dutchbartolifan Review of The Admiral

The Admiral (2015)

Magnificent. Best Dutch film ever. The two versions differ very little.

[10/10 · 12 February 2015]

I saw both versions (12+ and 16+) back to back in the cinema very close (just a few hundred meters) from where a lot of the history really happened (which made me go and see the parts of buildings shown in the film). I don't like Dutch movies anymore these days but this one was very moving for me and watching it twice for a total of 5 hours did not bore me for a second. It's quite moving, with great acting, powerful music and great story. There are some historical inaccuracies but it is a film so I didn't care. It makes one curious to read up on what really happened. Strange is that never was there any mention of the year in which something happened. One just had to know by heart when the "rampjaar" was and the 2-day and 4-day war with the Bitish (a trade war, not territorial). Comparing the 2 versions, it has to be said there is very little difference, just about 5 or 6 seconds cut from the 16+ version, so that there is not the one second of nudity and the final end not so bloody. That's all. I think both versions can be watched by everybody (on TV) but in cinema there are strict age limits. Go and see this for a wonderful, thrilling 2 1/2 hours! All actors are great, especially Charles Dance.