Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3432 in DVD
• Brand: UNI DIST CORP. (MCA)
• Released on: 2008-08-26
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 116 minutes

Amazon.com
Taut and gripping, U-571 follows the exploits of a fictional team of World War II U.S. submariners who undertake a secret mission to capture a German Enigma machine to decode German documents. Writer-director Jonathan Mostow (Breakdown) tells an intense, economical tale, reminiscent of the best classic war films, while infusing it with modern sentiments.

Spring 1942: A crew of young submarine sailors are on a much-needed 48-hour liberty when they're suddenly called together and engaged in an expedition. At the helm are Lieutenant Commander Mike Dahlgren (Bill Paxton), Lieutenant Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey), and Chief Klough (Harvey Keitel). Other pivotal crew members include Tyler's Annapolis pal Lieutenant Pete Emmett (Jon Bon Jovi, proving his acting mettle) and Lieutenant Hirsch (Jake Weber), who, along with Marine Major Coonan (David Keith), organizes the mission. As much of the movie takes place in a submarine during WWII, there are inevitable comparisons with the technical masterpiece Das Boot, but Mostow's masterfully shot tale can hold its own.

McConaughey's Tyler is believably earnest as he comes to grips with the reality, tragedy, and consequence of being in command. While this explosion-filled film consistently maintains its tense pace (as did the underrated Breakdown), it also presents with surprising restraint a genuine human story--and the remarkable journey of an unexpected hero. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews

Well made movie, but rather unrealistic...
The movie "U571" is a well made movie. Nice pictures, very good sound.

But the point, which I critize, is, that the film is rather unrealistic. Think about the American soldiers, who learn how to use an alien ship during a fight. Moreover they are able to repair the boat and to destroy a large battle ship with only one shot.

At least, as some of other writers already said, hollywood changes historical facts for a better selling in the USA. And that should nobody do, especially with such a special topic like the World War 2.

U-571, What Hollywood has Become
U-571 has tremendous special effects, but so do millions of other movies. Know what else millions of other movies have? Weak plot, weak characterization, bad acting. Know what U-571 has? The same. It's true this film is griping, and it does keep you on the edge of your seat, but other that than there's not much else going for it. Like so many other movies U-571 relies on special effects to keep it afloat, which is why in the end it survived.

It was a good story, unfortunately they rushed to get it out, slapped in some dialoge, composited some special effects, and hired Bill Paxton. Fun to watch if you've got time to waste.

Full Speed Ahead --- Truly Entertaining Flick!
Okay, so "U-571" may not be historically correct and perhaps it can't hold a torpedo to "Das Boot", but it's still a darn good piece of entertainment. In a summer full of big screen washouts, this riveting World War II drama gave me my money's worth. The sets -- mostly the interiors of US & German submarines -- were fantastic. I truly felt the sense of dread and claustrophobia of living in a dark, cramped vessel that could be blown to bits at any time. The mission to capture the Enigma coding device aboard a German U-Boat may not have been true, but it sure was riveting. Of course, the mission doesn't go as planned and that sets up some very interesting scenarios. Especially dramatic is the scene where the submarine is being depth-charged by the German destroyer. Again, I don't care if the scene was accurate or not, I just know the intensity and suspense nearly killed me. True, some of the characters were stiff (mainly Bill Paxton) and some of the digital effects left something to be desired but, overall "U-571" is a satisfying action/war movie. The widescreen DVD print looks terrific. The sound effects are great --- loud and explosive, just as they should be. Also, the DVD edition is loaded with extra goodies such as a "Making Of" documentary, interviews with actual WWII submariners, and a feature length audio commentary. Overall a solid addition to any action fan's DVD library.