YMMV / Michiel de Ruyter

• Funny Moments:
  • Cornelis de Witt is with Admiral de Ruyter during one of the naval battles, and ends up setting up on the deck with a folding chair next to the Admiral, which de Ruyter doesn't seem to mind at all. There's just something so discordant about the image of a man sitting in a folding chair on a sailing ship's deck (where officers are usually depicted as standing), especially when everyone just goes with it (Cornelis did suffer from Gout, after all)
  • During a boarding action of an English ship, one English sailor is ambushed by de Witt suddenly popping up over the railing and using his cane to choke him into submission.
  • After de Ruyter's forces raid the English fleet at anchor and make off with their flagship, the stern carving of the ship is presented to the Dutch parliament, to much fanfare. Cornelis is helping carry one of the pieces and loudly announces "You didn't expect this, eh?"
  • Early in the film, de Ruyter and his wife are sharing a romantic moment in bed, when their kids storm into the room, start jumping on the bed, and drag their father out of bed (and onto the floor).
• Special Effects Failure: When ships get struck by cannon shot, we are usually treated to a great storm of dust and splinters, but it's relatively rare for the ships to show any visible damage from this. Evidently shot here is made from a mix of wood and compressed air.

---