As cliched as it gets

Rating: 4/10 (19 October 2000)

U-571 is nothing more than Das Boot with a higher budget, no realism whatsoever, not historically accurate, and recycled from over 50 submarine movies. I didn't hate this movie, but I don't like it, at all. If you want a real sub movie, don't waist money on this.
The only thing this movie has going for it is that the action is great. The special effects are definitely better than The Hunt for Red October's (not that I'm disrespecting Hunt in any way, but its special effects did leave a bit to be desired). The sound is great, and the tension is also well done. But, when you look past the action movie coating, this movie is nothing but Armageddon in a sub.
I don't mean to say that there are asteroids in this movie; only that the movie throws away the chance to be good only to be a pumped up action movie. I repeat, this is an A-C-T-I-O-N MOVIE, not a war movie. Holy God, is this not a war movie.
Oh, and as far as historical goes, this movie is almost sinful. I am not one to talk about historical accuracy. After, I loved Gladiator. While this movie is not about something that never happened, it is instead much worse. It was the British, not the Americans, who found the Enigma machine. This is just another example of those stupid American producers over at Universal who make the rest of us look bad. I swear, any British person watching this movie will be offended. This movie takes a great accomplishment away from Britain.
I also can't figure out why Harvey Keitel is in this movie. He is a great actor; this movie doesn't deserve him. I guess he was low on cash, and the script could have looked good on paper.
Basically, if you want an entertaining yet stupid sub movie, rent this. If you want a real sub movie that is well made and accurate, not to mention entertaining, rent Das Boot or Crimson Tide. Otherwise, you might like this piece of dishonorable trash.