Das Boot (Director's Cut) [DVD] [1998]

Forget the politics, and see the bravery of the men as portrayed in the film. I'm reliably informed that this is an accurate account of the real thing.

Really unputdownable fantastic way to spend an evening.

Every 5 years or so Hollywood goes a bit crazy about a foreign language film and often showers it in awards whether it's deserved or not. Films like Downfall and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and many others have then often captured the public's attention and become big hits and successful at the box office. Well in the case of the two films just mentioned all the fuss was more than justified, in the case of Das Boot The directors Cut it's just the same and, perhaps more so.Wolfgang Peterson, who went on to have a extremely successful Hollywood career, wrote and directed this quite stunning movie about the terrors of undersea warfare during WW2. The chances of surviving the war was about 1 in 4 and this supremely tense, graphic and utterly believable tale shows you with unflinchingly clarity why that was. Firstly the British and American naval forces had learnt how to deal with the U-Boat threat and were becoming more successful with each month. Secondly, younger and younger crews with less reliable boats were pushed into service to cover increasing losses and thirdly, Hitler was becoming more demanding of what a U-Boat could actually do. Remember they had limited fuel, limited torpedoes and limited opportunity to actually find targets in the vast Atlantic ocean. Often patrolling in atrocious weather conditions with viability down to virtually zero just locating a target, any target, was often down to out-and-out luck. The U-Boats mission to disrupt allied shipping sufficiently to starve Britain out of the war of course eventually failed, but it was not through lack of the courage of the crews.Starting with some short establishing scenes in the days prior to leaving port in France, we are introduced to the crew and then we follow U-96 out to sea looking for prey. The early on board claustrophobic, gritty, damp and always busy scenes on the boat are set up extremely well and the fine often hand held camera shots following characters along the dark narrow corridors are very effective. The feeling of being there is set up early and never leaves, you ARE there with them. The feeling of enclosure is always there, the sounds, the smells, the sweat on the crew is almost palpable and a real achievement by the director and camera crew. The battle scenes, the chases, and the fleeing from destroyers dropping depth charges are almost too real. The tension built up during these underwater scenes achieved by fantastic model shots, really effective sound design and music, outstanding performances from the cast and confident direction really sell the desperate situation.As is the case with many great films, less is often more, and the simplicity and economy of some shots/scenes actually helps to sell the feeling of terror felt by the crew. Characters concentrating intently on the depth gauge as they attempt to evade being located by the enemy by going lower and lower, well beyond the boats rating, are done simply. These scenes could have been all Gung Ho with lots of special effects, but staying on desperate and terrified faces, covered in sweat and oil, really brings home the true terror of being so far below water. The immense pressure on the thin hull expressed by those terrified faces works wonderfully and humanising the war and of course helps us get to know the crew a little better and in doing so care about them. Jurgen Prochnow's, as the captain, gives a performance of such subtle power that you really feel for him as he tries to keep his crew and his boat safe.However there are two “however's” for me at least. There are quite a few editing errors (nothing major) that I suspect are there because of the difficulties involved in restoring a film and (more importantly) the last ten minutes or so feels like a different film, the simplicity and believability of the story goes a bit astray, the tone changes quite suddenly from gritty realism to Hollywood “end the film with a big bang” with a large dose of shmaltz thrown in for good measure. I'm not saying it's particularly badly done but it did feel “tacked on” and a little Hollywoodized. Considering this is the “Directors cut” I can only assume he wanted this ending and was happy with it. However I feel it was a mistake and we should have ended our film as it was presented to us, gritty and real.At three hours and nineteen minutes this is without doubt a very long film, however the running time it flies by. I never felt I was watching filler or scenes that didn't need to be there. Nominated for six Oscars it didn't win any, surely once again indicating how useless the Oscars are at actually awarding awards based on actual merit. It was very unlucky to be going up against Gandhi. Making a fortune at the box office it was clear the public recognised a film of real quality.The disk contains both German and English dubbed versions both with subtitles. Watching the German version with subtitles is by far the best, the English dub is distracting. Petersen provides a surprisingly enjoyable and amusing commentary track full of interesting tid-bits for the film buffs out there. There is a featurette but on my disk it does not play, however I'm sure it's on You-Tube somewhere. Considering this is a 38 year old film and this version is over twenty years old, the DVD quality is very good. The darks are dark without pixelating, grain is minimal and the sound quality is excellent, especially in the battle stations scenes.Excellent and quite an experience.

