Crusade in Jeans

In the end of the sub-seventeen soccer game between Holland and Belgium, the selfish teenager Rudolf "Dolf" Vega (Joe Flynn) does not assist another player and loses the goal and the classification of the Durch team. He feels bad and when he meets his mother Mary Vega (Emily Watson), who is researching a prototype time machine, in the laboratory, he decides to return in time to fix the game.

He steals the access card of his mother and during the night, he breaks in the laboratory. However, he does not fit the correct date in the display and he is sent to 1212. He is attacked by marauders but he is saved by the young Jenne (Stephanie Leonidas), who is skilled in sling and is traveling through the forest to join The Children's Cuzade to Jerusalem. Dolf puts a milestone on the spot and follows Jenne and her friends. Sooner they join the Cruzade that is led by Father Anselmus (Michael Culkin) and a group of young noblemen. Dolf names himself Rudolf, the Duke of Rotterdam, and is assigned to take care of the children. When Dolf misses the chance to return home and is stranded in the Thirteenth Century, he follows the Cruzade and discovers the treacherous plan of Anselmus of selling the children to slave traders. But how can he convince the children that their charismatic leader is a traitor?

"Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek" is a Dutch-Belgian-Luxembourgish-German production with a pleasant and entertaining adventure. The story has flaws, the conclusion is weak, the CGI and costumes are very simple but the film is highly attractive for children and also for adults. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Cruzada, Uma Jornada Através dos Tempos" ("Crusade, A Journey through Time")

Ever since I first read the book Crusade in Jeans I was hoping they would turn it into a movie. And now they finally did. Dolf Vega is a rather selfish teenager. Because of him a crucial soccer-match is lost. His mum is a scientist and she's working on a time machine. Dolf is seeking revenge for his shame and wants to use the machine to get a chance to get even. But things go wrong and he's stranded in the year 1202! The moment he arrives he's almost killed and saved by some children and a young lady. They take him to the children's crusade on its way to Jerusalem. Soon Dolf uses his modern day wit and knowledge for the good of the poor hungry and sick children. Will he ever get back to his own modern life? This is a great adaption of the book. Not completely faithful but very satisfying. The young leads, in fact, everybody is cast really well. The production looks great although some scenery is obviously computer enhanced. The story is captivating and the running time is just right. The only thing that did not satisfy me personally was the ending which was not like in the book and a bit vague. Highly recommended for children and their ( thirty-something ) parents.

I went to this movie with 3 of my friends, and I would lie if I said it was great. Though, most of the characters and story lines in the book had been replaced and I thought that was pityful.. For example, the character Leonardo doesn't appear in the book and the entire ending has been replaced. Let me explain; the movie ends at the most inpleasent timing when your really ín the movie, and that kind of sucks. Your expecting a hell of a lot adventures more, when suddenly the credits appear on screen (great credits by the way, they look great =D).If you read the book, I would be a fool to say you should not go to the movie, since my dad is the producer :-P. Take your time to watch it, just don't get to much expectations.

I've read the book a long time ago as a kid and I remember loving it. It was exciting, it was adventurous, it had an excellent main character. It had, my favorite subject, time traveling. And it was very good and convincingly written by Thea Beckman. What more do you want?

This film is of course based on the book, thank god. It usually doesn't end up well with movies that try to stick to the story to much. I tried to imagine how this movie would be like to watch when I was twelve. I think I would have loved it! Great leading actor, I mean, which boy doesn't want to be him? Great adventures, and the story is convincing. And look at the beautiful settings it was shot in. I don't understand the 6,6. It deserves a little bit higher from my point of view.

A young teenager named Dolf Vega : Johnny Flynn, is transported by means of a travel machine, newly built by his beloved mother: Emily Watson, going to Middle Age , 1212, and there he sets out to join a children's crusade led by Nicolas : Robert Timmins, who formerly had a Christ vision that told him to carry out a divine expedition towards Jerusalem to defeat Muslims who invaded Holy Land . Along the way Dolf meets a beautiful girl called Jenne : Stephanie Leonidas. Dolf swears duty to protect them and decides that safety of the unfortunate children will be assured at whatever means. But the children are deceived when the organizer priest, Anselmus : Michael Culkin, attempts to sell them as slaves.

Adventure movie with a lot of time travels, feats, fights, action and spectacular battles, in which a contemporary teen wandering throughout a medieval scenario. There's another 1987 film concerning similar deeds, a Children's Crusade, it was "Lionheart" by Franklyn J Schaffner that resulted to be a real flop at boxoffice. This Crusade in Jeans is finely starred by Johnny Flynn as the adolescent who ends up in a Children Crusade where he confronts enemies by using modern techniques and learning the Crusade seems to be harder and trickier than he ever imagined . Being based on the succesful novel written by the Dutch Thea Beckman who gives a vivid character on the protagonist Dolf Vega well acted by Johnny Flynn . He is well accompanied by the valiant Jenne: Stefanie Leonidas with whom he falls in love, Emily Watson as his intimate mummy, Michael Kulkin as the nasty priest, Benno Furmann as a good friar, Herbert Knaup as a scientific, Robert Timmins as Nicolas, the cult actor Udo Kier, among others. This Netherland/ Belgium/Luxembourg was professionally directed by Ben Sombogaart.

The picture is partially based on historical events, succeeded after fourth Crusade, these are as follows : the historians tell about two possible Children Crusades, the first began in Germany when a German shepherd led about 7000 young people crossing Italian Alps and arriving in Genova, but many of them deserted or were abducted or sold as slaves, as in Europe as in far countries, as Alexandria, Egypt. Other history deals with thousands of children, around 20.000, led by a very young French shepherd called Esteban De Cloyes from Chateaudun and arriving in Saint Denis. Meant for kids, it turns out to be a decent, enjoyable and agreeable film. Rating 6.5/10. Worthwhile watching.

Other movies dealing with Crusades are the following ones : The Crusades by Cecil B DeMille with Henry Wilonson, Loretta Young, Ian Hunter. King Richard and the Crusaders by David Swift with Laurence Harvey, Rex Harrison, Virginia Mayo, George Sanders. Lionheart 1987 by Franklyn J Schaffner with Eric Stolz, Talia Shire, Dexter Flecher, Nicholas Clay, Deborah Moore, Gabriel Byrne. Kingdom of heaven 2005 by Ridley Scott by Orlando Bloom, Lian Neeson, Eva Greene, Michael Sheen, Bernard Gleeson.