

This film has stood the test of time and Das Boot is a fine example of what kind of movies were put out in the 80's.This the Superbit review and it has it all,great picture and a fantastic 5.1 DTS surround that made me appreciate this film even more.At times i felt i was right there in the submarine the sound was that good.I have the regular Directors Cut which is good cause it is the only edition that has a commentary.The 6 hour original Das Boot is fine in all respects and is a great edition but does not have commentary.All in all the Superbit edition is by all means totally awesome and the best of the editions except off course there are no special features on the Superbit as it is not a deluxe edition.Love that Superbit Line though,thanks Sony !!!!