Das Boot Blu-ray -- OnVideo Guide to Home Video Releases

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New Release: Das Boot Blu-ray

Due June 7

photo (1981) Dir.: Wolfgang Petersen; Jurgen Prochnow, Herbert Gronemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch. Two-disc special edition with the Director's Cut and the original theatrical release. $34.95.

Newly remastered for high definition, the director's cut of this prized film adds 60 n minutes to the original version, which was nominated in 1982 for six Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Effects/Sound Effects Editing and Best Sound. The film also introduced German star Jurgen Prochnow to American audiences. Also included in the two-disc set is the original theatrical version of the film and almost three hours of all-new Blu-ray exclusive special features, including a retrospective documentary with Director Wolfgang Petersen.

The film follows the lives of a fearless U-Boat captain Capt.-Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock (Jurgen Prochnow) and his inexperienced crew as they become engulfed in the "Battle of the Atlantic" during World War II. The crew confronts the constant and paralyzing fear of the unknown enemy above in the claustrophobic iron belly of a German U-boat. Director Wolfgang Petersen's close and focused shots meticulously capture the gritty reality of pursuing rival ships from undersea in a blind environment, humid with sweat and rank with the bitter scent of metal.

Masterfully crafted by Petersen and critically acclaimed as one of the best war films of all time, "Das Boot" is a masterpiece that should be part of every film enthusiast's collection. The two-disc Blu-ray is tightly packed with special features including a retrospective documentary of the making of the film, seven vignettes taking viewers on an intimate tour of a German U-boat, two featurettes offering insights from wife and first assistant director, Maria Petersen and a look into the making of the director's cut, historical material with footage detailing the evolution of submarine battles during World War II and a director's commentary.

Das Boot Synopsis:
At the height of WWII, a young submarine crew heads out to sea on a top-secret mission that all but ensures most will never make it home alive. Ordered to patrol the Atlantic and destroy an allied armada bringing supplies to Britain, these raw recruits must band together, bracing themselves against a depth-charge assault from an unseen enemy. Petersen's epic adventure deftly explores tension as pressure builds to an explosive climax, packing a visceral punch few movies can match.

Bonus features: "Wolfgang Petersen -- Back to the Boat" retrospective; "Going Deeper": "Maria's Take" (insights from wife and first assistant director, Maria Petersen) and "The Perfect Boat" (a look into the making of the Director's Cut); "Captain's Tour of a German U-boat" (Seven featurettes: Rooms Overview, Entry Conning Tower, Torpedo Room & Crew Quarters, Captain's & Officers' Rooms, The Control Room, Petty Officers' Room & Galley, Diesel & Electric Motor Rooms); "Historical Material": "Behind the Scenes" (1981) and "Battle of the Atlantic" (1983); commentary by Wolfgang Petersen.



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