U 571 (UK)

6 / 10
8 votes cast
Rate this item

Heroes are ordinary men who do extraordinary things in extraordinary times
Certificate: 12
Running Time: 109 mins
Retail Price: £19.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
A U.S. Navy Captain and his crew are just beginning to enjoy 48 hours of leave when they receive word to immediately return to duty. On a top-secret assignment, they must disguise themselves as Nazis and infiltrate a severely damaged Nazi U-boat.

Once on board, they are to steal the Nazi`s top-secret decoding device and sink the sub before the Germans catch on to what`s really happening. Their mission is more dangerous and frightening than anything they could have ever imagined, but one which has the power to turn the tide of battle.

"U-571 is exciting!" says Newsweek. Filled with incredible explosions, raging fires and speeding torpedoes, this suspense-filled action-packed film sets a new standard for high impact entertainment and features an impressive all-star cast.

Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Story of U-571
The Enigma
Director`s Commentary

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English

Subtitle Tracks:
English

Directed By:
Jonathan Mostow

Written By:
David Ayer
Sam Montgomery
Jonathan Mostow

Starring:
Derk Cheetwood
Dave Power
Jake Weber
Jon Bon Jovi
Harvey Keitel
Bill Paxton
Matthew McConaughey

Casting By:
Carol Lewis

Soundtrack By:
Richard Marvin

Director of Photography:
Oliver Wood

Editor:
Wayne Wahrman

Costume Designer:
April Ferry

Production Designer:
Götz Weidner
William Ladd Skinner

Producer:
Lucio Trentini
Martha Schumacher
Dino De Laurentiis

Executive Producer:
Hal Lieberman

Distributor:
Entertainment In Video

Your Opinions and Comments

8 / 10

A good action film in general. Good extras which include an interview with the real Royal Navy Sailor who captured the Enigma device from U-110 in 1941. The video is presented in 1.85:1 compared to 2.35:1 on the region 1 and 4 discs. Only dolby 5.1 and no DTS version in region 2. One thing it does not include either is Subtitles which according to the back cover says there is english subtitles (very misleading). No DVD rom extras either compared to region 1. In all a good dvd but with a few items missing compared to region 1.

posted by David Garner on 22/1/2001 19:36

8 / 10

although history is changed hollywood style having yanks be the heroes at least this movie is exciting unlike the thin red line or the overlong slushfest that was saving private ryan.the acting is good .yet another good movie from director mostow who made the excellent breakdown

posted by flair on 29/1/2001 22:17

1 / 10

Let`s cut to the chase. This film is not good at all.
The story plodded along - it felt like I was watching it inrealtime - and I couldn`t care less about any of the characters (due to terrible editing/story, I couldn`t even tell which characters had been killed until I eventually noticed that they weren`t there e.g. with the end of the film nigh "Hey..where`s John Bon Jovi`s character..did he get killed?" - not very clear at all). Admittedly, there were a couple of tense scenes, but that`s it I`m afraid.
I was so disappointed with this film, that I could barely make it through the extras.
All in all, give this film a miss.
U-571? More like Poo - 571.

posted by redballoon on 5/3/2001 13:37

6 / 10

An enjoyable film even if the Americans have once again completely changed the history of the world to suit them! This is certainly worth watching, but not more that the once. it`s not a film you're going to watch over and over (it just isn't THAT good!).

In terms of the disc itself we've got a solid package. Video & audio are very good, and extras are ok - although there could always have been more (no cast commentary or deleted scenes etc etc), and the R1 disc does have a few more to offer. Still - not bad.

posted by Rich Davies on 21/9/2002 07:46

8 / 10

I found the film quite interesting, and the Director`s commentary fascinating. My only query is that my Region 2 disc has 16:9 anamorphic on the case, but the disc plays only in 4 by 3....... Is the widescreen version not available in R2?

posted by Arthur Dungate on 22/9/2002 11:44

3 / 10

A very poorly made film that can only dream of attaining the depth and tension of the mighty german classic "Das Boot" which it ceaselessly attempts to rip-off.
A poor script with very mediocre acting by badly miscast actors cannot save a story which by all intents and purposes is merely hollywoods` attempt to pervert history itself. I tried very hard, but I cannot see anything worthy of recommending this abismal movie. See the afforementioned "Das Boot" for the greates submarine/war film ever made and miss out this disasterous mess.

posted by Rawshark on 4/10/2002 00:42

8 / 10

U-571 is an intense, fast-paced film. I feel it accurately potrays the emotions that would have been experienced by the actual participants in a harrowing World War II submarine adventure. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Jon Bon Jovi, who did a great job proving that he can do more than simply be a rock star. The action is fast, furious and believable, with the best part being that the good guys win in the end.

posted by parkland on 13/2/2003 16:51