Flesh + Blood
All's fair in love and war in this swoony-but-gritty drama from filmmaker Paul Verhoeven. A band of mercenaries led by Martin (Rutger Hauer) abducts Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh), the daughter of the feudal lord who cheats them out of their money. In spite of the other mercenaries' complaints, Martin grows to love Agnes, who's waiting to be saved by her beloved. Co-stars Tom Burlinson and Jack Thompson.
Member Reviews
DON'T EVEN BOTHER - len1970
This is one of those movie that makes you wonder why Hollywood bothers in spending money on shooting it. Even though it has a decent lineup, the plot, the effects and the story just doesn't add up. I guess Verhoeven made it just to keep himself busy or something. If you can avoid this movie do so is not worth the time.Verhoeven's version of Conan... - cathyottawa
...which means, alot more sex, and alot more flesh (as per the title). This is, after all, Paul Verhoeven, of Basic Instinct and Showgirls fame, so we get lots of full frontal female nudity (a young Jennifer Jason Leigh included), and even some full frontal male nudity (Bruno Kirby - who would have thought!).
But I have to say, as weinerdog said, this is actually a very brutally realistic look at medieval times - the violence, the morals, the beliefs.
It centers on Jason Leigh's princess character, and her struggle to survive a kidnapping by a group of mercenaries, led by Rutger Hauer. The film keeps you guessing as to her motives - has she fallen in love with Hauer, despite his brutality? Does she love her fiance, who she pledged her undying devotion to?
Some of this plays out like a cheap romance novel, but I liked the realistic portrayal of this often ugly time. There's some great battle scenes, and castle stormings. And I liked Leigh's character, who learns to survive by her wits, rather than just playing the same old damsel in distress.
Look for Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, as Jason Leigh's servant at the beginning - and she's not spared from the nudity either!Interesting blend of fantasy and reality - wienerdog
Flesh + Blood depicts a lot of violence, gore, and cruelty, but it is not really all that dark a movie. The plot is not very realistic, and many parts of the movie are completely over the top. Niether the actors nor the director take the movie too seriously.
The sets and costumes are good. The movie does a good job of setting the feel for the period. The main point of interest is the interaction among the three main characters: Agnes (the kidnap victim), Martin (her abductor) and Steven (her fiancee). Like the other characters in the movie, these three each have their own motivations, none of which can be described as entirely pure nor entirely evil. Unlike the other characters, these three are clever and are receptive to the scientific thinking of the Rennaissance, rather than the superstition of the Middle Ages. The movie revolves around these three trying to outwit, defeat, and manipulate one another.
While certain themes and elements are thought-provoking, this is not a particularly deep movie overall. The setting is a brutal and honest portrayal of late medieval attitudes and realities, but the story itself keeps the movie from becoming too dark.
Member Reviews
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DON'T EVEN BOTHER - len1970
This is one of those movie that makes you wonder why Hollywood bothers in spending money on shooting it. Even though it has a decent lineup, the plot, the effects and the story just doesn't add up. I guess Verhoeven made it just to keep himself busy or something. ...Verhoeven's version of Conan... - cathyottawa
...which means, alot more sex, and alot more flesh (as per the title). This is, after all, Paul Verhoeven, of Basic Instinct and Showgirls fame, so we get lots of full frontal female nudity (a young Jennifer Jason Leigh included), and even some full frontal ...Interesting blend of fantasy and reality - wienerdog
Flesh + Blood depicts a lot of violence, gore, and cruelty, but it is not really all that dark a movie. The plot is not very realistic, and many parts of the movie are completely over the top. Niether the actors nor the director take the movie too seriously.
The ...