The Blood of Heroes

Rating:
Summary: Tale of the Juggers (post-apocolyptic Ruggers)
Review:

Outstanding simple post-apoc tale in which the story comes first and the fighting comes next. This is a good example of how a good fantasy movie can be made without spending millions of dollars or even touching a CGI workstation. But whatever happened to Dog Boy? And why are Joan Chen and Rutger Hauer always in the same movie together?

-- JJ Timmins

Rating:
Summary: In the Nature of Foreign Films
Review: Although this film has actors from several different countries, its simplistic nature gives the aire of a foreign film. The theory 'less is best' is what, I believe, keeps this movie interesting. I know that the script and the budget don't live up to the snuff that most action/adventure seekers are looking for but it packs its own punch. It's raw. This reminds of the the very first Mad Max. How do humans deal with such a devestated society of post- Nuclear War? Will we learn to survive? Will we turn animalistic? Will we somehow, have the compassion that sets us apart from every living creature on Earth? The characters, especially Rutger Hauer's role, are hardcore gladiators. Joan Chen is introduced and she softens the hearts and minds of her teammates while remaining just as tough as they are. The sport is not much different than that of rugby, or hockey or even football, except that you will lose a body part or even die. It's not meant for wimps. In a world where there isn't much to gain, the Juggers find their niche and become legends to the rest of the world. The title itself refers to the difference between the higher ups and the lowly Juggers. If a Jugger makes it to superior quality, they are treated like royalty. But how fast that can change...

I recommend that this film is watched. Please don't think of it as another Matrix. You won't find the technology that is present in newer films. This definately goes back to when films allowed you to think yet had enough action to keep you interested.

I am so glad that it is finally on DVD. I have waited a long time for this. My VHS tapes all died from watching it a million times.

Rating:
Summary: Poor version of a great movie
Review: As commented on before this is a very poor quality copy of a great movie, it appears as though someone made the dvd off an old worn out VHS copy that was used as a door stop for 10yrs. The picture is very grainy and washed out and the sound is about 1/2 the volume of other movies. As a matter of fact i have a very old VHS copy of this movie i copied from hbo about 15yrs ago and it still looks better than this one. Thanks to Amazon as always for even having the movie available.

Rating:
Summary: Post-Apocalyptic Gold!
Review: Definitely the best '80s post-apoc film outside of the Mad Max trilogy, for all the reasons others here have noted. I'd give it five stars for the actual movie. However, I was disappointed in the quality of the DVD: no widescreen, a very dark transfer in all the non-sunlight scenes, and a terrible, terrible audio transfer that necessitated turning the television volume all the way up just to hear all that cool jugger dialogue.

Rating:
Summary: Not What You Think
Review: Despite the Cheese of this Rutger Hauer movie there is a brain behind the violence. This film written and directed by David Peoples is a metaphor explaining the difcult road he traveled while breaking into Hollywood. This film is a must for all aspiring writers and directers and even actors. It really is that hard to get in.

Rating:
Summary: Brutal and exciting!
Review: I became a huge fan of this film when it first came out in cinemas in the late eighties. Here in Australia, it was called "Salute of the Jugger" (personally, I think a better title than "Blood of Heroes" - more relevant, for a start). I was so impressed by it that I even created a set of rules for The Game for use in my favourite roleplaying game! I've watched the rental VHS version countless times and loved every frame. However, I was a little shocked that some of the scenes that featured in the theatrical release (e.g. paying the toll to the Enforcers, the extended end scene) don't appear in the DVD. Why couldn't they have been included at the very least as deleted scenes? The DVD features (or general lack of) are also disappointing, and the image quality of the movie itself is very ordinary - and what, no widescreen? However, watching the DVD again the other day reminded me that this movie has not aged a bit - it is still great fun to watch. And if you love the DVD, don't forget to get the CD as well - the music is excellent!

Rating:
Summary: Brutal and exciting!
Review: I became a huge fan of this film when it first came out in cinemas in the late eighties. Here in Australia, it was called "Salute of the Jugger" (personally, I think a better title than "Blood of Heroes" - more relevant, for a start). I was so impressed by it that I even created a set of rules for The Game for use in my favourite roleplaying game! I've watched the rental VHS version countless times and loved every frame. However, I was a little shocked that some of the scenes that featured in the theatrical release (e.g. paying the toll to the Enforcers, the extended end scene) don't appear in the DVD. Why couldn't they have been included at the very least as deleted scenes? The DVD features (or general lack of) are also disappointing, and the image quality of the movie itself is very ordinary - and what, no widescreen? However, watching the DVD again the other day reminded me that this movie has not aged a bit - it is still great fun to watch. And if you love the DVD, don't forget to get the CD as well - the music is excellent!

Rating:
Summary: Please flog them into a better released version
Review: I have always loved this movie. Rutger Hauer has portrayed another complex man living in a brutal world playing a brutal sport. And yet he has his morals and convictions despite the state of this post apocolyptic world.

Yet this DVD release stinks! Where was the movie we saw in theatres? Nevermind that, I can do a better transfer from VHS to DVD on my home computer!!!

Everyone should write to Lions Gate and flog them to do a better release, or better yet, never perpetuating this farce of a DVD on us consumers. I would pay $20.00 for a good copy. Instead we get this stinker for $10.00. Its just sad sad sad.

Email them at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful experience
Review: I have seen THE BLOOD OF HEROES several times and every time it has been a wonderful, thrilling experience for me! Every single element of this film adds up to something that's both great and complete.

The sound effects, the music, the characters and their peronalities... the background for the plot.

A MUST SEE for every sci-fi fan especially the fans of Fallout CRPG series and Mad Max movies!

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Post-Apocalyptic Sports Film Ever
Review: I just have to agree with the other posters here. This is a sadly unknown film, but is powerful, interesting, and fantastically violent. It creates a bizzare world, barely surviving on the garbage of former civilization, leaving you with uneasy questions on how it came to be. In a sense, it is like a Roman gladiator film, where the sport takes center stage but you know that the action is actually revealing the heart of the world around it.