An unforgettable action classic

Rating: 10/10 (22 April 2000)

Sometimes in a theater, you become so wrapped up in the action, you feel that you are a part of the action. The suspense, the sound (oh, definitely the sound in this one) the level of reality in the characters, plot, etc. just pulls you right in to the story. And when you realize its just a movie, you sit back and smile to yourself. This happened to me several times in U-571. I mean, I actually felt the action. Director/writer Jonathan Mostow keeps the viewers pleased and on the edge of their seats throughout the film with this amazingly shot, beautifully choreographed and knock-you-dead (literally) sound effects with explosions, depth charges, machine guns, and more.
After reading my review of The Hurricane, you can probably tell that inaccuracies have nothing to do with a movie being great, as well as it is still realistic. The only inaccuracy in this movie is that the soldiers were British, not Americans. Why this was changed, I don't know, but I don't really care either. It is still an amazing film. It was also brought to my attention that this particular event did not actually happen, but events like it did happen. So, I will agree with other critics on calling it a "gripping piece of historical fiction."
A team of U.S. soldiers are sent on a special ops mission to sneak aboard a disabled German U-Boat, or submarine, to steal an encryption device that would give the Allies the edge they need to win the war. The U.S. soldiers must trick the Germans into believing that they are comrades and are to help the Germans, and soon kill them all, steal the Engima and get back to their ship, completing the mission. It doesn't quite turn out that way and what happens puts nine American sailors in the most unusual situation and in despair, not only of failing the mission, but losing their lives.

While the acting itself and the dialouge isn't particuarly memorable, the story and the events in the movie keep it alive and suspenseful. It isn't predictable, and when you think it is going to resolve, it doesn't. One piece of advice: If you don't mind sound being terribly loud, you'll love this. Obviously, I don't mind at all and I think the only way this movie should be viewed is with maximum, shaking-the-ground volume. Yes, my chair vibrated from the sound at times. But the sound is great. Sometimes sound is way too loud, and it just isn't right, but in this it is done very well.

The characters in the film are very likable and believeable. I particuarly enjoyed the chemistry between all of them, and how well they obviously worked together. The film is an adequete length, and one of the greatest action films of our time. It doesn't have very many slow scenes at all, and if it does they are there for a reason. To make the film real. Character developement is neccessary. What makes people totally loathe films starring Sylvester Stallone and Jean Claude Van Damme is that there is no character developement. Plenty of action, but no actual conflict and no where to go back to for reference. But in U-571, its not like this at all. We feel what the characters feel.
This slightly edges out Rules of Engagement in being the greatest movie I have seen this year. I can sense this being at the top of the box office for some time. The PG-13, and not R, rating helps this out a bit. It is actually good to see a great PG-13 movie, as I have not in a while. Where this was very good, it had its share of flaws, but none very noticable. That's why I give this a sturdy out of .