Das letzte U-Boot

The story is obviously based on a historic event: the voyage of the submarine U-234, which was bound for Japan. It had weapons, detail drawings for weapons, and uranium aboard. The uranium was meant to help Japan build an atomic bomb. The sub started in April 1945. When Germany capitulated in May, they had to decide whether they would go on to Japan (who hadn't capitulated yet) or surrender...

The movie isn't absolutely accurate historically, but that's not a big problem in my opinion. The makers don't pretend to be accurate; the sub in the movie isn't called U-234. The plot is the big problem. There are a number of small inconsistencies, for example when there's a leak, one of the two Japanese officers aboard seems to know how to repair the (German) sub better than the Germans themselves. I think I could live with these small inconsistencies, but there's also one plot hole that is deeper than the Mariana Trench (I've also sent this as an update to IMDb's 'goofs' section for this title; hope they'll accept it): At the beginning of the movie, one of the German officers explains the abilities of the sub: it can stay submerged for a very long time. As long as it's submerged, detection of the sub is difficult. So why do they stay on the surface almost all the time? This makes the captain seem ridiculously stupid. Why doesn't he take advantage of the best feature of the sub? Of course, they are detected by the radar of a British destroyer (but that is not the end of the movie; I won't give away the ending because I don't want to spoil it.)

On the other hand, I liked the part when they have to decide whether they want to go on or surrender. The officers have differing opinions, there are heated discussions, tension builds. And I think the actors did a good job.

But, as I've said before, it could have been a lot better in my opinion, so I have given it only six points. There was a documentary about U-234 on German TV. Its title is 'Kurs Fernost', made by Discovery Channel. I don't know the English title or if it has ever been shown outside of Germany. It's very good and interesting in my opinion. If you are interested in the theme and have the chance to see it, I think you should consider watching it. And if you want to see a really good submarine movie I think I can recommend the mini-series version of 'Das Boot' (it's longer than even the director's cut version).

The U234 is tasked with the long and difficult mission of bringing high technology Nazi weaponry, including a disassembled Me262 and ofcourse some treated plutonium, to Japan. Besides a high ranking Nazi official, a general, 2 Japanese officers are also on board.

It all sounds a bit "what if" but it more or less really happened. Already several U-boats succeeded in bringing German technology to Japan, mainly in exchange of raw materials, something the Nazis were really short of. Neither it is the so-called last U-boat as by the end of the war some +50 U-boats were still roaming the oceans, including a small number of the newly state-of-the-art U XXI type but that's another story.

This is a solid and well-made effort and on a much lower budget than "Das Boot", as this is a simple TV-movie. It is also the only movie made on this rather tricky subject because if just a part is indeed true the Nazis were seriously advanced in the making of an A-bomb.

The actors are reliable stalwarts and mainly well-known in Germany, except for the U-boat commander who was also the lead in the highly-acclaimed "The lives of others". The Germans come off rather well in this movie, except for the die-hard Nazi ofcourse. The Brits get a bit of a bad rap and the US are presented as smart dealmakers (hinting to what happened later with the cases of plutonium).

Even if there are some historical inaccuracies this is not to be missed by any self-proclaimed WW2 buff. I gave it an 8.

A mission about to begin, a war about to end. The year 1945, few days before the german rendition to the allied forces. A german submarine with some japanese crew is sent to Japan to deliver a plutonium cargo. This radioactive element would help the japs to develop the atomic bomb before the americans. But before the U-boat reach the first half of its itinerary, a transmission announcing Hitler's suicide and the german rendition to the allied forces is received. So the war is over, but only among the allies and Germany, what about Japan? So, the capitain has to choose between complete his mission or surrender to the first american force they find.

A few weeks before the end of the war Lieutenant Commander Gerber has been ordered to sail to Japan carrying a load of Uranium oxide, which is one of the key components to build an atomic bomb, Gerber will also have to take passengers, amongst them two japanese navy officers, a fanatical military judge, and a man who is involved in the conspiracy to assasin Hitler. To make the journey even more dangerous a spy in the U-boat´s base in Kristiansand, Norway has sent a message warning the British about the U-boat.

The story of the LTC Gerber´s boat is based on the true story of Wolfgang Hirschfeld´s book "U-boat Diary" although much dramatized.

This movie is apparently based on the true story of a U-boat mission that set off just prior to the end of WWII in Europe. It's goal being to deliver Uranium Oxide from Norway to Japan for the ultimate aim of constructing a nuclear weapon.

The movie is also known in some territories as "Das Boot 2 - La Ultima Misión". But, I should mention that if you've seen "Das Boot", then I would say that "The Last U-boat" isn't really a sequel to that movie.

The budget, production values, and acting in "The Last U-boat" can't match that film, which is unsurprising since many would say (myself included) that "Das Boot" is indisputably the greatest U-boat film ever made. However, this does not matter at all, because "The Last U-boat" stands up perfectly well on its own, and has a whole different atmosphere about it.

I really like this film, as it succeeds in making you feel for the main characters, in particular, the German commander. There's a real believability in the seemingly nonsensical orders and allegiances the characters are faced with, and the near impossibility of making rational decisions under those circumstances. It seems even the superior officers back on land have lost the ability to make decisions.

The whole movie has a sombre, resigned mood flowing throughout, and this gives it a pessimistic realism and inevitability.

The film differs from "Das Boot" however because it does not even start out optimistically. The officers on board are even more extremely "war damaged" and weary from the very beginning.

I particularly like the feel of the scenes above the surface, filmed on the U-boat and on the destroyer, with a low sun and long shadows.

Those scenes really do evoke the feeling of being out at sea on a late afternoon somewhere around the Northern stretches of the British Isles (according to the map in the movie, somewhere off Western Scotland). I think that fits the "end of the war" setting really well.

I should also mention that the Japanese characters really lend the film a great dignity.

So, I recommend for any fans of the genre to get your hands on this one. If you truly enjoy submarine movies, and don't mind a bit of historical or technical inaccuracies then you won't be disappointed.