Product Details

• Actors: Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, David Keith
• Directors: Jonathan Mostow
• Writers: Jonathan Mostow, David Ayer, Sam Montgomery
• Producers: Dino De Laurentiis, Hal Lieberman, Lucio Trentini, Martha De Laurentiis
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English, German
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: October 3, 2000
• Run Time: 116 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (408 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004XMVI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,186 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Full Speed Ahead --- Truly Entertaining Flick!, December 5, 2000

By 

paperbackriter (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: U-571 (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

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.

89 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well made movie, but rather unrealistic..., September 19, 2000

By 

Benjamin Wecker (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U-571 (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

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.

93 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars U-571, What Hollywood has Become, September 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: U-571 (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

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.