Competent, but not great.

Rating: Null/10 (21 April 2000)

I've just finished watching this film, and I can't get the nagging feeling that some Hollywood exec. kept whispering to the director, "Bigger explosions! Bigger explosions!"
The acting is fine, and there's a surprising amount of tension, but the story (fairly straight forward) is somewhat diminished by over the top effects. I mean since when does one torpedo, a bow-shot no less, completely blow up a german destroyer. And that's if you buy the fact that it would even hit (bow-shots being the most difficult). It reminded me of those old cliff-hangers, where the car runs off the cliff and blows up before it even touches anything.
In all fairness, this movie is a nice diversion (it does have its moments), but if you're looking for a truly great sub movie, go rent Das Boot instead.