SU-Boots: Submersos Em Guerras

If you want an action movie, watch something else. Das Boot reflects what war must really be like, showing not just the 1% of terror and confusion, but also the 99% sitting around waiting for things to happen. It is also the best if not only explanation I know, of how honourable men could have fought for the Nazis.

I have now seen "Das Boot" 4 times. The first time was the "Director's Cut" with subtitles. Since then I have learnt German, so each time I watch the film I understand it better. It is still very difficult to follow, and a great deal passes me by; I think this film probably has the hardest German of any of the 50 or so German-language films I've seen. This is part of its authenticity; you don't expect people to speak Standard High German when they think they may die horribly in the next five minutes.

The original mini-series has about the same amount of action as the Director's Cut, but a great deal more explanation and character development. For example, the Captain gets to comment on his actions towards the English sailors from the sinking oil-tanker. I think the sound of the Director's Cut was redone for Dolby-7, so the noises seem to come from all around and at times make you want to hide under the seat. However in all other respects, I think the mini-series is very much better than the Director's Cut, brilliant though that is.

Despite the extra length, I would *strongly* recommend the mini-series version. I first watched this when it came out on TV as a mini-series (293 min, 1985), then recently as the movie version (149 min, 1981), and then the mini-series again.

In cutting the length down for the movie version, what largely remains are action scenes. Retained in the mini-series version are the quieter more reflective, atmospheric scenes, which in my opinion are what most make Das Boot truly AWESOME. These scenes gradually and subtly develop the characterizations of the crew members: their divergent political beliefs, the tensions among them, their cynicism or honor, their bravery or fragility. The submarine itself is a central character too: emerging through the depths like a great lethal whale, or plowing through the spray in rough weather, or floating calmly across the placid ocean surface, all to the backdrop of the haunting and memorable theme music. These subtle atmospheric aspects are what most stayed with me for 30 years. I would also suggest watching it in German with subtitles - one of the things that makes this an unusual WWII movie is that it is from the German perspective, and hearing it in German gives a more intense feel for that Germanic aspect and its special qualities (even if you don't understand German). Das Boot is an amazing experience, and it is well worth immersing yourself in the original full length miniseries version for a memorable and unique experience.

Das Boot is my favorite war film. It shows war through the eyes of Germans. It is so realistic and intense that I live it every time I see it. It is one war film where I consider Germans to be the "good guys"! Their humanity and fight for survival touch me in such a way that I cannot help but be totally for them. It does indeed prove that beneath every uniform their lies a human being with hopes and dreams for the future.

It makes me realize that war is terrible for everyone involved. It makes me realize that our common humanity is much more important than politics. We all should recognize this fact of life. God bless the people who made this film. They not only opened my mind but also my heart! So I'd like to say to them: Vielen Dank!

I taped the original Swedish airing of "Das Boot" in the late 80's,and thought it was amazing. Now I own the DVD,and I still think it's amazing! Fortunate enough, this film lack the big special effects,which makes it stand excellent against time.

I prefer the mini over the feature movie. The slower pace and the closeness to the characters really gets to me. Over the years I must have seen this film more than 50 times,and it's still great! The casting is excellent and so is the directing. Wolfgang Petersen have done really well with a great novel. He captures the boredom and the fear in war in a superb way.

Perhaps the labeling of this film as a "war movie", has scared off many viewers from a great piece of art. Both those who dislike war movies and those who like war action.

As good as "Das Boot" is in it's original theatrical form,and in an director Peterson's extended version in the re-release,the TV version,coming in at close to five hours long shows so much more of the day to day life on the boat.The claustriphobic nature of life on a WWII submarine is opened up for us. It delves far more deeply into the personalities and lives of the crew,both on and off the boat.They become real human beings,and we see how hard their lives are while on patrol.As with "All Quiet on the Western Front",the senselessness of war is brought home when see from the losing side. Highly moving