Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, not so great DVD version
Review: I love Salute of the Jugger (a.k.a. Blood of Heroes). This movie is a classic. It is one of the very few worth while, sci-fi, bleak future, bloodsport movies. For fans of post-apocalyptic movies and even for cyberpunk genre fans this movie is a must-see.
Unfortunately the DVD version is not very good. At least 9 minutes have been cut from the TV version of the movie. (Warning, spoiler ahead) I fast forwarded through the TV version I have on tape once I had finished watching the DVD version and for one, the ENTIRE post-showdown ending of the original movie is gone, cut in favor of an over-simplified ending that makes it look like Rutger Hauer's character, Sallow, actually came out ahead in stead of leading his team to victory only to be himself banished back to the wastes.
As for my rating, the movie itself gets five stars.
The DVD version loses:
1 star for for crappy vocals. The audio (effects and music) wasn't bad over all, just the vocals in too many places.
1/2 star for not being in wide screen. Not having seen it in theaters I've only ever seen it in full screen, so I'm not that annoyed by the film being full-screen only.
1 star for a completely dumbed down and quite frankly, stupid version of the ending.
The DVD version gains:
1/2 star for simply bringing this great movie out on DVD!!!
Net rating:
3 stars
Rating: 
Summary: Cut down version, but the only game in town.
Review: I loved this movie. I went out of my way to get a copy of a film whose popularity led to its release after a 13-year lapse between the film and the issue of the DVD. Needless to say, 14 lost minutes add up to a lot on a disk with only 91 minutes. I will continue to watch this version only because it is better than not having one to watch, but will do whatever is necessary to get the full version. Take 15% out of the Godfather and see what happens. Still a good film, but no middle and no end. A sad, very sad treatment of a terrific film.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, Terrible DVD
Review: I saw this movie in the theater long ago, and could hardly wait for it to come out on DVD. But when it did... Ouch.Three HUGE problems with the DVD: 1) The color/brightness are terrible, some scenes so dark that they're almost impossible to see -- you have to crank up your TV's brightness to get a clue. 2) The sound is totally muddy -- several lines we had to replay to decipher at all. And 3) why is there no widescreen option? All of these problems could have been avoided. In theaters, the movie was widescreen, well-lit, and sounded good. Lions Gate has taken a great post-apocalypse action movie and released a DVD that's best used as a coaster for your drink. I love the movie, but DO NOT BUY THIS DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Good Movie, Terrible DVD
Review: I saw this movie in the theater long ago, and could hardly wait for it to come out on DVD. But when it did... Ouch. Three HUGE problems with the DVD: 1) The color/brightness are terrible, some scenes so dark that they're almost impossible to see -- you have to crank up your TV's brightness to get a clue. 2) The sound is totally muddy -- several lines we had to replay to decipher at all. And 3) why is there no widescreen option? All of these problems could have been avoided. In theaters, the movie was widescreen, well-lit, and sounded good. Lions Gate has taken a great post-apocalypse action movie and released a DVD that's best used as a coaster for your drink. I love the movie, but DO NOT BUY THIS DVD.
Rating:
Summary: "Play hard, you'll forget the fear. "
Review: I was glad to see this movie finally get released on DVD. My friends and I saw this back when it came out in theaters, and it worked well for what it was, a movie about a post apocalyptic sport where the goal is to put a dog skull on an opposing teams' post starring Rutger Hauer? We were so there. And we weren't disappointed. Rutger Hauer is Sallow, a once great player in the sport, made a mistake of getting too close to a woman outside his class, and is now reduced to playing matches outside of the system, in the rugged, barren, waste world. His team of 'juggers' consists of five people, including himself. There's Young Gar (Vincent Phillip D'Onofrio), Mbulu (Delroy Lindo), Big Cimber (Anna Katerina), and Dog Boy (Justin Monjo). Each player has his or her own responsibilities, but the main goal is to protect the runner, as that is the player that handles the dog skull, and will ultimately decide the outcome of the game based on his/her ability to place the skull on the opposing team's post. The sport is quite brutal, leading to severe injuries, and, sometimes, even death. No penalties, no rules, anything goes. Sallow and his group travel from town to town, challenging the home team, squeaking out a living. The ultimate goal is to win enough games for the honor to petition the league to compete in the league, opening up a world unknown to many as league players are treated very well. Joan Chen plays Kidda, a wannabe runner who gets into Sallow's clan when Dog Boy is injured. Poor little Dog Boy...anyway, as she learns the ropes, Sallow's team advances, and finally collects enough dog skulls (victories) to petition the league. What happens then? Watch and find out... I enjoyed this movie, even though it's a familiar story. The game, the players, the weapons, it was all very well thought out and the characters motivations seem simple at first become more complicated. The end game will have you rooting for the underdog, even if you don't care for the movie itself. I would have liked to given this movie another star, but I found the DVD presentation to be somewhat lacking. Where's the clarity? The most noticeable problems are with the darker scenes. The definition was very poor, providing a muddled at best picture. I am surprised Lions Gate couldn't find a better copy to put on DVD. And since I saw this in the theaters, I know it was originally presented in wide screen, but not here. And the sound is pretty poor. At least you can view the subtitles, to see what is being said, but why should you have to? A very disappointing release of a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: "Play hard, you'll forget the fear. "
