Solemplex
To me, this movie is perfection.
SunnyHello
Nice effects though.
VeteranLight
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Ginger
Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.
haynestre
I watched this film while on a KLM flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam, so while the audio feed was appalling, I found the film to be a brilliant and powerful story. The film tells of the achievements of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter and was well made in various locations in the Netherlands; its CGI content is much to be admired. As someone with an interest in British naval history, the portrayal of the Battle of the Medway was excellent as well as pertinent. In spite of a few howlers, the film is recommended; production was amazing.
Arturo S Suarez-Silverio
I award this movie only nine stars because nothing man-made, including this review, has been proved to be perfect so far. But "Admiral" is as close to perfection as it gets. Frank Lammers, cast as Michiel de Ruyter, is up to this challenging role. He leads the fleet of the Dutch Republic, a confederation of seven often quarreling provinces or states, against the powerful fleet of the British empire. He is an inspiring commander and a doting husband and father. He is a military tactician of the first order and a soldier's soldier. The lovely Sanne Langelar, cast as his wife and as the mother of his three children, has just as much integrity and valor as he does. When in the middle of the night a multitudinous, violent mob bent on destruction swarms around the home where she lives with her children, she confronts them alone, wearing no greater protection than a nightgown. The supporting cast is outstanding and works well together to bring alive a dynamic period of Dutch history. The Republic's success in naval warfare didn't discourage her opponents, who combined against her. This turning of events is the tragic background for the convincing performance of Barry Atsma, cast as Johan de Witt, the "Grand Pensioner" of the Republic. He poignantly portrays the transient nature of success and its dangers. Under his stewardship, the Republic scored victories against the British crown. While he earned a measure of satisfaction, those victories bred factionalism and resentment at home. As de Witt, Atsma journeys from consummate optimism to soul-crushing self doubt. His loathsome end tinged with the stench of betrayal comes when the frontiers of the Republic buckle under the combined assault of her massed enemies. Lieke Van Lexmond is sumptuously seductive and wholesome in the role of his wife, Wendela. Egbert Jan Weeber, cast as Willem III, proves himself up to the demands of his "anti- hero" role, which requires him to be principled, conniving, and remorseful at different points. Charles Dance portrays British monarch Charles II as the avatar or British power, supremely disdainful towards anyone opposed to his designs, proving that he enjoyed a degree of impunity that de Witt, who was one defeat removed from being lynched, sorely lacked. Discussing the work of all the others who made the film possible would add excessive length to this review, whose point is pretty straightforward: go watch the movie!I'm sure that the true story of how a small nation like Holland survived and prospered in Europe is rich, complex, and full of lessons. "The Admiral" is a superb introduction to this subject.
Breck
As an American, I'm not intimately familiar with Dutch history. And that's a shame, because our concept of individual freedom is a direct descendant of the Republic's.I had heard of De Ruyter, but this film really opened my eyes. I know it's not strictly historically accurate (no film ever is), but it inspired me to read more on Dutch history, and more about this brilliant tactician in particular.On a different tack, I appreciated this film's superior accuracy in depicting war in the Age of Sail. I've seen too many Hollywood movies with mysterious "exploding solid iron cannonballs." "Admiral" accurately shows that the greatest danger to life & limb came from the huge oak splinters that flew in every direction when a cannonball crashed through a wooden wall.If you enjoy historical films, and nautical adventure in particular, see this one!
gnix1979
There is very little to fault in this movie, I love foreign subtitled movies and this is now in my top 5.This is an abridged version of the Anglo/Dutch wars in the 1700s, a period I know little about. It shows the obvious bully tactics of the Royal Navy being superior, but it shows that means nothing with a good commander in charge. It also shows the political ramblings that went on behind the scenes, and although the movie tries its best to not go on an all gore quest, when it needs to the film is shocking. Specifically the assassinations of the Witt brothers, the scenes are extremely gruesome and it horrifies even more that this happened in real life.A majority of the movie in in Dutch, but the few British scenes are in English, simply to set the tone of the movie.The acting was flawless especially Frank Lammers who plays the title role. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone.The only reason it looses one star is because at times the flow of the film seemed a little uneven, but for the most part extremely entertaining and insightful.
