Would that this were another Das Boot.

Rating: 4/10 (19 August 2009)

I admit it: this is not the worst movie I have ever seen. That said, I could write a fairly lengthy list of things that were not done quite right.
Das Boot now sets the standard by which all WW2 submarine movies are judged. U-571 comes nowhere close, and the smug, self-congratulatory tone of the DVD extras makes the deficiencies of the movie even more difficult to bear.
Even the title is a problem. There really was a U-571 (look here: http://uboat.net/boats/u571.htm). Could the author of this rather lame movie not have used a U-boat number without a real history.
The side plot – The Executive Officer aspiring for promotion to Captain – is a serious drag on the movie. I think almost the entire white uniform party scene and all of the ensuing "I'm bitter because I was passed over" and "You must behave like Captain if you want to be one" bits could be removed – edited out – and the rest of the movie would perk up quite a bit.
With hindsight, not a good use of two hours.