The even better version is the "Mini-Series". The directors cut removes a big chunk of it (~90minutes).
So if you did like the movie, you should check out the (BBC) miniseries version, or "the original uncut version". First one is cut like a classic TV Show (intro, flashbacks to previous episodes when needed). The a second like a movie - without that extra balast.
It's the first time I have seen it and I also think it's a great movie especially for the cinematography. I don't know any movie from the 80s with using so much practical lighting, I can't say if it is a first but it looks ahead of its time.
With that said, I am somewhat ambivalent on some other aspects. The music is like a pleonasm the whole movie and that totally breaks the immersion for me. I think the acting is good but since the music overemphasizes too much, the acting becomes more noticable as well and it kind of distracted me. Also I totally get the idea of humanizing the crew and I think they did a good job, but still it didn't feel self-evident. I even thought at the midpoint of the movie that they would sink the submarine and that we would switch to an other crew (something like Death Proof by Tarantino.)
I really liked the intro and the ending, both are tonally different from the rest of the movie. For the ending, I liked that the captain watched his submarine sink, I thought the metaphor was ambiguous enough to allow different readings. At first, I read it as he cared more about his ship than his crew, but it could be that he loved his job as captain, thought the war was pointless, etc.
If we watch more war movies, it could be interesting to watch Les carabiniers and Le petit soldat by Godard, I have not seen them yet but they are considered classics as well.
I think the US theatrical release is actually a better/tighter movie, especially for a first watch. It's probably not a popular opinion (I feel the same way about the LoTR trilogy). For lovers of the movie, the director's cut or the original mini series add a lot of additional dimension.
Even as a kid, this movie really impressed on me the horror and futility of war in a way few movies have. The boredom, too - I have always found it compelling that these young men were so bored, and longing to get into action. When it finally happens, it's one of the most terrifying things I've ever seen on screen.
I know there are some long standing arguments about whether or not there is such a thing as an anti-war movie. This movie, along with Stalingrad, have always been my go-to examples (maybe Paths of Glory, too). I'm not sure if they truly are, but I think they're about as close as you can get.
I feel like I need to watch it as well. Maybe we can have a "WTF Month" where we watch movies that won academy awards in a year where there were obviously way better movies in their category...
The even better version is the "Mini-Series". The directors cut removes a big chunk of it (~90minutes).
So if you did like the movie, you should check out the (BBC) miniseries version, or "the original uncut version". First one is cut like a classic TV Show (intro, flashbacks to previous episodes when needed). The a second like a movie - without that extra balast.
There is an incredible documentary about the movie production that gives some insight on why those different versions exist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olR9l4I3xO0
here a german 90s techno track to practice how to say DAS BOOT ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVxXbTk-zsQ&t=109s
I haven't watched this one yet, but it would be good to know how it compares to Greyhound ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6048922/ ).
Greyhound is told from the captain's perspective, tho.
It's the first time I have seen it and I also think it's a great movie especially for the cinematography. I don't know any movie from the 80s with using so much practical lighting, I can't say if it is a first but it looks ahead of its time.
With that said, I am somewhat ambivalent on some other aspects. The music is like a pleonasm the whole movie and that totally breaks the immersion for me. I think the acting is good but since the music overemphasizes too much, the acting becomes more noticable as well and it kind of distracted me. Also I totally get the idea of humanizing the crew and I think they did a good job, but still it didn't feel self-evident. I even thought at the midpoint of the movie that they would sink the submarine and that we would switch to an other crew (something like Death Proof by Tarantino.)
I really liked the intro and the ending, both are tonally different from the rest of the movie. For the ending, I liked that the captain watched his submarine sink, I thought the metaphor was ambiguous enough to allow different readings. At first, I read it as he cared more about his ship than his crew, but it could be that he loved his job as captain, thought the war was pointless, etc.
If we watch more war movies, it could be interesting to watch Les carabiniers and Le petit soldat by Godard, I have not seen them yet but they are considered classics as well.
I think the US theatrical release is actually a better/tighter movie, especially for a first watch. It's probably not a popular opinion (I feel the same way about the LoTR trilogy). For lovers of the movie, the director's cut or the original mini series add a lot of additional dimension.
Even as a kid, this movie really impressed on me the horror and futility of war in a way few movies have. The boredom, too - I have always found it compelling that these young men were so bored, and longing to get into action. When it finally happens, it's one of the most terrifying things I've ever seen on screen.
I know there are some long standing arguments about whether or not there is such a thing as an anti-war movie. This movie, along with Stalingrad, have always been my go-to examples (maybe Paths of Glory, too). I'm not sure if they truly are, but I think they're about as close as you can get.
I somehow want to watch Gandhi now
I feel like I need to watch it as well. Maybe we can have a "WTF Month" where we watch movies that won academy awards in a year where there were obviously way better movies in their category...
The Shape of Water year could be a good contender