Decent as an action film, but could be better

Rating: Null/10 (24 April 2000)

If anyone goes into this expecting the submarine equivalent of Saving Private Ryan, they will be severely disappointed. This is simply an escapist action film served with a pseudo - historic template. Of course, if that is what you want, this film will fit the bill nicely. Just make sure the theater has a good surround sound system, as gunfights, exploding depth charges, pipes bursting, and other such events will give the speakers a workout. Unfortunately, while it claims to be "character driven", the characters are awful shallow and do not react the way they should. Several times, they are given orders, and always hesitate and question their new commander. Veterans will especially cringe at a scene in which a low - level crew member directly contadicts his commander and tells him to fire on a plane. Such action in real life would get him shot. Then there is the virtually indestructible sub, unsubtle foreshadowing (especially the egg metaphor), broken equipment that miraculously works when needed, and the question of why such an important undercover mission would be handled by a green crew that has only one German - speaking member. If reality checks like these don't bother you, then see it. If they do, rent Das Boot, a similar but much better film.