Search - Crusade: A March Through Time on DVD

Edna H. (tessiss) from HUDSON, NY
Reviewed on 1/5/2013...

saw this by accident while bored an really enjoyed it something i like watching from time to time

Don't buy US version!!

anndelise | WA | 09/27/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"From http://celsiusentertainment.wordpress.com/current-projects/crusade-march-through-time/
"About the new U.S. Release Version:
The film is currently 30 minutes shorter than the previous Dutch version and the story has been streamlined and sharpened bringing the characters and the conflict into greater relief. This new version has a new ending, some new scoring and a couple of new original songs written for the film."

Let me tell you, they really chopped up that ending.
Imagine taking 30 minutes worth of awesome storyline wrap up and squeezing it into 2 minutes. All that information and character wrap up and explanations for why these new characters are in the story and why they are doing what they are doing....gone. Replaced by some haphazard BS. Almost like it had been written by someone completely new who'd never written more than a junior high story for mediated english class.

Aside from the ending, the rest of the story line is totally awesome. Great character development, actions of the characters made sense and fit with the story line and character motivations. Had me, my bf, and my daughter laughing, in tears, tense, and relief. Led up to the climax smoothly, had us wondering if the main character was going to succeed, etc....and then fell flat, worse than flat, with the chopped up ending that made no sense and didn't fit in.

The dutch version seems to have gotten awards, but I don't see how the USA version can even be considered for one with that ending.

I would have given the movie 5 stars, except for that ending (can you tell I hated it??). I give it 2 stars because the movie was actually awesome, but in the end..the USA ending ruined it all."

A 'Whole Family' Movie

Artist & Author | Near Mt. Baker, WA | 12/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Right at the outset it needs to be said that there are three versions of this movie. The Netherlands [Kruistocht in spijkerbroek] version is 138 minutes long; the German version is 125 minutes, and the North American is stripped down to 100 minutes.

That said, this is a wonderful movie for traditional values, especially religious, families. In a sense, it is a clever comparison between the lack of Christian faith in the modern boy, Dolf, with the simple, trusting faith of the bulk of the people on the Children's Crusade. I think the movie was quite fair in its treatment of both sides. Of course, they had to show the monk-leader to be anything but Christian, which is a negative. But, he clearly is the exception, not the rule, among the believers. In one of the climactic scenes the behavior of the monk and Dolf was compared, in that the monk talked a good talk, but it was Dolf who acted over and over again to help the people. We don't know Dolf's inner spiritual life, but he clearly did to 'the least of these' in the way that Jesus spoke of in the Gospels.

Of course, there is lots of great adventure that will keep the whole family glued to the screen. There is quite a bit of violence, but nothing particularly gory. Also, this was a very hard time in which to live, so they are faced with illness and even the death of some of the children. One of Dolf's most faithful admirers dies when he is kidnapped. Some of the children are sold into slavery for passage through a certain area, but Dolf springs into action and leads a group to rescue the kids.

If you need one movie to entertain the whole family, I think this would be a great choice. Parents may need to explain things to the younger children, but I am sure that even to a kindergartner will be able to tell who is good and who is not. Finally, there is virtually no questionable language. There is a bit from the modern people, but the overwhelming majority of the film takes place with the simple Christian children trying to serve God in the best way they could."