Waste of time

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Brilliant and touching

Best movie ever!

British cinema had its most distinguished period after WW2, notably between 1945 and 1970, during which time it produced masterpieces that ranged from comedies (KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS, other Ealing comedies; supernatural/psycho horrow films such as DEAD OF NIGHT, THE INNOCENTS; love stories like BRIEF ENCOUNTER; and war films like DAM BUSTERS, CRUEL SEA, COLDITZ STORY. BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, FIVE FINGERS, WE DIVE AT DAWN, GUNS OF NAVARONE, ABOVE US THE WAVES).I am fond of the latter. I first saw it on TV in Swaziland, Africa, and was promptly impressed by the British stiff upper lip, as portrayed by a fantastic cast that includes such solid actors as James Robertson Justice, John Mills, Donald Sinden, John Gregson, among others - including some four or five German-speaking actors, notably the Tirpitz commander, who are totally convincing.B&W photography is highly competent, but understandably limited because this was not a high budget film. Direction by Ralph Thomas is very tight and coherent, with scenes in the submarines particularly effective, highlighting all the potentially deadly hazards.Screenplay also a tad limited, but credible. Ending is an example of simplicity and effectiveness, with John Mills quietly but perceptibly bitterly, reflecting on his upcoming detention in a camp. Strongly recommended if you are interested in 1) British film making; 2) Solid acting; 3) WW2.

This is a very decent war movie, although the reason for it is a little unusual. There's virtually no character development, no conflicts between the men, no girlfriends, no back story for anyone whatever, and the acting is unexciting, involving little more than the sailors going about their duties, joking light-heartedly in the usual way, and occasionally looking worried when they are in danger. The first part of the story, involving preparations and the trip from Britain to their target in a Norwegian fjord has only a few obstacles in the plot to add a little drama, but all quite pretty tame stuff, really.What really gives interest to the film is the use of real naval facilities and equipment, real boats, lots of location shooting, minimal filming in studios, minimal use of models. It all gives a great sense of authenticity to the story as well as making for great visuals. I think this is the main reason the film overall is so satisfying.Once the subs are in the fjord with the Tirpitz, the drama gets much better, as we are pretty sure not everyone will come out alive. The last 20-30 minutes is much by far the most gripping part of the film.However, I don't see why we couldn't have been given subtitles for the Germans speaking German. There was quite a bit of speech in German, and it would have been interesting to know exactly what they were saying, instead of just getting the general drift from watching what they do. And the ending was a little odd. Huge explosions went off under the battleship, yet it seemed to have little effect. Certainly it wasn't sunk, yet we weren't told just how much damage was done. The movie just ended. According to Wikipedia, "Tirpitz was heavily damaged. While not in danger of sinking, she took on over 1,400 tons of water and suffered significant mechanical damage, including shock to the roller bearings in "D" turret aft. Tirpitz could not leave her anchorage until April 1944." We really should have been told about that, since it represented the extent of the success of the whole operation. Finally, I couldn't help noticing that a sailor who went out into the frigid September water of a Norwegian fjord didn't seem to feel the cold, and the group who escaped from their submarine on the bottom and floated up to the surface appeared soon after on the deck of the battleship in the same clothes, again without a shiver from the cold and, amazingly, with their clothes quite dry.

John Mills heads the cast in Above The Waves, the true story about a team of courageous volunteers from the British Navy who in three midget submarines sink the German battleship Tirpitz in a Norwegian fjord where it is anchored and seemingly impregnable. The only thing that Above The Waves lacks is a snappy theme song along the lines of Sink The Bismarck and Guns Of Navarone.When Hitler invaded Norway it was to capture that long Atlantic coastline with its deep water fjords, the better to house his Atlantic fleet and harass and sink allied lend lease shipping to Russia to Murmansk and Archangel. With its sister ship the Bismarck sunk, the battleship Tirpitz was the crown jewel of the fleet and in that fjord where it was docked near nigh impregnable like those guns on the isle of Navarone.Admiral James Robertson Justice in a similar role to that which he played in The Guns Of Navarone commissions John Mills to put a team together to man three midget submarines. These little ships which only carry a crew of four were something like underwater PT boats. Service in a submarine is close quarters in any event, service in these vessels could induce claustrophobia if you had that tendency.These incredibly courageous men in three of these vessels sailed into the fjord and put explosives right at the keel of the Tirpitz an act that requires a set of brass ones. The biggest set had to belong to Donald Sinden who had a harrowing scene kicking away a mine which had gotten caught in a tow line. This is as it happened, the Tirpitz capsized in the fjord and was out of action for about a year. Later it was sunk in the open sea during battle.Big kudos go to John Mills and the cast who brought this film to the screen. And this review is dedicated to those courageous volunteers from the Royal Navy who did this job in real life.

This is yet another example of the fantastic films that Britain USED TO MAKE. Great acting, powerful direction and real emotion.I saw in at the cinema a few weeks back and it really still packs a punch. I must get this one and others like the Cruel Sea on DVD.If only we could make films like this again.Why is it that we could make such great films 30 or 40 years back and now we have so many problems? Actually I think I know that answer to that one already.I think that it would be interesting to remake this film but it would have to be made by a top flight director I think