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I've seen a decent chunk of Submarine films. Some good, some less than good.
As much as I love Down Periscope for its accurate depiction of everyone I've ever met from the Silent Service, I'm trying to find the more serious depictions of undersea suspense.
Here's my list, feel free to add to it:
The Hunt for Red October (1990) - A tense Cold War thriller featuring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin, this film is renowned for its intricate plot and strong performances.
Das Boot (1981) - A German film that offers a harrowing and realistic portrayal of life aboard a U-boat during World War II, it is often regarded as one of the greatest war films ever made.
Crimson Tide (1995) - Starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, this film explores the conflict between a submarine captain and his executive officer during a potential nuclear crisis.
U-571 (2000) - A fictionalized account of a World War II mission to capture a German U-boat, this film features intense action and suspense.
K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) - Based on a true story, this film stars Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson as crew members of a Soviet submarine facing a nuclear disaster.
Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) - A classic World War II film featuring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster, it focuses on the rivalry between a submarine captain and his executive officer.
The Enemy Below (1957) - This film presents a cat-and-mouse game between an American destroyer and a German U-boat, highlighting the strategic aspects of naval warfare.
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
I struggle to justify it being in a list of "best", but from what I remember, it captured a bit of crazy, cooped up paranoia. Its a wild person that signs up for that kind of job.
In terms of series - Seaquest was fun when I was a kid. Probably horribly dated now though.
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2025/01/22 21:34:39
"Sometimes the only victory possible is to keep your opponent from winning." - The Emperor, from The Outcast Dead.
"Tell your gods we are coming for them, and that their realms will burn as ours did." -Thostos Bladestorm
nels1031 wrote: Below (2002) - A supernatural submarine tale.
I struggle to justify it being in a list of "best", but from what I remember, it captured a bit of crazy, cooped up paranoia. Its a wild person that signs up for that kind of job.
In terms of series - Seaquest was fun when I was a kid. Probably horribly dated now though.
Don't laugh, my buddy got me a job (I was paid in the form of a sandwich, a Pepsi, and a pass to Universal) as an extra on SeaQuest 2032. I played some sort of refugee, and was put into a large crowd of other extras and told "Look afraid, but don't look at the camera."
I bought the DVDs, and can say, "Yep, that's my arm."
Never heard of Below, I'll go check it out. Is it Syfy channel quality or better?
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
Greyhound (2020) stars Tom Hanks being chased by German U boats in WW2. I wouldn't recommend it though, not a fan of this film.
All the good films that I know have already been mentioned so thought I'd mention one I don't like Special shout out for Hunt for Red October, I love that film. It helps that I lapped up all the Jack Ryan novels in my youth I suppose.
There is an absolutely delightful subgenre of submarine films you may enjoy if you like horror movies too-
So for vampires, submarines and Nazis, you might enjoy
Blood Vessel 2019
or
Subferatu 2020.
Subferatu is a comedy too.
Klawz-Ramming is a subset of citrus fruit?
Gwar- "And everyone wants a bigger Spleen!"
Mercurial wrote:
I admire your aplomb and instate you as Baron of the Seas and Lord Marshall of Privateers.
Orkeosaurus wrote:Star Trek also said we'd have X-Wings by now. We all see how that prediction turned out.
Orkeosaurus, on homophobia, the nature of homosexuality, and the greatness of George Takei.
English doesn't borrow from other languages. It follows them down dark alleyways and mugs them for loose grammar.
Lathe Biosas wrote: Never heard of Below, I'll go check it out. Is it Syfy channel quality or better?
Its above Syfy quality from what I remember of it. Not an award winning spectacle, but I remember not hating it.
"Sometimes the only victory possible is to keep your opponent from winning." - The Emperor, from The Outcast Dead.
"Tell your gods we are coming for them, and that their realms will burn as ours did." -Thostos Bladestorm
All I know it stars Gerald Butler, Gary Oldman and Common.
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
El Torro wrote: Greyhound (2020) stars Tom Hanks being chased by German U boats in WW2. I wouldn't recommend it though, not a fan of this film.
All the good films that I know have already been mentioned so thought I'd mention one I don't like Special shout out for Hunt for Red October, I love that film. It helps that I lapped up all the Jack Ryan novels in my youth I suppose.
I actually liked Greyhound for being a no nonsense movie that is almost exclusively focused on combat and spares us the umpteenth slog through anti-war scenes.
I do say that as someone who isn't really into naval stuff, so make of that what you will.
Nehekhara lives! Sort of!
Why is the rum always gone?
All I know it stars Gerald Butler, Gary Oldman and Common.
How have I never heard of this!? *Looks at IMDB page*. Oh. Well I'm still watching it ASAP. Thanks for the recommendation.
Lathe Biosas wrote:I've seen a decent chunk of Submarine films. Some good, some less than good.
As much as I love Down Periscope for its accurate depiction of everyone I've ever met from the Silent Service, I'm trying to find the more serious depictions of undersea suspense.
