Paul Verhoeven's first movie outside of his native Holland is a typically excessive tale of man reduced to his lowest instinct. The medieval setting is just right for Verhoeven to insert his graphic violence and sexuality into a typical revenge-type plot packed with action. Indeed, Verhoeven's reliance on the extreme actually works in this movie's favour as things were indeed a lot less civilised than in our times. In most mainstream period films they usually tend to gloss over this fact, sometimes going so far as to drop an obviously modern society into a medieval setting without any of the barbarism prevalent at the time. Verhoeven's eye for period detail makes this movie a lot of fun and substantially different from the rest.Amid the wealth of explosive battle scenes central themes of revenge (Hauer's against the king, Burlinson's against Hauer) are explored along with sexuality and death. This movie pulls no punches in depicting a cruel world in which babies are likely to die at birth and be buried in a beer barrel. In the second half, the action's centred around a small castle in which Hauer and his men are surrounded by enemy troops; it is here that the ugly spectre of plague makes an appearance to heighten the drama.The cast is a good one, with genre staple Rutger Hauer excelling as the mercenary leader anti-hero who you still end up rooting for despite his brutality. A very young-looking Jennifer Jason Leigh is pretty good as the feisty princess used to getting things her own way, and likewise Tom Burlinson succeeds in his turn as the jilted suitor determined to regain his bride. Ronald Lacey turns up in one of his better latter-day roles as a mad, hairy preacher who enjoys whipping himself when he sins. Genre icon Brion James also has fun as Hauer's friend.While the finale might be predictably fiery, there are enough unexpected plot twists and turns to keep things interesting and the use of the plague as a plot device is a good one; they don't make enough plague films these days, that's for sure. The authentic Spanish locations add to the visual impact, and altogether this film has a gritty, realistic look to it which heightens the action. While not as big-budget or exciting as Verhoeven's later sci-fi epics, FLESH & BLOOD has enough exploitation material to satisfy even the most jaded of fans and is worth a watch for fans of the director's work.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this despite being a Verhoeven fan because of the historic element and the scale of the tale. Indeed at the start I was pretty certain the two hours were going to be a problem. Lots of anonymous battling with Tom Burlinson introduced as the young lead. Most uncharismatic, though things did pick up with the appearance of Jennifer Jason Leigh. Then with the appearance of Rutger Hauer all began to click and Jason Leigh fairly blossomed in her first major starring role. The sex is more explicit and rumbustious than the violence is bloody and perhaps reflects the times, which have certainly changed in this respect. I found the Leonardo Da Vinci type erections intriguing and amusing and after that shaky start there always seemed to be something to catch the eye or hold the interest to keep a very crowded and dark tale afloat.

A band of medieval mercenaries take revenge on a noble lord who decides not to pay them by kidnapping the betrothed of the noble's son.As the plague and warfare cut a swathe of destruction throughout the land, the mercenaries hole up in a castle and await their fate...The film can be very confusing and downright odd at times. One moment it's serious and quite depressing, the next, Hauer has you laughing out loud from his facial gestures and one liners.But Verhoevens first American movie is just what you would expect from the auteur. We have violence aplenty, nudity for no good reason, and as much of Jennifer Jason Leighs bare body anyone could care for.And she really steals the film, playing a very nasty and downright near schizophrenic character who may or may not care for either of the men her life.But it wouldn't be a hard decision to make though thanks to the portrayals. In one instance, Hauer comes across as the caring one of the two men, full of warmth and loyalty to his friends and to her.And we have the other guy, who looks like a young Simon Le Bon, and spends the majority of the film whining about this and that, and this becomes very difficult for the viewer as we are supposed to empathise for this spoilt waste of space.There are many references to religion, and even in one scene, we see Hauer and a halo around his head, something that crops up in a lot of the directors movies.There are a few standout scenes, and the film has a very cold and murky feel to it, but it's a great Hollywood debut and a great performance from Hauer who is as iconic as ever, and a lovely sinister performance from Leigh.

Am about 2/3ds through this film because of Paul Vanderhoeven. It's been a real slog--horrible script, beyond the worst clichés--stupidity isn't the word. Phony 16thC music out of a 40's Robin Hood movie doesn't help. Even Rutger Hauer looks uncomfortable. Did Vanderhoeven plan to do this as campy satire of the genre and then at the last minute cable the scenes together as "serious"? I'll try to get through the rest, but it's just a big yawn; plot(?), there isn't any. So many spears through chests, as dramatic as watching grasshoppers eat grass. There are a few laughs in this mess, imagining it as satire, but then it just keeps going, more grass and grasshoppers. I was waiting for a tried and true boiling oil over the castle ramparts to "the bad guys"; maybe it's yet to come; maybe a few cocktails will help. The one plus are Jennifer Jason Leigh's breasts.