Das Boot, Uncut or "the original" ?

[Bluesman]

Hi all fellow simmers! I'm sure this topic has been discussed earlier, but after a quick search I didn't found anything convincing.
To the point, which one do you (who has one, or both) prefer, the uncut, or the original mini-series?

I'm asking because the SH3 really got me interested in submarines, and as a few years history of enjoying WW2 flight sims (mostly IL2 series), I'm interested big time in WW2 generally.

As I haven't watched any submarine movies previously, I'd really like to watch the Das Boot, especially when I realised I could get one for 10-15 euros. ( I'm a poor student after all.. XD )

Only thing which is troubling me is, ´which one?´ So please, share your knowledge and the possible dislikes of either one. :|\

[TreverSlyFox]

I wouldn't mind knowing also because I've seen the reviews, but NOT from the Sub Sim Community. From what I understand there are actually 3 versions out there;

1. The TV mini-series of some 5 hours

2. The Directors cut of some 3 & 1/2 hours

3. The Movie House version of some 2 hours


My understanding is the 5 hour "mini-series" version is MUCH greater in depth in character developement. Not just the main characters but many "Side line" characters both in port and on the boat. This version is for the really "Hard Core" sub simer because you'll really experiance the "boring" part of a sub patrol.

The 3 & 1/2 hour Directors Cut version "rounds out " the main characters and you get a fair idea of what a sub patrol was like. Probably the one for the majority here because many of us would fall asleep during the 5 hour version.


The 2 hour "Movie House" version just leaves you wanting more which I agree with as this is the only version I've seen (in german with english sub titles). When I walked out of the movie house some 20 years ago I was stunned by it. But I thought there should have been more to it.

So, who here has actually seen the 3+ hour Directors Cut and the 5 hour Mini-Series versions and what's your "Take" on them? :hmm:

[capt-jones]

splash out get em all :rotfl: but my choice is the directors cut

[Ginger Beer]

The mini-series is the one to get. If you don't, you'll always wonder what you missed. Das Boot is as much about quantity as quality. Get the version that gives you the most...the mini-series!

[america person]

get the miniseries , vs, and if you have too wathc it piecemeal(if you do that tho dont tell us )i got the uncut version, and its rad awesome. if you speak german, fluently, with out translation watch it in geramn, sans subtitles, if yu dotn speak german, watach it anyway in geramn with the subtitles applicable to you, english french or spanish.....DO NOT WATCH IT DUBBED it klills it for you....

Trav

[DedEye]

In Canada I bought "The Original Uncut Version" on DVD. It's 293 minutes long (almost 5 hours) and you can watch it in German or English in either remastered 5.1 or original stereo, with or without English or French subtitles. It also has the making of Das Boot with behind the scenes "featurette previews" (haven't checked this out yet).

How's that for options?

I believe this is the same version as the mini-series given the length (?)

One of my all time favourite movies

[Floater]

Get both. Seriously. Watch the "uncut" version first, and then watch the director's commentary on the "Director's cut" version to get some background. They play the whole film through, with a superimposed audio-only chat between Petererson (the director) and Prochnow (the Captain) and a couple of others. Informative, interesting and entertaining.

If you've got a good sound system (I haven't), you might also appreciate the soundtrack of the "Director's cut" version, in which all but the dialogue audio was re-recorded from scratch for Dolby surround-sound. The voice tracks were restored from the original tapes, too.

[The Avon Lady]

Very happy with the director's cut. Two thumbs up!

[lafeeverted]

if you have high end audio and video, go for the super-bit version of the director's cut. looks like a different movie!

[Kalach]

I think I have the directors-cut version, and it's great. Though the mini-series would be good to if you have the time.
As said before, watch it in German (with sub-titles if you don't speak german), It's really not quite right in English

[The Avon Lady]

Originally Posted by Kalach

I think I have the directors-cut version, and it's great. Though the mini-series would be good to if you have the time.
As said before, watch it in German (with sub-titles if you don't speak german), It's really not quite right in English

Jah - I mean - yes. That's the only way to watch it.

[kiwi_2005]

Yup the Directors Cut is the best. I mean when a director puts out his version of the movie, its the best.

[gdogghenrikson]

I prefer the uncut version

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Director's Cut... Three thumbs up!

[Gizzmoe]

My opinion is, once you have seen the "mini-series" you´ll never watch the Directors Cut again.