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Das Boot (Mini-Series) ( The Boat ) [DVD]
 
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Das Boot (Mini-Series) ( The Boat ) [DVD]

DVD ~ Jürgen Prochnow
4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Das Boot (Mini-Series) ( The Boat ) [DVD]
84% buy the item featured on this page:
Das Boot (Mini-Series) ( The Boat ) [DVD] 4.9 out of 5 stars (19)
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Product details

  • Actors: Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch, Martin Semmelrogge
  • Directors: Wolfgang Petersen
  • Writers: Wolfgang Petersen, Dean Riesner, Lothar G. Buchheim
  • Producers: Edward R. Pressman, Edward Summer, Günter Rohrbach, John W. Hyde
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English, German
  • Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, Hindi, Norwegian, Swedish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: 12
  • Studio: Eurovideo
  • DVD Release Date: 18 Nov 2005
  • Run Time: 282 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00067R3FC
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 53,396 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
This 282-minute version of Das Boot is the full-length TV series, originally shown in six parts but here edited into a seamless whole. Director Wolfgang Petersen has since graduated to mega-budget Hollywood productions (2004's Troy for example), but has never managed even to come close to this, his German-language masterpiece. Petersen and his sterling cast (including Jürgen Prochnow in his best role as the U-boat captain) went to great lengths to ensure that this claustrophobic depiction of life aboard the German sub U-97 while attacking British convoys in the Atlantic is thoroughly authentic and totally convincing. Even the set itself, which is a replica of a U-boat interior, had no false walls, so all camera angles are necessarily from within its horribly narrow, overcrowded and sweaty confines. The result is certainly the finest submarine drama ever made, and one of the most compelling depictions of the physical, psychological and emotional effects of warfare.

This mini-series is rather longer than the movie version, which is also available on DVD in a Director's Cut version. The differences are not in matters of plot, but in the pacing: everything here takes longer to happen, while the crew must sit around, bicker, swear and sweat it out--the agonising searching for action, the tension of the attack, the terrible stress of hiding from enemy destroyers. Everything unfolds as if in real time, which is the great advantage a TV production has over a movie (contrast, for example, Band of Brothers with Saving Private Ryan). This, therefore, is the definitive presentation of a World War II classic.

On the DVD: Das Boot is presented on two discs, with no breaks where the original TV episodes started and finished. The default language option is German with optional English subtitles. For those constitutionally allergic to subtitles there is also an alternative English-language dub, voiced by many of the original cast (including Prochnow). Sound is adequate stereo or Dolby 5.1, and the anamorphic widescreen is good for the murky green underwater shots. Unlike the theatrical version, though, there is no commentary. --Mark Walker

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
5 star:
 (18)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
85 of 85 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Film - But Which DVD?, 24 Sep 2006
By J. Chapling (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Das Boot - The Mini Series (2 Disc Uncut Version) [DVD] [1985] (DVD)
Das Boot is quite possibly the best war movie ever made. If you've not seen it, there is no shortage of recommendations to buy it but the question remains - which version?

Fortunately the original theatrical release is no longer available. One of the things that make Das Boot so remarkable is its portrayal of the tension and, in the Mini Series, long stretches of boredom of life at sea in a U-Boat. The original version misses out almost all the footage where nothing much happens and turns the film into an action movie. This might work well on the big screen but anyone who appreciates Das Boot will not want to go back to this 149 minute cut.

It may be unusual to recommend an extended version of a film because it includes scenes where "nothing much happens," but this is essential to portray the tension. The Director's Cut is an excellent film in a cinema where the big screen and enveloping sound bring in the viewer to experience the agonising wait for sight of their first target or the suspense and terror the crew feel as depth charges repeatedly rain down on them as they try to dodge a British destroyer. Its length of 216 minutes (3 hours 36 minutes) is about as long as can reasonably be viewed in one sitting and just fits onto one disc.

The Superbit edition of the Director's Cut (which I have not seen) has greater picture detail than the standard version, and a highly recommended German DTS sound in addition to the German and English Dolby digital 5.1. If you want the best possible picture and sound and have a high quality screen this may well be the version for you, but it has a serious drawback in splitting the film into two DVDs. This DVD apparently does not include the short 'behind the scenes' documentary included in the other versions.

