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U-571 on DVD (2000)

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Average rating: 60%
1416620111113
3.0
from 980 members
 
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, Jake Weber, Dave Power
Director: Jonathon Mostow
Studio: ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time: 116 mins
Certificate: 12
User collections: The Greatest War Films, Gritty realism
Genres: Action/Adventure, Thriller
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Released: 22/01/2001
Also Available on:  Also Available on: BLU-RAY

Brief synopsis of U-571

Faithful to the conventions of the World War II genre, Mostow's (BREAKDOWN) submarine thriller pays earnest homage to the pluck and determination of ordinary people forced to overcome extraordinary odds. The mostly young and inexperienced crew of the S-33 is deployed on a top secret, high-priority mission to intercept a disabled German u-boat (the titular U-571) and capture the ship's encryption system--the Enigma--in order to crack the Nazi's communication codes and hasten an allied victory in the North Atlantic. Racing against a German rescue effort, the S-33 stages a daring raid on the U-571. But after capturing the U-571, the Americans find themselves its prisoner as they must pilot the leaky, disabled vessel through hostile enemy waters. McConaughey (EDTV, DAZED AND CONFUSED) leads a strong cast (Keitel - HOLY SMOKE, Paxton - A SIMPLE PLAN) in this fast-paced, tense, submarine adventure.

Related

Critics Reviews

Box Office

"...A rousing, old-fashioned submarine adventure....Just the right blend of adventure, action and gritty realism to keep audiences riveted throughout....A smart, slick crowd-pleaser..."

Time Out

In 1942, to frustrate the Nazis decimating the Atlantic convoys, the US Navy plans to capture a stricken U-boat -... Read more on www.timeout.com

Total Film

"...[A] well-executed tale...mixing some cinema-rumbling big bangs with plenty of screen-cinging pyrotechnics..."

See all 6 Critics Reviews »

Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 4 starsAn entertaining movie..pity your reviewers don't read the credits!

CDR Peter R Hibbert USN from London, England , 02/07/2007

As a movie, the challenge for the director was to produce an entertaining and gripping motion picture when at the same time the audience knows (or can guess) the outcome. Not an easy task, but this was accomplished in a commendable way. It is an action movie and the pace never lets up! I was doubtful about this at the start but I can truly say I really enjoyed it.

As for those who say that the Americans were re-writing naval history, I would say that first of all there is no claim in the movie that this was the first capture of an enigma coding machine. Secondly, before you exit form the movie, read the credits! It is dedicated to allied ships and men who captured enigma evidence. It lists in order the three British ships of the Royal Navy, starting with HMS Bulldog (a “B”class destroyer) which captured U-110 on May 9th, 1941. And yes, guys, whether you like it or not, the yanks did seize an enigma machine from U-505 on June 4th, 1944 by Task Group 22.3…but by destroyers (not a US submarine).

So yes, history was re-written, but give credit to the movie producers where credit is due for producing an entertaining movie.

  6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 1 starsFact or Fiction - Aviod if you believe in the TRUTH!

A customer from Prescot... Merseyside , 22/02/2006

If this film had been about a ficticious piece of radar hardware etc then it wiuld be a very entertaining and watchable film. However the facts relating to the capture of the German enigma encoder are very well documented. When a film is said to be based on a true story then it should at least be true to the facts. Another example of the Americans deluding themselves and trying to distort history. They'll be telling us next that Bletchley Park is in the Arizona Dessert!!!.

  6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 4 stars4 stars for sound 2 for accuracy

A customer from South Bucks, England , 03/03/2005

If you want to show off the sound of your home cinema and make that sub woofer bark enough to crack your walls; this is the film for you. Incredible use of surround sound and truly terrifying in the sub being depth charged.

But it ain't history. An Enigma machine was captured from a U-boat but not by the Yanks. That accolade goes to HMS Petard and two British sailors died in the attempt when the U-boat sank under them.

  5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsWorth a Watch

ADD from Doncaster, England , 10/11/2004

Ignore the 'how the american's won the war' and sit back and enjoy a pretty good WWII movie. Good acting (I'll even give Jon Bon Jovi a few marks), and some good submarine scenes, not quite on par with Crimson Tide but good none the less. Give it a go....

  4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 1 starsFact or Fiction - Aviod if you believe in the TRUTH!

A customer from Prescot... Merseyside , 22/02/2006

If this film had been about a ficticious piece of radar hardware etc then it wiuld be a very entertaining and watchable film. However the facts relating to the capture of the German enigma encoder are very well documented. When a film is said to be based on a true story then it should at least be true to the facts. Another example of the Americans deluding themselves and trying to distort history. They'll be telling us next that Bletchley Park is in the Arizona Dessert!!!.

  6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 0 starsToo Inaccurate

KatiMark KatiMark from Warwickshire, England [Highly rated reviewer] , 10/04/2008

This film falsely claims that the Americans, rather than the British, captured a vital Enigma machine. Americans trying to rewrite history through the big screen once again.

For what it was, it was watchable but unfortunately the historical value was inexistent.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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