Very well executed

Sorry, this movie sucks

Just perfect...

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This movie is neither as amazing or terrible as everyone seems to make it out to be. Let's talk what stinks about this movie. The editing, for one, and huge chunks of the script for another. Macy's strange wife-vision scenes are not only badly placed, they're useless. Cutting them out of the movie and establishing a better relationship between the two at the beginning might have been a wiser choice, if they were necessary at all. As far as realistic goes, this is no Das Boot. If it went for historically accurate U-Boat operations, it's not awful but it is far from perfect. The German crew does speak German, which is refreshing. Some of the line delivery from more minor actors was off. The music is a little cheesy, and I had a personal gripe with the large Nazi flag hanging behind the second German boat in the climax, as if to say "these Germans are the BAD Germans. It's okay if they die." It was a little heavy handed for a movie that's about......cooperation between enemies. Let's talk what's good about this movie, and that's the message. As much as I love films like Saving Private Ryan, little irks me more in war movies than the the Americans portrayed as the gung-ho patriotic heroes and all Germans as evil redshirts who can't hit anything with their guns and just wait around to be slaughtered. Though they do their civic duty and begin as the "bad guys", In Enemy Hands, much like films such as War Horse and Stalingrad (1993), portrays them as human. The German crew in this film are made up of both loyal sympathizers to the German cause who will go so far as mutiny to kill the Americans that they hate, and men like the Captain who are just tired of the war and want to get everyone home safe at the end of the day. Perhaps the most realistic is Ludwig, who dislikes and distrusts the Americans but follows his Captain's orders to the letter, is reluctant to fire on his countrymen but in the end saves lives. It is a realistic portrayal of men, not a bunch of swastika-painted monsters who want to make their sausage with Allied children. And through the trials, treason and mistrust, both crews learn that the others are men, as well, and THAT is what is great about this film. It might be fictional, but it is a story that I wish had happened during WW II and indeed, I am sure, at least began to happen in many parts of the world. It's important for people to see films like this at least once so that they don't linger under the impression that every German in the war was a Hitler clone. As far as acting goes, don't believe what everyone else complains about. Scott Caan was the weakest of the leads but he wasn't distractedly bad, and he wasn't in it for too long. Til Schweiger didn't have to do much to look imposing and Captain-y, and he's easy on the eyes for the lady viewers. Macy was very good in a unconventional role, a normal looking fellow among a rather good looking lot of sailors. Thomas Kretschmann will always be the standout of whatever film he is in, managing to convey a plethora of emotions without Hollywooding it up for the camera. It's worth a watch for his performance alone, and it was good to see him finally survive.

Netflix suggested In Enemy Hands and when I saw who was in it and that Netflix had it at around 3 or 4 starts, I figured I'd go for it. Big Mistake. I don't even know where to begin dissecting this pile of steaming waste, so I'll start with the actors. Macy - cardboard acting, Caan - worst actor of all time and he doesn't redeem himself here, Gregg - too bad he wasn't in more of it, killed off too soon so maybe good for him?, Sommerhalder - please, don't make me laugh and also see previous review on Caan. Sisto - a clown posing as an actor, Holly - awful and too bad they didn't make her do a gratuitous topless scene then I would have given her a slight thumbs up. Til Schweiger and Kretschmann are always good and I'll bet they're still wondering how their agents talked them into doing this. The technical elements are both nonexistent and utterly fabricated. I've walked through a WWII sub, both at the Chicago Museum and at Pearl Harbor. There is barely enough room for two people to squeeze by in passing and your head is always centimeters from hitting valves and conduit in any direction. This movie has 6 - 10 people at a time in any one place with plenty of room to flail about. Come on. As for the Americans being taken prisoner, well firstly it wouldn't have happened. they would have been left for shark meat in the cold Atlantic. Secondly, why a fade to black only to have the prisoners show up already on board the u-boat, naked? How did they get to the U-Boat? Swim, I suppose. I don't know. Then, the crew of the U-boat starts talking of mutiny??? Really??? And they carry it out? Hahaha. Finally, as if it needed one more ridiculous scene, the director or editor gave us this gem - there's a scene where the captain of the U.S. destroyer looks out his ship through binoculars. We get a quick scene of the ocean as if WE are looking through the binoculars, as the special effects must have had an extra $1.50 left over to, I kid you not, black out the edges of the scene frame in the shape of binoculars. I couldn't stop laughing. Don't bother with this tripe.

This movie was set during WW II but it didn't feel like WWII at all. Watching folks drive around in old cars and putting them in old costumes doesn't automatically mean the viewer will be transported back in time. This was very surreal.The dialog, nuances, slang and mannerisms of the cast and their interactions with one another just felt too MODERN! While the plot was great, and there was suspense, the overall tone of the film and time in which it was to be taking place just didn't work for me.A film like U571 did a better job of capturing the time. William H. Macy seems to play the same guy over and over again in each of his films and shows little depth as an actor again here.The viewer is expected to sense that the crews of both subs are longing for home, but there is little effort made by the actors to sell that fact.

I must agree with Sean and believe this is an excellent movie. I haven't seen the other version he mentioned, just the late version and it gives a look into what goes on in the minds of those at war as well as what they do. I recommend this movie to anyone who has a conscience and wonders what it is like in war. This movie is very realistic and authentic as to life aboard a sub. Having served four years in the US NAVY and serving in the Cuban crisis as well as Vietnam I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The acting is good and the movie has a good plot. If You have eve been in the service or just plain enjoy a good movie I believe that you will enjoy this movie. I don't normally write a review on movies and may never do it again for all that I know but this movie was good enough or me to do so.