Wolff rating: UNSURPASSED
Plot summary: A crew of a German U-boat during the later part of World War II go out on a hunt.
Biased, pithy comments: Petersen set out to make the ultimate submarine movie, and, arguably, he has. There isn't much else you can do to make an exciting, realistic, gritty adventure set largely underwater and during WWII. It's gripping, even at the long 209min running length of the Director's Cut, and shows the madness of war in a way only rivaled by classics like ``Bridge on the River Kwai'' and ``Saving Private Ryan.'' Perhaps the most daring part of it (not so daring if you're German, I suppose) is telling the tale exclusively from the German Navy's point of view. In it, the Navy is a separate entity from the fascist government, and only a little bit of Nazi propaganda leaks into the boat. This is a little disingenuous, but these sailors are men, and it strikes you how much they have in common with other men in other countries and how little they need to fight one another.
Other Notes: Some reviewers have complained that the Director's Cut makes the movie too long; I had no problem with this, but I had not seen the original.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Jurgen Prochnow, Klaus Wenneman, Erwin Leder, Herbert Groenemeyer, Hubertus Bengsch.
Directed by: Wolfgan Petersen