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Soldier of Orange [2007]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Based on real events, Soldier of Orange tells the story of Dutchman Erik Lanshof (a star-making performance by Rutger Hauer) and a small group of students as they struggle to survive the Nazi occupation to the end of the Second World War. The destinies of the characters range from joining the German army to making for England, the OSS and the Resistance. Across a canvas lasting almost three hours director Paul Verhoeven unfolds a saga of friendship, espionage and romance with almost documentary realism--though not as graphically violent as his later American films the torture scenes are intense--crafting a deeply affecting film widely regarded as the greatest ever made in Holland. Comparable recent films such as Enigma (2001) and Charlotte Gray (2002) do not come close. Hauer is brilliant at the heart of what is a detailed and thoughtful drama made with integrity and passion. Co-star Jeroen Krabbé has gone onto a notable career in Hollywood, while Edward Fox and Susan Penhaligon provide more familiar faces for British audiences. The film is shot in Dutch, German and English and subtitled as necessary. Twenty years later Verhoeven made Starship Troopers in 1997, a satirical science-fiction companion to this modern European classic.--Gary S Dalkin


A bit dull
Review date: 2008-06-20 Rating: 6 out of 10

Im a Verhoeven and Rutger fan, and a WW2 film fan also, so really wanted to like this film. However it is suprisingly lacking in tension or decent action scenes. The story meanders around a lot, and is too long - it couldnt have been edited down by about 20 -30 mins to make it tighter.

The acting is pretty good, but they're not given much to work with, I was bored for most of the film. Maybe V should stick to his tongue in cheek actioners which he excels at.

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Reviews


Unforgettable
Review date: 2008-05-28 Rating: 8 out of 10

I found this film utterly absorbing and very moving. I would rate it as one of the best war films I have seen. The film covers the fortunes of a group of university students in Holland just before the outbreak of the 2nd World War
How their lives are transformed and shaped because of the war and what happens to each one is fascinating. I found it very poignant.There is warmth tension and a lot of humour in the film. I would've liked a little more identification of the characters as I couldn't recognise who was who in the original photograph that's taken of them all.I would highly recommend it.

Dutch Courage
Review date: 2008-05-25 Rating: 6 out of 10

This is an odd film, very much of its era, a number of chums at university in the Netherlands go down many different paths over the years of the war. At times it is a love story, then it is a spy story and then it is a war story. Entertaining enough but not something that you would go out of your way to see.

Great War Movie
Review date: 2008-04-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

I first heard about this movie 30 years ago but only managed to see it yesterday.
I was stunned by it (ignore the negative reviews - they obviously missed the whole point of the film!)
This is one movie you should have in your collection.
One reviewer has said that the sub-titles were bad. This is not so (apart from one huge blooper when two Kreigsmarine officers are introduced as being from the "Greek" navy - or is this a Dutch joke that doesn't translate!)
The whole point of the movie is to show the divided loyalties of the Dutch people when placed under terrible circumstances by the German invaders, and the true story of one young Dutchman's fight aginst them.
Buy and enjoy!

Easily Verhoeven's best
Review date: 2008-03-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

This movie works on many levels, but not at the same time. It is informative of the Dutch war situation, yes, but not literally. It treats a serious subject, yes, but not without being grotesque as only Verhoeven is. Its subject matter is dramatic, sure, but the film is 80% action thriller. The audience loves the characters and the acting, certainly, but they portray hardly real-life people. The heroes are fallible and sometimes childish, for sure, yet they remain heroes all the same until the very end. Even Queen Wilhelmina, symbol of Dutch endurance in wartime Europe, falls victim to Verhoevens dubious humor. The music is epic, the Dutch flag waves bravely over this movie - yet the Dutch and their resistance are mocked and ridiculed.

If you are part of the film's intended audience - and many of us are - then you will be on the edge of your seat from A to Z. A number of reviewers here are definitely not part of that audience. Their loss.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Peter Faber
Rutger Hauer
Jeroen Krabbe

Creators:
Rutger Hauer (Primary Contributor)
Jeroen Krabbe (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Tartan Video
Manufacturer: Tartan Video
EAN: 5023965376626
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-04-30
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 147 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1978
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Original Language)

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