Filmmaking - The Most Professional Movie You Have Ever Seen

[S8 Booster]

A couple of days ago my son returned from a video hire shop and, as a big surprise to me it was Wolfgang Petersens all time famous "Das Boot". It is about 20 years since I saw this film first time and Now I am as impressed as I ever was. It is so brilliant in every way including technically which is so often shortcutted in US made films.

My recommendation is to rent or view or buy it to get a view into this jewel.

It is a german made anti war film in pure german setting and even the ending works well, not always true with anti war attemps. Ie. The Dictator which is still great.

You can read more about it and download clips on this site:
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/dasboot/

It is reworked by every possible manner in image and sound dvision and re edit to "Directors Cut" for re-issue in 1997.

And, it is lovely to not be "stuffed" with heroism and muzak through out the film as is so common nowadays.







Recommended.

When DAS BOOT was originally released in the U.S. in 1982, the film's enormous success was a surprise. A sub-titled German war movie a hit? It sounded absurd. And yet the astonishing level of filmmaking and deeply felt anti-war message gripped audiences to their chairs as they witnessed the never-before-seen story of German U-boat soldiers riding the bottom of the ocean.

DAS BOOT forever changed audiences' expectations of unrelenting tension and visceral authenticity in an action film. DAS BOOT set a new standard for high-wire suspense and broke fresh technological ground. It also became the most successful foreign film ever released in the United States Ñ nominated for six Academy Awards and shattering box office records Ñ and continues to be one of the most popular foreign films on the video shelves.

Now a new generation of moviegoers will have a unique opportunity to experience the director's "ideal" cut of DAS BOOT in the theaters Ñ complete with newly added footage and re-designed digital sound that bring this action classic to state-of-the-art standards for today's audiences.

And while there look for "The Marriage Of Maria Braun" by Fassbinder.

R

[crimsonson]

I have the Director's version DVD

[S8 Booster]

Thanks, great relief - then we areat least two :!:

R

[David M. Leugers]

I find it hard to believe it has been twenty years since I saw "Das Boot' in the theatre (twice). A great movie which deserves to stand on its own merit. Why compare it to the usual Hollywood offering? Das Boot is not the usual German offering. I was disappointed that other great films have not materialized out of Germany since then. (At least they have not played in theatres around where I live). I remember several foreign films that saw lots of play and where very memorable = The Navigator, Europa, Cinema Paradiso, etc. I think only Europa was German, but I could be wrong. The point is many great films are made all around the world. So are twenty times as many clunkers. The comment made to infer that films made in the USA lack professionalism and value is just your opinion. I agree that most fllms are a good waste of film stock, but there are many that are worth my hard earned dollars to see on the big screen. To make a direct comparison is pointless, but I would ask what everyone thought of "Saving Private Ryan" as far as professionalism and craftsmanship are concerned? To name just one WWII film made in the USA. If the film is good, I will seek it out to see it no matter where it was made... BTW, I just saw and liked "The Piano Player".

David M. Leugers

[wahiba]

There seems to be blinker on TV programmes. Many are better made than many films.

A brilliant one to watch out for is 'The Second Coming' with Chris Ecclestone.

And what about Farscape - pure hokum - but enjoyable.

[S8 Booster]

David, I am not derating US movie as such. The US production companies are the most professional and having the best tools in the world but my question is: Do they use this to make better films and my reply would be no.
Also there is a general problem of course, the lack of a good story and good directors. In my view there becomes very often a question of bread and butter.

Is Speilberg a good director? In my view no.
However, his films DO draw audience to the cinemas, also called box office successes?
Which investor would not follow that route.
Does this enhance film quality? In my view no.

I do not go to cinemas anymore except with my children but there are some limiting factors that I would set to attend a cinema:
No Spielberg
No Hoffman
No DeNiro
No Caine
No Hanks
+++
They are exactly the same characters in each and every movie they participate in. Spielberg for lack of technical capacity. (Are they only in it for the money?)

One Rock Solid US movie in my opinion is Next Stop Chicago. I am sure there are far more but they might not have been successful enough to be released extensively.

Apart from this I have seen extremely good films from:
South Africa, Spain, Italy, France, UK, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Japan and China +++ and surely there is a lot more to see buut not commonly achieveable.

Wolfgang Petersen who wrote and directed Das Boot is now hovering in Hollywood and his work there seem very below par compared to Das Boot. Why?

I think he also directs CSI? if my memory serves me. Predictable?

Don´t put to much weight on my view.
It is only meant as a eye opener.
No offending.


R

[studiocarter]

Surely, the Library has made a mistake, there were two videos labeled, "Das Boot." Yep, it is two tapes long. Wow, what a story.
I remember it as in Black and White. Is that correct? Was it really all in B&W? It could have been, color was not needed IMHO.

Michael

[Guest]

Das Boot is great film-making. It gets shown on UK television about every 4-5 years, the directors version was on TV in 2000 so watch for it next year.

Definately one of the finest examples of cinematography ever.

[mattias]

No Spielberg
No Hoffman
No DeNiro
No Caine
No Hanks

come on. das boot was made in 1982 and back then these people were doing great stuff as well. they're just old and tired, that's all. there's plenty of young and fresh stuff made in the u.s. today. look at the work by wes anderson, steven soderberg, p.t. anderson, richard kelly and beyond...

(*lol* three out of four with swedish heritage. coincidence?)

/matt

[wahiba]

Caine? Get Carter, The Ipcress File, Zulu, Alfie unless there is another Caine.

:? Mind you, I cannot think of a decent film he has been in since that lot from his early years.

[istvan]

[quote="David M. Leugers"] I was disappointed that other great films have not materialized out of Germany since then. (At least they have not played in theatres around where I live).

