Search - Flesh and Blood on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Strong Sexual Content, Rape & Sexual Abuse, Not For Children, Profanity Movie Release: 1985 DVD Release: 02/03/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 8 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Adventure, Costume Adventure

When an attempted political coup in Northern Italy fails, most of the mercenaries hired by the coup leaders disperse. Not so Martin (Rutger Hauer), who intends to rob his duplicitous former employer Arnolfini (Fernando Hillbeck). Martin is able to raise his own army by using a stolen religious artifact as a talisman. He later kidnaps Arnolfini's prospective daughter-in-law Agnes (Jennifer Jason Leigh),who saves herself from gang rape by feigning eternal devotion to her captor. Weeks of plunder and destruction follow, with a deadly plague thrown into the stew. Flesh and Blood has also been released under the title The Rose and the Sword. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rutger Hauer - Martin
Jennifer Jason Leigh - Agnes
Tom Burlinson - Steven
Jack Thompson - Hawkwood
Susan Tyrrell - Celine

Say what you will about Paul Verhoeven's body of work, the fact remains that the man is just as entertaining and engaging as any film he's been behind. For years, the controversial director's first English-language film, Flesh + Blood, had been forgotten, relegated to the bottom of the video racks and virtually unseen since its release in 1985. Finally, MGM Home Entertainment has given Verhoeven the chance to not only bring this gem to the digital age, but also to release it in its international cut, reinserting the graphic sexual and violent content for which the director's work is infamous. Thankfully, Verhoeven has also supplied one of his trademark, mile-a-minute commentaries -- a treat that any enthusiast will agree is enough to justify the the purchase of the disc. Here, he spins the sordid tale of the film's history, with praise going toward his leads, especially Jennifer Jason Leigh (whose fearless performance can now truly be realized in this extended cut). While his love for the material is rich, it doesn't stop the man from criticising its weaker points -- most notably the budget restraints and multiple accents throughout his cast. Also on the disc is a 15-minute featurette on Basil Poledouris and his score for Flesh + Blood, which is similar in tone and quality to his Conan scores. Poledouris crafted yet another medieval masterpiece for the film, the first in a long working relationship with Verhoeven (something about which only Jerry Goldsmith can equally boast). The inclusion of the original theatrical trailer rounds out the disc, which, along with the brilliant 1.85:1 widescreen picture and Dolby Digital surround track, create a fine package for this long-forgotten brutal film. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide