[minsc_tdp]

I worry when I read things like "that movie was horrible - the <insert nation here> didn't have <obscure weapon type> until 4 months after the movie took place! HORRIBLE MOVIE DO NOT WATCH!"

Guys, what makes a good movie is not necessarily accuracy. Inaccurate movies can be good, and accurate movies can be bad or worse yet - boring. The level of inaccuracy is a hard truth, but in the viewing situation is relative to how much you know, which differs for everyone.

I try very hard not to judge movies on accuracy, unless it is SO glaring you absolutely can't ignore it. Example: A SUB THAT CAN FLY THROUGH THE AIR WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN IT. Just about anything else is forgivable - it's a movie - even a flying sub - as long as they explain it or put it in the proper context. Hell one of those Transformers movies had a flying aircraft carrier that was taken down by a bow and arrow, but in the context of that movie about transforming space robots, it was acceptable.

Here are my quick reviews in no particular order:

U-571 was a highly entertaining movie I really enjoyed. A bit Hollywood Schlock but well done. Some great tense moments that Hollywood does well (the guy freezing up and not yelling in German comes to mind!)

Das Boot was an excellent movie, fine filmmaking in all respects, the best movie I've ever seen though I'm admittedly biased because I like submarines. The 5-hour version is hard to sit through, but was designed for 1 episode per day over 5 days (german TV miniseries) so judging that negatively is unfair.

Crimson Tide was pretty good. Denzel overacted a bit as usual but Hackman can balance people out. Someone besides Denzel in the role and it could have been a great movie. If you like Denzel, it was a great movie.

"Below" was an entertaining, unusual horror movie. I own a copy, and I've watched it more than once. It has some lower-budget filmmaking flaws but it's uniqueness in the genre makes up for it a million times over.

Out of all the sub movies, Below is the most daring, and it should be given serious credit for that.

"The Hunt for Red October" - I loved this movie the first dozen or so times I watched it. I still do, but I must say I see it differently now. It's a great movie, but it's also blatantly masturbatory porn for wannabe sub drivers. A pencil-pusher is thrust into a wild ride which culminates in him literally driving the sub. That was put there because you are in Ryan's shoes as you watch. It's fanservice. It borders on manipulative, kind of like Avatar. If you don't understand, watch the Plinkett review of Avatar and you will understand. I don't even judge Connery for playing a Russian - he's an actor and he does his job very well. But I can't help feeling a bit manipulated after I watch this movie. Nonetheless, it rates among my top 3 like the rest of you.