The Blood of Heroes (1990)

To me, this movie is perfection.

That was an excellent one.

Good concept, poorly executed.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

If you like the first two Mad Max movies this one is meant for you - in a post-apocalyptic world the new gladiators called Jugger live like Nomads and play a tough and bloody game in small outposts, honor, women and provisions are the wages. A Jugger's greatest dream is to play in one of the great games in one of the last great cities - where honor and riches can be earned.This one is a fine B-trash movie - a good shot of violence and action, solid acting, and a good production value. Rutger Hauer plays Sallow, a leader of a team of Jugger. Like some of his early works e.g. Flesh + Blood, Ladyhawke and The Hitcher, The Blood of Heroes does not disappoint. A nice snack for the post-apocalyptic fanatic.

Bit of a forgotten Hauer cult classic this with your typical popular post apocalyptic world where only the strong survive. Haven't seen this in many many moons and it wasn't quite as cool as I remember it but still decent, the plot has now been copied over and over by many films since but as this was back in 89 it feels like its one of the first, almost.An Aussie flick so you would be right in thinking there's a touch of 'Mad Max' in there but there's also a lot of classic barbarian type stuff and strong Roman Gladiator themes too, you wonder if Scott took inspiration perhaps. 'The Game' itself is kinda odd and simply revolves around sticking a dogs skull on a stick in the opponents half, like a touchdown really, whilst you batter your opponents half to death to protect yourself and your players. Dog skulls because they eat dogs in the future, why use them for this? who knows.Of course there is more going on when you scratch the surface, literately. Deep underground (because the surface has been ravaged by war) there are affluent rich folk living in complete luxury that run a much bigger harder league of the game called 'The League'...imaginative huh. Down there the players are treated like real stars with wealth and fame but the risks are greater...well life threatening (duh!). The aim of many players is to get into this super league, of course good old Rutger has already played there and survived.When you watch the game I did kinda get the feeling in reality it wouldn't last more than 5min or less but artistic license is in heavy use of course. The actual games aren't as violent as you'd think with minor blood and not much carnage, the film is quite tame really now but back in the day it was suppose to be pretty brutal. Hauer is perfect for the role as the quiet brooding leader 'Sallow' and Delroy Lindo impresses in a surprise if slightly racially clichéd role. Overall the whole team are all pretty good in all their stereotypical post apocalyptic attire along with manly battle scars. The Aussie outback also adds to the inhospitable atmosphere and really gives this adventure a nice bleak barren feel as you would expect.Nice ending which isn't totally predictable...if you watch the uncut version, the US version was cut for some reason. Personally I prefer the film title 'Salute of the Jugger' as it offers a bit more mystery, what the hell is a jugger? dunno but it sounds kinda neat doesn't it.6/10

I saw this movie when I was very little...and liked it a LOT. Then I saw it again after many years...and still LOVED it. Now that I'm much older (well, not THAT much) I watched it again ... it gets better with every viewing!I don't know... It's simple and linear, yes, but it's a story well played and well told. I actually LIKE the Game they play, I enjoy the fights and all the Honor-thing that lies behind them.And no...how can someone talk about gore-fest or orgy of violence? I've seen MUCH worse in in movies that the public liked more (for apparently no good reason...they were utter crap!).This movie is very nice, and I really can't understand why it is so underrated and (reading some reviews) almost hated o_O' Watching this movie may not be an enlightening experience in your life, but it will quite an enjoyable and entertaining one!

I'm always amazed that among the many people with whom I've discussed this movie, everyone liked it, yet the so-called "ratings" here of this film are indeed, so-so. Whose film is this? Rutger Hauer and Joan Chen are the roving "Juggers" in this post-apocalyptic Aussie "Mad Max" story, who final make the "big one." 'The story itself is one of redemption and resurrection, which with its Gothic, subterranean setting and bizarre, gladiatoresque game, attempts to capture the retrogression of a post-disaster world. The themes embraced are similar to those seen in the well-done Mad Max and its two sequels and the not-so well-done Postman and Water World. The social order has been destroyed along with the economic infrastructure and social Darwinism has become the order of the day. How this plays out is unleashed by the writer's imagination. The model for this neo-social order is what the writer imagines Rome to have been and historical facts be damned. This is one of my favorite films because of the setting and unfolding of the story. The performances of the pre-beergut Rutger Hauer and young Joan Chen fit in well. the old Dutchman Rutger may be getting somewhat long in the tooth for this kind of role but it works here.