The Mini Series is the DVD version of the television series (3 episodes in the original German broadcast; 6 episodes in the UK). This includes all of the film and more besides, the overall length being 282 minutes (4 hours 42 minutes). It is harder to maintain tension on television than it is in a cinema because you cannot easily shut out other distractions and the screen size and sound quality are rarely encompassing enough to draw in the viewer. The television broadcast overcame this by shifting the viewpoint more to that of war correspondent Lt. Werner and introducing more incidental detail, character development and what might be called boredom in the early episodes. This has the effect of getting the viewers more interested in the sailors and, during the long voyage across the Atlantic, keenly anticipating meeting the first convoy and finally engaging the enemy. The six episode broadcast divided up the film, possibly accidentally, into themed units. An episode where nothing much happens, the crew getting more and more frustrated and restless, tensions building. Another episode spent continually dodging depth charges - very demanding on the crew and slowly demoralising with no way to fight back. In my opinion, the lack of episode breaks in the DVD is a drawback, though other reviewers disagree. The film is split into two DVDs and the break is very abrupt, not coinciding with a television episode break.

For most home viewers, the Mini Series is certainly the version I would recommend, despite the length and lack of episode breaks - I wouldn't particularly suggest viewing it complete at one sitting. For buyers with a good home cinema system, the Director's Cut may be the preferred option. The choice between the standard and Superbit editions is basically whether you prefer to have the entire film on one disc or have superior picture and sound quality. All versions are widescreen (Superbit 1.78:1 (16:9), others 1.85:1) and even the non-Superbit versions have good transfer to DVD.
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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Easily the best war film ever made, 1 Jun 2004
This review is from: Das Boot - The Mini Series (2 Disc Uncut Version) [DVD] [1985] (DVD)
I first saw this epic and perceptive series/film in the late 1980s. It taught me more about humanity in wartime than any other work, filmic or literary. It is quite literally haunting and in my view has not been surpassed in any genre, anywhere. It will stay with you forever. If you are even remotely interested in men at war get this DVD, Das Boot is an exceptional achievement.
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Original & The Best, 21 April 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Das Boot - The Mini Series (2 Disc Uncut Version) [DVD] [1985] (DVD)
This is the original full length version of DAS BOOT. Subsequent editedversions may have been more cinema and video friendly but they lost thefeeling of impending doom, helplessness and sheer terror that the fulllength version is able to slowly build with help from a wonderfulsoundtrack by Klaus Schultze. Do get your reading glasses out, the Germanversion with subtitles is the best.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Das Boot Revisted
When the uncut version was shown on the BBC many years ago,it was considered to be the best representation of traumatic U Boat life. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rogerv Sach

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a great format for viewing this excellent film
This is an excellent film on life aboard a submarine in wartime. The fact that the heroes are Germans during WW2 is negotiated with discretion, and probably constituted at the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Caballero del febo

5.0 out of 5 stars Alarm
Das Boot - The Mini Series (2 Disc Uncut Version) [DVD] [1985]Just superb!!The tension grabs you from the opening scene and you follow the crew so intensly that you can see hear... Read more
Published 2 months ago by K. W. C. Kempster

5.0 out of 5 stars don't get the director's cut - shortening loses the film's essential strength
One of the best war films ever - puts all the stereotyped heroics into their proper perspective..... Read more
Published 7 months ago by phil mars

5.0 out of 5 stars Shame about the subtitles!
Sorry if this is an 'anorak' review. If you never seen it before then read the rest of the reviews and go and buy it. Read more
Published 17 months ago by John Millward

5.0 out of 5 stars You are part of the crew in this film!
This must be the best submarine film of all time, and I have got almost everyone, ever made. This film (The Mini Series) is the best version of all The Das Boot versions, of which... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. G. Holt

5.0 out of 5 stars The Futility of War
One of the best war movies ever to hit the big screen. A must for any serious pacifist.
Published on 3 Jun 2007 by Peter Hughes

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic study of men at war
Das Boot is one of those films that will be permanently in my top ten movies. I treasure my old videos of the TV mini-series because it's the original and purest version I've ever... Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2006 by D. A. Stevenson

5.0 out of 5 stars Life in a Submarine
Not many films look at the war from the german side. I think what this film does is educates you on warfare and makes you realize that there are always two sides. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2006 by Mr. M. G. Walker

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars, yes it's true
All the reviewers giving 5 stars?... Uhmm... oh yeah, it's that good. I think this is one of the best if not the best war movie ever. Read more
Published on 20 April 2006 by RM

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