Here's my list, feel free to add to it:
The Hunt for Red October (1990) - A tense Cold War thriller featuring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin, this film is renowned for its intricate plot and strong performances.
Das Boot (1981) - A German film that offers a harrowing and realistic portrayal of life aboard a U-boat during World War II, it is often regarded as one of the greatest war films ever made.
Crimson Tide (1995) - Starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, this film explores the conflict between a submarine captain and his executive officer during a potential nuclear crisis.
U-571 (2000) - A fictionalized account of a World War II mission to capture a German U-boat, this film features intense action and suspense.
K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) - Based on a true story, this film stars Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson as crew members of a Soviet submarine facing a nuclear disaster.
Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) - A classic World War II film featuring Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster, it focuses on the rivalry between a submarine captain and his executive officer.
The Enemy Below (1957) - This film presents a cat-and-mouse game between an American destroyer and a German U-boat, highlighting the strategic aspects of naval warfare.
Another one on the civilian side is Underwater, which is very much in the same wheelhouse as The Abyss. Not sure if its quite as good, but I really enjoyed it. The set/prop design and industrial aesthetic really worked for me.
This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2025/01/23 15:26:20
Please excuse any spelling errors. I use a tablet frequently and software keyboards are a pain!
Don't laugh, my buddy got me a job (I was paid in the form of a sandwich, a Pepsi, and a pass to Universal) as an extra on SeaQuest 2032. I played some sort of refugee, and was put into a large crowd of other extras and told "Look afraid, but don't look at the camera."
I bought the DVDs, and can say, "Yep, that's my arm."
Never heard of Below, I'll go check it out. Is it Syfy channel quality or better?
Another one on the civilian side is Underwater, which is very much in the same wheelhouse as The Abyss. Not sure if its quite as good, but I really enjoyed it. The set/prop design and industrial aesthetic really worked for me.
Meh ending, but perfect atmosphere, it's basically Wet Necromunda
If we're going tangential,
Sphere (1998 Michael Crichton movie)
Seaquest (Wet Star Trek)
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/01/23 22:19:37
The old meta is dead and the new meta struggles to be born. Now is the time of munchkins.
The Wolf’s Call (2019). French movie. Recommended to me by a co-worker who thought I’d like it.Really, really bad if you know anything about submarine warfare and how submarines (and militaries for that matter) operate…
That colored my view so don’t know if others might enjoy it. But it is a submarine movie…
And somehow it is a 92% on rotten tomatoes??!? Nope! But YMMV.
Vale,
JohnS
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/01/24 00:10:46
Valete,
JohnS
"You don't believe data - you test data. If I could put my finger on the moment we genuinely <expletive deleted> ourselves, it was the moment we decided that data was something you could use words like believe or disbelieve around"
U-571 is offensively bad. It's basically the Braveheart of submarine films with none of the charisma.
Greyhound is stupid as well if only because USN submarine actions against the Japanese were more significant.
I don't think any submarine films are particularly good. K19 and Das Boot might be acceptable.
The only way we can ever solve anything is to look in the mirror and find no enemy
K19 suffers from Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson attempting to use Russian accents. But it's pretty decent beyond that.
I don't think U571 is as bad as Braveheart. Sure they were both as historically accurate as Excalibur, but it's hard to hate a movie that kills off Jon Bon Jovie.
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
Spoiler Contains My Review of U-571. I tried to rein in my sarcasm... for the most part.
Spoiler:
Buckle up for a wild ride through the depths of the Atlantic with U-571, a cinematic rollercoaster that redefines the term 'loosely based on true events.' This film is a masterclass in how to turn history into a thrilling, action-packed adventure, even if the history part is, well, a bit flexible.
Matthew McConaughey, in a role that can only be described as 'Matthew McConaughey-ish,' delivers a performance so intense, you'll forget he's not actually a WWII submarine captain. And Jon Bon Jovi, the rockstar-turned-actor, brings his unique blend of charisma and musical talent to the screen as the ship's mechanic, making you wonder if he's secretly been a method actor this whole time.
The real star of the show, however, is the submarine itself. U-571's depiction of underwater warfare is so thrilling, you'll forget that you're watching a movie and not actually holding your breath as the sub dives deeper and deeper. And the plot? It's a twisting, turning, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Sure, the history buffs among us might cringe at some of the film's more 'artistic' interpretations of WWII submarine warfare. But who needs accuracy when you've got McConaughey's steely gaze, Bon Jovi's rockstar charm, and a submarine that's as much a character as any of the humans on screen?
In short, U-571 is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good action movie, a hearty laugh, and a healthy dose of 'what if?' So grab your popcorn, suspend your disbelief, and get ready to enjoy a wild ride through the depths of the Atlantic—just don't expect to learn much about history along the way!
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
This movie came to my attention because it has Adrian Paul from the Highlander: The Series in it.
However, it is also a Submarine movie. Interestingly, if you watch the Tides of War version there is a sub-plot about LGBTQ+ love in the silent service.
