Floris

To me this movie was a nice little surprise, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. The movie is fun and adventurous and surpassed my expectations on several fronts.

The movie is cleverly written by Gerard Soeteman who manages to put in some good jokes and funny witty dialog. Soeteman also was responsible for writing all of Paul Verhoeven's Dutch movies and the TV-series "Floris" starring Rutger Hauer on which this movie is based. Of course this movie is nothing like the black & white TV-series from the late '60's that launched the career for both actor Rutger Hauer and director Paul Verhoeven but than again, this movie doesn't pretend to be like the TV-series. The movie is set in a different time-period and even though all of the characters are meant to be granddaughters and grandsons of the original characters from the TV-series, this movie and its characters feel good and original on its own. It's like all the characters had gotten a modern refreshing remake. The villains are deliciously stereotypical evil, dumb and just totally over-the-top. Yes, the movie does also feature a love-story but in this case it is totally not distracting at any moment and is handled nicely.

This movie has Dutch written all over it. I mean when persons are fighting in a mill while they are throwing cheeses at each other, you know you're watching a movie set in The Netherlands. Also of course weed is a thing not to be missed in a Dutch movie, this one included. Most of the jokes are 'inside jokes' that I'm sure only Dutch adults will notice and appreciate but I seriously laughed out loud at some moments. I think an international audience will not appreciate this movie as much as Dutch people will.

The story is simple so that also the young ones will be able to follow and appreciate this fun adventurous movie. The fights and sword fights might be a bit of a disappointing thing of the movie but all the fun characters and the cleverly written jokes compensate for this and make you forget the weak story and the just totally ridicules moments. I enjoyed this movie from start to finish and was pleasantly surprised by it all.

Another thing that surely surpassed my expectations was the acting. Especially Michiel Huisman, Victor Löw and Daan Schuurmans were truly excellent! I truly enjoyed their performances in this movie. It's quite unique for me to say that I enjoyed persons acting performances in a Dutch movie, so I think that says a lot about this movie!

Even though it is notable that this movie hasn't got a major budget, the movie stills manages to create a little epic feeling, due to the nice and beautiful settings. It gives the movie a wonderful adventurous feeling and atmosphere.

(especially towards the Dutch people here) You should give this movie a chance! It really surprised me how incredible lighthearted fun this movie was. Fun adventurous entertainment from start till finish!

7/10

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This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. First the script is about average, should contain some humor, but I could not even raise a smile. Second the editing of the movie is done very very bad. Maybe that is also one of the reasons why it's a bad movie. Third the acting is very bad, even one of the better actress's Linda van Dijk is playing one of her worst roles. OK, comparing this film with the original TV series can not be made, but watching the DVD few years ago, I still think that series can pass the test of time, this movie can't. I also hesitated about stop watching the movie halfway, but had hope it would end better, but it was a waste of time and money. If someone really wants to watch it, hire it, but don't buy it. Cees

Jean van de Velde has proved with All Stars that he is capable of making a good comedy film. In my opinion he has reached his peak with this film in this genre.

I could never dream that I would cry during a Dutch film, cry with laughter I mean! This film wasn't meant to copy the original Floris films and that is a good choice. The writers have written a story that hardly refers to the series, except for the beginning.

Van Rossum sr., Sergeant sr, Grote Pier and of course Floris all have offspring. After father Floris escapes from his enemies and hides the relic (a nail from Jezus' cross) they were after, young Floris is captured to convince his father to give the relic to the evil Hertogin van Gelre. But with the help of Pi, the peaceful Floris jr. escapes and decides to help his father and prove he is worth carrying the name of his father and grandfather.

The relic was hidden in a cheese and is by accident (and without knowing) in the hands of one of the 4 evil sons and daughter who are hired by the Hertogin van Gelre after their fathers failed.

Together with Pi he travels to each scoundrel to look for the relic and during the adventures a lot of (Dutch inside) jokes come along. I totally started crying out of laughter after the scene with the SM soldiers. A lot of scenes also made me grin and laugh. All actors prove there is hope for Dutch comedy, which I had given up after a lot of dumb comedy shows on Dutch TV. Thank you Jean van de Velde for giving me a great evening at the theaters.

Although the original Floris series was on the air way before my time, I have watched these black-and-white episodes on video several times because they have their nostalgic qualities (even if you don't particularly like Rudger Hauer, which I don't). I had been looking forward to "Floris the movie", because I sincerely hoped to find in it the same nostalgic qualities, mixed with all of the achievements of modern-day cinematography.

Alas, I have been deeply disappointed. Shallow, silly, tasteless and without a proper plot to support the actors. What total, utter crap!!! Not a bad idea to have a female version of the original Sindela, but where is the romance à la Burt Lancaster in his pirate movies? And what's with the shitty outfit - can't we do better now that film business in the Netherlands has matured? No, no, no, I know some of the actors could have done better. A missed opportunity, to say the least.

I am a great fan of the original Floris from 1969. I was very pleased when the announced that there was coming a new Floris. But this product is terrible. The bad characters are completely over the top and has noting to do white the middle ages at all. When the film was in in the movie I did see some pieces and was already afraid of the product. Now I have rented is in the videostore, and I am very glad that I didn't bought is. What a wast of time and money. I really hope that there will be no sequel on this film. Or it hat to be white a complete new crew an part new cast. The only realistic role is that of Victor Lowe, Floris the father. He is the only normal people in the whole move. Other Karakters like Van Rossum Jr. is more a Harry Potter figure than a Floris figure.