The comic book by Greg and Van Hamme, on which this movie is based, is the best I've ever read. Unfortunately this movie doesn't do it justice. The comic is not a black comedy but a serious story, especially the father of the groom and the main waiter in the inn are not funny at all. Also a lot of the subplots that made the comic so interesting are not in the movie. What I especially liked about the comic is the credibility of the characters and though the acting is not bad they never seem to develop. Still it's not a bad movie, but I had expected better a better product with this excellent raw material. I hope that the remake that is current in production stays closer to the original story, it certainly deserves it.

What I like most about this movie is that it doesn't waste my precious time with a needlessly lengthy build-up. We find out who the characters are, why they hate each other, and how it could ever come to this. That's good enough for me. It takes about six seconds before the action starts, seriously. The script proves to be pretty good, there are plenty of exciting turns in the story, and the action scenes are often interrupted by some pretty intriguing character studies. Or the other way around, depending on how you look at it. I especially like the way Hermann is portrayed, kind of a clichéd villain at times, but still, could easily exist. I also enjoyed the grandpa, he doesn't really get to do much but he steals every scene he's in. Well, he does get to throw a grenade, which is always pretty awesome. There's also some comic relief involved, and it's perfectly timed in this dark tale. The only thing I didn't care for was the ending, but after 90 minutes I found it hard to be mad at this movie.

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY, by Ambrose Bierce: "MARRIAGE, n. The state or condition of a community consisting of a master, a mistress and two slaves, making in all, two." I've heard of "shotgun weddings" before, but... this one takes the (wedding) cake. Granted, marriage is a metaphor for hostage-taking, anyway, but the two women who find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place in this sordid affair would've been better off sans the menfolk. THE WEDDING PARTY is dead on target for the most part in its observations of (irrational) human behavior. The way the two protagonists stick to their guns is typical of the Alpha Male. Neither willingly gives ground (nor does the filmmaker). The wordless exchange at film's end is worth the price of a rental. Highly recommended.

"Die Bluthochzeit" makes us remember, that the German cinema can produce very dramatic and funny comedies. It tells the story of a young man, who wants to marry his great love. His father organizes a wedding party at an hotel, which he wants to buy. But the owner doesn't want to sell it. That's why the father cancels the party. Then he doesn't want to pay for the meal, because it doesn't taste perfectly. That's why the owner locks the toilet, while the wife is cleaning her skirt, there. Now he has two "hostages". This is the beginning of a war between a family and a matron of a hotel and his barkeeper.Its a very funny movie and i would advise to watch it!