MovieChat Forums > Kruistocht in spijkerbroek (2006) Discussion > Comparison with book

Comparison with book

posted 17 years ago by BlackStarGold
8 replies | jump to latest

I thought the movie was well-directed - with the emotional moments quite well captured - and consequently the delivery was good.

However being an ultimate fan of the original book, i couldn't help but being somewhat disappointed. Next to missing some of the (depth of) key characters - admitted: Stephanie Leonidas' performance was superb! -, i particularly missed the total "grandness" so well portrayed in the book. Such as Dolf doing the actual large scale organizing and the epic field-battles (i am thinking of the emotional tense i felt when reading about the Battle of the Po and the confusion and chaos happening when the children were stolen). It's just that i had hoped that there would be at least one scene not unlike e.g. the one in the 'Lord of the Rings 2' where a limited number of refugees were attacked while under way to Helm's deep).

Additionally, it felt that the budgeting was somewhat asymmetric. Meaning, the actual event and dialogue scenes often felt somewhat “empty”, which stood in ill contrast to the absolutely stunning scenery shots [of the Alps], with very believable computer generated masses of children in the background. Doubling the number of extra's would have made a difference, i guess.

But in all in fairness: the producer was seriously limited by budget constraints. When you take that into account AND take the original script (book) out of the equation, it's an excellent movie.

[–] doenefrakaan 17 years ago

Quite true. The movie was good enough, but it could have used an extra couple of million €s ;) I also missed the concept of Dolf turning the vast, uncontrollable mass of children in an organised "army". They spoke of it during the tent scenes, but you could never actually see it happen. Furthermore, the Alps could have been made more Terrible. Like in the book. But I think that, again, this is due to budgetarian issues. Great Franco-Anglo-Germano-Belgo-Dutch (or whatsit) adaptation and movie altogether :)

[–] BlackStarGold 17 years ago

Exactly; it somewhat lacked the harshness of the journey and with that the need for an organized "army".

Boy i missed the "knokploeg"! [assault teams]

[–] naicky86 17 years ago

Really agree with the fact of Dolf changing this whole expedition. True, they talk about it in the movie, but you don't actually see him organising anything!
The contrast between the then and now were very funny. Like the thumbs up, "oh crap" and the Mars part.
I really adored little Thies, he was the cutest. Jenne was really good, it's just that Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek is one of Beckman's only book wich has not a romantic them in it. Don't get why they had to make that difference in the movie. The book is about friendship, I also don't really see that back in the movie.
Dolf's trial is mentioned, and then it doesn't start, it just dissapeared.
And the last thing... Why is the second priest changed into a child (forgotten his name). That doesn't make any sense.

Everything combined, it still was a buetifull movie. It's just that this is my ultime favorite book. So I would have said negative things about any adoption of the movie they would have made.

[–] OrangeTigger73 17 years ago

yep, I really did feel the organization was missing, also the change in the children when they are asked what they want to do(fish, cook, clean, sow, hunt etc) instead of it being told to them,which in the book is one of the big ideas Dolf introduces. And I like Jenna, but I would prefer Leonardo and Mariecke. And Frank, and Peter, and Johannes, and....

also, Thiess is not supposed to die!! he survives everything! sorry carolus, but you're supposed to be pushing up the daisies due to appendix problems....

[–] BlackStarGold 17 years ago

"sorry carolus, but you're supposed to be pushing up the daisies due to appendix problems.... "

:)) Indeed, they should have enriched Carolus' character more, working out the respect/affection between him and Dolf, and then kill him off... would have made much greater drama.

[–] naicky86 17 years ago

yeah the death of Thiess and the None death of Carolus was really weird.
First of all... Carolus was dying, and the next moment he is up, shinin' and fighin' the scary boy away.. Really weird...

[–] clytamnestra 13 years ago

they could have saved money on depicting the time-machine. flashy technology is not what the movie is about, some cheap cardboard set would have sufficed. in the original book it's basically 'doc brown': crazy dude builds time-machine in his own basement.

[–] BlackStarGold 13 years ago

totally agree, good point. i remember that the movie directors made it explicit that they couldn't believe that a father would willingly allow and risk his son in the time machine, hence they changed the script into a more kind of spoiled and stubborn kid who decided to do it on his own. i reject their notion and underlying assumption, as i think that any scientist crazy (i.e. genius) enough to invent a time machine, must also have serious accompanying mental issues and therefore crazy enough to test it with his own kid :)