I saw this movie last night in cinema Buitenhof, next to the Gevangenpoort prison where the actual brothers de Witt were lynched at the time.
It broadly shows the military career of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter between 1653 and 1677, during the Anglo-Dutch wars.
An heroic spectacle which paints de Ruyter as a common family man. Similar in tone to movies like 'The Patriot' (2000) by Mel Gibson and 'Pearl Harbor' (2001) by Michael Bay, only on a budget of 8 million dollars instead of over a 100.
4 replica's of actual historical sailing ships were used; 'De Batavia' from 1995, the 'Shtandart' from 1999, the 'Étoile du Roi' from 1996, and 'Het Utrechts Statenjacht' from 2003. 'De Batavia' with the red lion figurehead on the prow, and the 'Shtandart' with its bright yellow sides and wreath shaped cannon portholes were very recognizable. Even though there are many explosions, it appears that the use of stage blood wasn't allowed on these replica's. The horrible murder of the brothers de Witt in the disaster year 1672 is shown here for the first time in detail. Very topical in this era of political murders and terrorism in which the discussion between Republicans and monarchists is breaking out again, this is definitely not a movie which Orange fans would want to see...but perhaps they should. ;)
Released in two versions for both ages 16 and 12, the latter presumably without nudity and less violence. I've only seen the 16+ version, and recommend it to anybody with a even a slight interest in dramatic history.
It broadly shows the military career of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter between 1653 and 1677, during the Anglo-Dutch wars.
An heroic spectacle which paints de Ruyter as a common family man. Similar in tone to movies like 'The Patriot' (2000) by Mel Gibson and 'Pearl Harbor' (2001) by Michael Bay, only on a budget of 8 million dollars instead of over a 100.
4 replica's of actual historical sailing ships were used; 'De Batavia' from 1995, the 'Shtandart' from 1999, the 'Étoile du Roi' from 1996, and 'Het Utrechts Statenjacht' from 2003. 'De Batavia' with the red lion figurehead on the prow, and the 'Shtandart' with its bright yellow sides and wreath shaped cannon portholes were very recognizable. Even though there are many explosions, it appears that the use of stage blood wasn't allowed on these replica's. The horrible murder of the brothers de Witt in the disaster year 1672 is shown here for the first time in detail. Very topical in this era of political murders and terrorism in which the discussion between Republicans and monarchists is breaking out again, this is definitely not a movie which Orange fans would want to see...but perhaps they should. ;)
Released in two versions for both ages 16 and 12, the latter presumably without nudity and less violence. I've only seen the 16+ version, and recommend it to anybody with a even a slight interest in dramatic history.