Incredible, I can't believe many of the scenes in this German classic. Fabulous, the hardship of making the movie must have sometimes matched the reality. It's dubbed and also subtitled - you choose. A real lad movie - with the beers and the nachos lined up from the beginning. Stunning performances from all involved and a script made in heaven

If you're considering buying this DVD or bluray you most probably know what a great piece of WW2/submariner drama this is through previous viewings or by other recommendations. So you don't really need my views. - But with around 15 disc ads on this page, not counting separate pages for the 'TV series' & bluray editions etc, a bit of a guide may be of some use... ...The film was initially released in cinemas in 1981 in West Germany & other countries over the next 2 years- Running time approx 150mins. It was well received (with 6 Oscar nominations -though not winning any).After a growing reputation, in 85-86 a near 5 hour version was released as a TV mini-series to great acclaim in various countries & won an Emmy award for Drama. A 140min edited version was released on VHS. In 1996 it was reissued in cinemas . With footage added to the original ('81) cinema release, Its running time now around 200 mins- This version was called the 'Directors Cut' with improved image & upgraded sound, this again was a success & was released on VHS & laserdisc then in the late 90s on DVD .This is the 'Standard Version' still released on DVD( & bluray), normally with English & German language options with 5.1 + 'Dolby surround' audio, with subtitles in various languages(depending on which region it is being released in).This edition is usually issued with a blue cover. And If you don't like 'foreign language subtitled films' the English dubbed version is quite acceptable (with many of the main German actors doing their own translated English voices). Most of these copies have a very entertaining & informative commentary (originally recorded for laserdisc) with director Wolfgang Peterson,lead actor Jurgen Prochnow & the producer of the 'directors cut' + a brief 'making of' feature & English trailer. Also available -the full '5 hour TV version' from the mid 80s(this also has upgraded sound). It was Released on 2 discs in 2004. (this normally has a green cover) & also comes with German & English language choices but didn't have the audio commentary. The film ratio on both versions is 'widescreen' 1:1.85 for a 'standard' 16-9 TV size.A copy I recently purchased is a 2 disc 'Superbit' edition that claims to utilise a "special high bit rate digital transfer process". This is the '200min version' & has English in surround /Dolby digital & German language in 5.1 & DTS choices. The film has subtitles in English ,Dutch & Hindi . The image is very good,& appears to have repaired the blemishes & scratches noticeable-especially near the beginning on the 1 disc edition ,but I haven't seen it on a larger screen to fully compare it with previous versions.This doesn't have the commentary though.So despite a seemingly baffling amount of releases available, the choice basically comes down to the full '5 hour' released for TV mini-series or the 200min 'Directors Cut' & I don't really need to tell you both are excellent viewing experiences (see some of the many other reviews) & easily available at very good prices.......For those with bluray players the 'Directors Cut'-'200 min' version is available on a 1disc version with commentary ,a documentary(40mins)about the 'Battle of the Atlantic'+ an hour long look at the U96 submarine .There is also a 2disc bluray(2011) that has these extras & more...The 'TV series-5 hour' version is also available on bluray, but I don't know what extras may be on this release....

What a Great War movie, the U Boat against the war ships, of Britain!!!!

Mythique dû grand art !!

Gran película, en duración y calidad.

Do they sink or no, that's every's worry as a sailor.very good actors and I think ewen filmen onboerd a submarin,

