80 minutes later I was hungry

Rating: Null/10 (29 April 2000)

I, frankly, was disappointed. This film was filled with glaring inaccuracies, concessions to political correctness (and filming logistics) and throwaway actors. But that wasn't the worst part. If I'm in another time, I want atmosphere! I want story! I'll suspend my disbelief in a heartbeat, but I still need something to hang it on. Never once did I think I was in the 1940's! Where was the setup? Why should I have cared about these characters?
Matthew McConaughey appeared to be spending his time equally between trying to remember his lines and keeping his good side toward the camera. Harvey Keitel seemed to be endlessly frowning as if to ask:"was this role a good idea"? John Bon Jovi...uh...who? What happened to David Keith (Maj. Coonan)? Where was all this alleged combat training taking place? Wet-behind-the ears young Amurricans whupping on a bunch of hard core veteran sailors? Yeah, right. Just like they almost instantly knew how to run the German sub. Even the Black steward was a quick study on the steering-did you catch that? Heyyy...did you ever doubt that OUR heeero mechanics could fix anything? Hmmm? Where, for God's sake, was the tension and the claustrophobia? The fear? I've been on one or two of the old WWII subs. They are cramped and creepy.The control room on the German sub looked big enough for a stageplay. Das Boot was a far more accurate visual portrayal. I recall the 1950's classics like The Enemy Below and Run Silent Run Deep and I weep for modern MTV attention spans.