Ok, just for one: "Die Himmel ûber Berlin" (Wim Wenders), now that´s black and white for you! And "Europa"´s danish. (you know, mathias, the danes didn´t have to expatriote themselves to get creative children...coincidentally)

And as for saving private ryan; who was that executive producer adding the intro and outro? Donald Rumsfeld? No, I´m afraid Spielberg can´t hide behind him, so much for creative integrity (not to mention the next to total lack of any non-americans being portrayed - the only one being one betraying his word of honour).

No, I´d rather dive into Apocalypse now anytime (now that´s cinematography!)

Istvan

[S8 Booster]

I always agree with the last poster whatever the angle of view is

Just came to think of another impressive film I saw on TV some years ago. Not so new either. I think it was a French-Russian production about Napoleon´s invasion and defeat in Russia. That was incredibly good too. I cannot mention one detail. It was just - good. No weak points in my view. Anybody else seen this one. Another 3 hours piece I think.

The Russian? film stock/colours and special effects produced a very different impression - to me very realistic. Cruel film really. I think I watched it on Swedish TV. - Mattias?

Anyone seen the Fellini one (do not remember the name) that takes you through 2 or 3 time dimentions in a 360° camera pan into the new time dimention while still watching the one you left? Apparently not cut in the process but I am not sure.

Other film recommendations?
Not thinking of computer special effects or Sci-Fi - only rock solid craftmanship.

R

[Lucas Lightfeat]

Saving Private Ryan was American propaganda filth, but I've still got time for Speilberg - Catch Me If You Can was fantastic! He is at his best when entertaining and taking his audience on an epic adventure - in fact I do not believe that Speilberg has a living equal in this respect - he is a genius of pacing and action, IMHO, and I do mean genius.

I think there are so many Swedes, Germans etc. in Hollywood for the same reason there are so many Brits over there making great movies - it's warmer there, there's more money for film-making, they speak English (kind of), and we offer the Americans a welcome cultural input to their increasingly homogenous films! Homogenous equals profit, I guess. I suppose the balance leans more towards business than art in America, and in the long run, they have produced many great artworks as well as a plethora of shite.

I love both European and American drama. The French also make a lot of films, and some of them are just shocking. It's the same the world over. Over half of my film collection is American, the rest is mostly "foreign language" as we Anglophones call anything not in English. English films are either utterly pedestrian, or hideously aimed at the American market. It's sickenning, really, as we used to make great films to rival anywhere in the world.

Lucas

[S8 Booster]

Credits to those who deserves it:

There are certainy US films I do like and which I find great. Here is one but it is easy to forget films like this in all the actionstuff around nowadays. Guess it wasn´t a great success though. In my view this one do well in an area that I think US films often have problems to work well: Interpreting human relations in a deeper sense.

I believe it was called The Astronaut? with Jack Nicholson and Mia Farrow? And? Not sure about the cast but I really like it and would rate it with my topsters. Totally different kind of film but to me it Rocks Wood.

mattias

come on. das boot was made in 1982 and back then these people were doing great stuff as well. they're just old and tired, that's all.
/matt

So I need to pay more to get less, it that what you mean?

mattias
there's plenty of young and fresh stuff made in the u.s. today. look at the work by wes anderson, steven soderberg, p.t. anderson, richard kelly and beyond...
/matt

May well be but I do not go to cinemas for my own "pleasure" anymore. When I see the first technical flop or LQ shoot/logic I just leave the cinema instantly there and then. I keep asking my self, are they just after me money? With the resources these guys rule there should be no need to give us the short weight? The reason why I am so critical on this because it totally demiolishes the continouity for me.

mattias
look at the work by wes anderson, steven soderberg, p.t. anderson, richard kelly and beyond...

(*lol* three out of four with swedish heritage. coincidence?)

/matt

You should only know. (Noncoincidencally, cryptic never to be explained), I think.

Maybe I am getting to old for this, not having the ability to view new films in the right "light"? :idea: Maybe I should join Old Uncle Barry in term of Nick and change mine to Old SOB or Old SOD? There is a time for everyting and everything has its time, maybe.

R

[S8 Booster]

Credits to those who deserves it:

There are certainy US films I do like and which I find great. Here is one but it is easy to forget films like this in all the actionstuff around nowadays. Guess it wasn´t a great success though. In my view this one do well in an area that I think US films often have problems to work well: Interpreting human relations in a deeper sense.

I believe it was called The Astronaut? with Jack Nicholson and Mia Farrow? And? Not sure about the cast but I really like it and would rate it with my topsters. Totally different kind of film but to me it Rocks Wood.

mattias

come on. das boot was made in 1982 and back then these people were doing great stuff as well. they're just old and tired, that's all.
/matt

So I need to pay more to get less, is that what you mean?

mattias
there's plenty of young and fresh stuff made in the u.s. today. look at the work by wes anderson, steven soderberg, p.t. anderson, richard kelly and beyond...
/matt

May well be but I do not go to cinemas for my own "pleasure" anymore. When I see the first technical flop or LQ shoot/logic I just leave the cinema instantly there and then. I keep asking my self, are they just after me money? With the resources these guys rule there should be no need to give us the short weight? The reason why I am so critical on this because it totally demolishes the continouity for me.

mattias
look at the work by wes anderson, steven soderberg, p.t. anderson, richard kelly and beyond...

(*lol* three out of four with swedish heritage. coincidence?)

/matt

You should only know. (Noncoincidencally, cryptic never to be explained), I think.

Maybe I am getting to old for this, not having the ability to view new films in the right "light"? :idea: Maybe I should join Old Uncle Barry in term of Nick and change mine to Old SOB or Old SOD? There is a time for everyting and everything has its time, maybe.

R