Ich glaube nicht, dass es irgendjemanden gibt, der in den 80ern aufgewachsen ist und den Film, sowie die Serie, "Das Boot" nicht kennt.Ich habe selten eine so aufwendig und detailverliebte Produktion gesehen, "Das Boot" wurde wirklich perfekt inszeniert. In dieser Rezension geht es um den Film, allerdings würde ich die mehr als doppelt so lange Fernsehserie, die erstmals 1987 als Sechsteiler ausgestrahlt wurde, jedem ans Herz legen wollen. Ich persönlich finde die Serie noch sehr viel beeindruckender als den Kinofilm, denn sie vermittelt einen sehr viel detaillierteren Einblick in den täglichen Alptraum der deutschen U-Boot-Fahrer.Trotz allem ist der Film natürlich WELTKLASSE, daran gibt es keinen Zweifel, WOLFGANG PETERSEN hat hier einen der beeidnruckendsten Filme der Geschichte gedreht. Besonders gut gefällt mir, dass hier das Schicksal der Männer, der Zusammenhalt der Crew, das einfache und hässliche Leben des "kleinen Mannes" beschrieben wird. "Das Boot" ist nicht politisch, es wird der Überlebenswille und der Mut der Verzweiflung, von Menschen in schwierigen Situationen, in den Mittelpunkt gestellt.Die detailgenau Ausstattung dieser Produktion wäre besonders Erwähnenswert, so wurde beispielsweise in München ein originalgetreues U-Boot im Maßstab 1:1 nachgebaut, welches dann in drei Teile zerlegt, und in La Rochelle wieder zusammengebaut wurde. Es wurde für Außenaufnahmen benutzt und konnte von einem Mann gesteuert werden, hatte keine Innenausstattung und diente nur als schwimmende Kulisse.Das innere des U-Boot wurde detailgenau in den Bavaria-Studios nachgebaut und kann dort von Besuchern begutachtet werden. Ich war selber schon dort und bin auch heute noch mächtig beeindruckt.Auch die Filmmusik von KLAUS DOLDINGER dürfte heute deutsche Kinogeschichte sein, ich persönlich halte sie für eine der besten die jemals komponiert wurde. Sie ist unglaublich passend, sehr düster und atmosphärisch, gleichzeitig aber auch mitreißend und packend. Ihr seht schon, mich fesselt sie auch nach Jahren noch, ich bin einfach begeistert.Für die meisten Schauspieler wurde "Das Boot" der Grundstein für ihre späteren Karrieren. Für Regisseur WOLFGANG PETERSEN und JÜRGEN PROCHNOW (Der Alte) war "Das Boot" sogar das Sprungbrett über den Atlantik, sie landeten in Hollywood.Aber auch KLAUS WENNEMANN, MARTIN SEMMELROGGE, UWE OCHSENKNECHT, JAN FEDDER, CLAUDE-OLIVER RUDOLF, RALF RICHTER, OLIVER STRITZEL, BERND TAUBER und HEINZ HOENIG waren fortan aus deutschen Film- und Kinoproduktionen nicht mehr wegzudenken.HERBERT GRÖNEMEYER, der den "Leutnant Werner" sehr überzeugend spielt, war danach zwar noch in einigen Produktionen als Schauspieler zu sehen, aber offensichtlich war er der Musik eher zugetan.Zum Inhalt brauche ich wohl nicht viel erzählen, nur soviel, dass der Autor von "Das Boot", LOTHAR GÜNTHER BUCHHEIM in diesem Roman seine eigenen Erlebnisse als Kriegsberichterstatter verarbeitet hat. Das dürfte auch der Grund sein, dass die Story so detailgenau und überzeugend wirkt. Es ist keine Fiktion, das sind tatsächliche Geschehnisse die BUCHHEIM auf zwei Feindfahrten an Bord von U96 und U309 sammeln konnte.In "Das Boot" geht es um die letzte Feindfahrt von U96, welches zunächst im Nordatlantik auf feindliche Geleitzüge operiert. Nachdem U96 mehrere Schiffe eines Geleitzuges versenkt hat und selber unter schwerem Beschuss beschädigt wurde, macht es sich auf den Rückweg nach La Rochelle. Unterwegs bekommen sie aber vom "Befehlshaber der U-Boote" (BdU) einen neuen Einlaufhafen: den Mittelmeerhafen La Spezia in Italien!Das Problem daran ist die Meerenge von Gibraltar, die von den Briten schwer bewacht wird .....Mein Fazit: "Das Boot" ist kein gewöhnlicher Kriegsfilm, gezeigt wird der raue und triste Alltag der U-Boot-Besatzungen, der nichts mit der heroischen Propaganda der Nationalsozialisten zu tun hatte. PETERSEN zeichnet ein Bild von Entbehrungen, unmenschlichen Bedingungen und einem Leben am Rande des Abgrunds.Der Wahnsinn des Krieges wird einem eigentlich jede Sekunde bewusst und man erwischt sich unweigerlich dabei, dass man froh ist, damals nicht dabei gewesen zu sein.Für mich gehört "Das Boot" mit zum Besten was jemals in Deutschland gedreht wurde - genial, beeindruckend und sehr authentisch!Natürlich gibt es von mir die volle Punktzahl und auch eine dicke fette Empfehlung!