Review of Das Boot: Directors Cut

Video

This DVD is the Director’s Cut of the 1985 film Das Boot. An extra 60 minutes of footage has been restored to this version, making the film a now lengthy 209 minutes. For a film of 15 years old, it does not usually show it’s age.

The video and audio have been digitally re-mastered, so the picture quality is very good. The film is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and as most of the action takes place on board the submarine, often resulting in very close claustrophobic scenes, one could be forgiven for expecting many of the scenes to be dark and grainy. However in this restored Director’s Cut version, a high quality source print has been used before restoration, and consequently the picture is not overly dark or grainy. Colours are vivid, especially on the fire scenes, and grain is minimal.

The special effects scenes are the only areas where the age of the film is displayed. Several of the shots are quite obviously models, the techniques of which has vastly improved over the last 15 years, as there was no CGI in those days. Also on many scenes such as where the actors are standing on the submarine conning tower, the back projection is extremely obvious.

Audio

The audio has been totally re-mixed and given a spanking new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The 5.1 is available in the native German and of course English, with several subtitle tracks. On my first viewing of this disc I selected the German 5.1 soundtrack with English subtitles, as Das Boot is first and foremost a German dialogue film. Afterwards I tried the English version, and as the actors are therefore dubbed, I am glad a chose the German version – reading the subtitles did not detract from the enjoyment of the film.

The remix is superb. The main atmosphere of the film is extremely tense with claustrophobic internal submarine action, and this has been improved dramatically with the Dolby Digital sound. The creaks and groans as the submarine dives deep echo round the room, and the sonar pings from all the speakers add to the atmosphere. The subwoofer is also well used reinforcing the bass of the engine hum, and action scenes.

This is a superb effort for a re-mixed soundtrack, and shows what can be done with the DVD format if the effort and money are invested.

Features

This is the Region 1 version of the disc, and unfortunately the worst aspect about it is that is a ‘flipper’. This is not the case with the Region 2 version, and indeed this is one of the rare discs where it is thought to be better to get the Region 2 version. The flip point is in a terrible position, right in the middle of a scene, and one wonders why they couldn’t have waited to the scene end which is only 10 minutes later.

You get a nice making of documentary, and a full length commentary from the director, on the film itself and this Director’s Cut version. All in all very informative and entertaining.

Conclusion

This is a very good film, and the DVD is also of a high standard, apart from it being a ‘flipper’. The Director’s Cut version as breathed a whole new life into the movie, especially as it has been brought up to date with a superb soundtrack and restored footage. The film has not really aged, except for some of the special effects which although cannot compete with today’s technical wizardry, add to the atmosphere of this mid 80s film.

The story is full of tension, claustrophobic action, and although three and a half hours in length, does not get overly slow. You need to see this film for the first time when you are alert. Do not start to watch if feeling any way tired else you may miss some of the best action.

So the film can be highly recommended, but due to the DVD flipper status, I have to recommend that the Region 2 version is purchased as there is little to distinguish the two apart from this major point.