Review: I was glad to see this movie finally get released on DVD. My friends and I saw this back when it came out in theaters, and it worked well for what it was, a movie about a post apocalyptic sport where the goal is to put a dog skull on an opposing teams' post starring Rutger Hauer? We were so there. And we weren't disappointed. Rutger Hauer is Sallow, a once great player in the sport, made a mistake of getting too close to a woman outside his class, and is now reduced to playing matches outside of the system, in the rugged, barren, waste world. His team of 'juggers' consists of five people, including himself. There's Young Gar (Vincent Phillip D'Onofrio), Mbulu (Delroy Lindo), Big Cimber (Anna Katerina), and Dog Boy (Justin Monjo). Each player has his or her own responsibilities, but the main goal is to protect the runner, as that is the player that handles the dog skull, and will ultimately decide the outcome of the game based on his/her ability to place the skull on the opposing team's post. The sport is quite brutal, leading to severe injuries, and, sometimes, even death. No penalties, no rules, anything goes. Sallow and his group travel from town to town, challenging the home team, squeaking out a living. The ultimate goal is to win enough games for the honor to petition the league to compete in the league, opening up a world unknown to many as league players are treated very well. Joan Chen plays Kidda, a wannabe runner who gets into Sallow's clan when Dog Boy is injured. Poor little Dog Boy...anyway, as she learns the ropes, Sallow's team advances, and finally collects enough dog skulls (victories) to petition the league. What happens then? Watch and find out... I enjoyed this movie, even though it's a familiar story. The game, the players, the weapons, it was all very well thought out and the characters motivations seem simple at first become more complicated. The end game will have you rooting for the underdog, even if you don't care for the movie itself. I would have liked to given this movie another star, but I found the DVD presentation to be somewhat lacking. Where's the clarity? The most noticeable problems are with the darker scenes. The definition was very poor, providing a muddled at best picture. I am surprised Lions Gate couldn't find a better copy to put on DVD. And since I saw this in the theaters, I know it was originally presented in wide screen, but not here. And the sound is pretty poor. At least you can view the subtitles, to see what is being said, but why should you have to? A very disappointing release of a great movie.
Rating: 
Summary: The greatest movie I've ever seen!
Review: I've seen BLOOD OF HEROES about 10 times. Some people find it primitive and bad (all of my friends, unfortunately), and I have no one to talk this film with, so far. I find this movie excellent because of its music and actors (actresses). It has fantastic music and sounds (including the sound of the juggers' stick hitting the other's stick). The plot is excellent. David Peoples is my favourite director, Rutger Hauer is my fav. actor. So, if you like sci-fi movies, you'll have to see this magnificent creation. If anyone wants to talk about this movie, please write me on my e-mail address.
Rating:
Summary: An unusual future sport that's really brutal and cool
Review: I've seen this movie about ten times already. I liked it because of the plot and the unusual creativity of the author. The great fight scenes really put me in to the movie. It's like all sports combined. If I'm Siskel and Ebert I'll give this movie two thumbs up!!!
Rating:
Summary: This movie is awesome!
Review: If you liked rollerball, you'll love this movie. It really stayed with me the first time I saw it, and I even went out looking for the next time it would be on so I could see the five minutes I missed! It has action, blood, a great story, believable characters... everything. This movie has a great 'feel'. I like it more every time I see it. I just want to know... what happens to Dog Boy??
Rating:
Summary: salute of the jugger
Review: In Australia this movie was released as Salute of the Jugger, which I feel was a better name than the one here. It conveyed more of the gladiatorial/ brutal nature of the game that is played, and the heroism of those who not just play it but survive it. Blood of heroes is such a nothing title for what is an extremely good movie. The DVD version is slightly different to the film (at the end- the DVD cuts before the 'movie' did). This actually improves the film I think. This movie is lean, fast and full of heavy action within the game field, but out of has a nice tenderness because of Joan Chen- she is both beautiful and powerful in the movie, sensual and brutal. And Rutger Hauer gives an excellent performance as the leader/guru of the team. The cast is strong and play their roles in a manner that individualizes them all and mimicks their in game personas. Okay this was no big budget feature, but succeeds all the more because of that. It's about a hard, brutal game played in a hard brutal world, where survival is tenuous and fragile, and the people barely subsist. The closeness of the film really emphasizes humanity there clinging together to hold on. The game is the epoch of civilization so the Juggers are revered. It is the thing that unifies them. This is a truly brilliant film because it steps outside of cliche and corniness and the typical hollywood drivel. The dialog is excellent and the action in the game sequences are first rate. There is no sentimentality. The game is a metpahor for life and the movie takes you to the very heart of the game and the juggers who play it. All in all 5 stars!
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