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I'm disappointed in you Dakka, that you have not yet suggested the film Submerged (2005).
This is a film the combines submarines and Steven Seagal... how could it not be amazing?
The plot (not sure if that's the right word) is in the spoiler.
Spoiler:
Chris Cody (Steven Seagal) is a top-ranked mercenary who took part in an undercover operation to stop a major terrorist strike on U.S. soil; a strike that the UN refused to believe was about to happen. Cody had to break a number of laws in order to do the job, and he is in a military prison.
At the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay, Secret Service agents are briefing the ambassador on a terrorist base when they suddenly go haywire and kill her and then themselves. Later, in Washington DC, intelligence analyst Dr. Chappell (Christine Adams) concludes that some sort of mind control device must have been used. A Delta Force commando team is sent to Uruguay to investigate, but they are quickly ambushed and captured. Taken to the terrorist base, they are brainwashed by Dr. Adrian Lehder (Nick Brimble), a scientist who heads a secret CIA experiment in mind control, programming soldiers to become virtually unstoppable killing machines when they are given the right commands.
The Navy recruits Cody and his talented crew to take Chappell and special agent Fletcher (William Hope) with them in an effort to destroy the facility and take down Lehder. Cody is promised that in exchange, he and his crew will be freed and cleared of the alleged misconduct that they were accused of and receive $100,000 each. Suspicious, Cody quickly jettisons Fletcher, who turns out to be in league with Lehder. Fletcher tips off Lehder, and they quickly abandon Lehder's facility, leaving behind a few American prisoners as Trojan horses.
One team of Cody's men commandeers a submarine, while the others secure the base and rescue the prisoners. The team fights its way past a tank, destroys the base, and escapes on the sub. But they end up stuck on the sub with some of the mind-controlled soldiers. After fighting off the soldiers and escaping from the sub, Cody and his crew realize that they must race to bring down Lehder before the rest of his soldiers claim them all.
I wonder if Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone, or any other action hero have starred in a submarine movie.
EDIT: I'm not sure if I should include the Jason Statham MEG films as he is in submarines for a good chunk of those films.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2025/01/27 22:46:38
BorderCountess wrote: Just because you're doing something right doesn't necessarily mean you know what you're doing...
"Vulkan: There will be no Rad or Phosphex in my legion. We shall fight wars humanely. Some things should be left in the dark age." "Ferrus: Oh cool, when are you going to stop burning people to death?" "Vulkan: I do not understand the question."
– A conversation between the X and XVIII Primarchs
Seaquest was pretty good in its first season, but boy howdy did it get BAD after that. I couldn't even force myself to watch the whole second season, it was so awful. Like, worse somehow than season 1 of Star Trek TNG. Or season 7 of Voyager.
As for recommendations of submarine stories, I might actually recommend watching something that isn't even a submarine story. The episode of the original series of Star Trek "Balance of Terror" is very much like a showdown between a ship and a submarine, like Run Silent, Run Deep. Truly one of the best episodes of the OG Star Trek series.
My armies (re-counted and updated on 11/7/24, including modeled wargear options):
Dark Angels: ~16000 Astra Militarum: ~1200 | Imperial Knights: ~2300 | Leagues of Votann: ~1300 | Tyranids: ~3400 | Stormcast Eternals: ~5000 | Kruleboyz: ~3500 | Lumineth Realm-Lords: ~700
Check out my P&M Blogs: ZergSmasher's P&M Blog | Imperial Knights blog | Board Games blog | Total models painted in 2024: 40 | Total models painted in 2025: 40 | Current main painting project: Tomb Kings
Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote: You need your bumps felt. With a patented, Grotsnik Corp Bump Feelerer 9,000.
The Grotsnik Corp Bump Feelerer 9,000. It only looks like several bricks crudely gaffer taped to a cricket bat.
Grotsnik Corp. Sorry, No Refunds.
Not sure it qualifies as "best", but I remember The Rift, a 1990 B-movie, to be fairly decent and fun to watch. IMDB synopsis:
Siren II, a submarine under the command of Capt. Phillips, ventures into the deep on a mission to recover the missing Siren I. Their quest is hindered when the submarine becomes entangled in a patch of toxic seaweed.
Nehekhara lives! Sort of!
Why is the rum always gone?
Not quite a "submarine" movie, but Leviathan (1989) is pretty good for and 80's horror schlock. Starring Peter Weller (robocop) and Richard Crenna (Rambo, and I routinely think is named John Cena) are deep sea oil workers that accidentally discover a sunken Russian ship, and bring an infectious, mutating monster aboard that is reminiscent of The Thing.
Special shout out for Hunt for Red October, I love that film. It helps that I lapped up all the Jack Ryan novels in my youth I suppose.
Cadre Coronal Afterglow w1;d0;l0 
~1200 | Imperial Knights: 
~2300 | Leagues of Votann: 
~1300 | Tyranids: 
~3400 | Stormcast Eternals: 
~5000 | Kruleboyz: 
~3500 | Lumineth Realm-Lords: 
~700
