Flesh and Blood (1985)

Medieval Masterpiece

This is not a "pretty fairy-tale" movie but a brutal honest film about how life was in 1500's. Paul Verhoeven does a fine job in casting Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tom Burlinson. Lots of chemistry !!!!!! Jennifer is torn between the bad guy and the good guy and it's hard for the viewer to decide as well. A true masterpiece but not for everyone. The gore, violence, rape and nudity all appropriate for the storyline but, for some, might be hard to watch. A highly recommended film for medieval fans. March 7, 2008

A Renaissance era action movie

This is not a film for those who are strict about historical accuracy, but enjoyable nonetheless.

A dark morality-tale of revenge, debauchery, greed, and lust, with a rousing sound-track by Basil Poledouris. Somewhere, in Western Europe, a nasty band of mercenaries seek revenge against a treacherous prince who cheated them out of their pay. They ambush a wagon-train bearing the future wife of the prince's son, kidnapping and raping her, and making off with all the loot, wagons and all.
The mercenary leader, Martin, seems to be having quite a string of good luck in directing his band's predations, after they find a lost statue of a saint, ...a saint who happens to be Saint Martin. The superstitions of the group are fired by the renegade bishop amongst them, who proclaims their good fortunes as divine favor.
However, the band's fortunes quickly change, when the prince's son goes forth to rescue his lady. February 17, 2008

Flesh + Blood

An epic adventure surrounding a band of mercenaries who are betrayed by a nobleman. Their revenge is to kidnap the fiancee of the nobleman's son. Then the real "fun" starts. This is not the usual love story as such and the "romantic triangle" is far from traditional, in fact it's progress can be alarming. A much maligned saga of the middle ages from director Paul Verhoeven, in fact an enjoyable (if you like blood and gore), if violent film. Definitely different and Rutger Hauer broods with the best.
February 8, 2008

Forget First Night,Braveheart,or Kingdom of Heaven this is movie blows them all out of the water!

First of all might I say 2 things first of all director Paul Verhoeven rules period and secondly Rutger Hauer rules! What can I say but this movie rocks and also that this movie has"SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE"! If you like Medieval wars it's got that if you like romance it's got that if you are interested in the Bubonic Plague and its effects on people and animals equally its got that if you like sex and nudity(ie Jennifer Jason Leigh in her birthday suit! NICE!) it's got that if you like great acting,writing,relatable characters,and believability it's got that and finally if you like stories about revenge it's got that too! All in all it's got all of that going for it plus great performances by Rutger Hauer,Jennifer Jason Leigh, and the late great Brion James(being the second great film for Rutger and Brion since Blade Runner)! Granted this is not a cheerful movie nor a kids movie either but any movie that tries to sugar-coat the Middle Ages is just lying to you anyway! In closing I highly recommend this movie more than any of that other period piece hollywood garbage that's come out in the past 12 years! With the exception of 300! definitely see that! January 28, 2008

Renaissance as it was for most people...

One of the finest representations of the Italian late medieval/early Renaissance period, it has a dramatic script dealing with all the major noteworthy themes of the region and the period; the Plague, city-state warfare, the breakdown of Church authority, the rise of heresy, the resurrection of ancient classical technology, and the collapse of the feudal system and social structure of the time. Dramatically, the central theme is ultimately the quandary of a woman's choice of a mate, whether it be the powerful, experienced older warrior, or the youthful, inexperienced, yet socially 'acceptable' choice of an arranged marriage. Make no mistake, this film pulls no punches, and shows the period in all its brutal reality; definitely not some 'Robin Hood' for kiddies! January 27, 2008

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