I sought out this movie partly because i'm a history buff and partly because Kentaro Miura named it as one of the inspirations for Berserk. "Flesh And Blood" isn't a very historically correct film, but what it is, is FUCKING CRAZY! It's one of the most politically incorrect and hilariously disturbing depictions of The Dung Ages i've ever seen. It's like a Medieval Apocalypse Now.
The main page does a good job of explaining the main story but it neglects to tell just how crazy Martins mercenary gang is. In one scene they take over a castle by slipping down the chimney and killing all the inhabitants like evil Santa Clauses. In another scene they all spit on Martins fist and then hold up Anges so Martin can rape her with it. All while a little boy is beating on a drum and chanting Rape her! Rape her! You could NOT make a scene like that today.
The mercenaries eat and act like pigs. Martin and a bearded guy are fighting over Agnes and Martin humiliates him by pinning him with forks to the dining room table. There's an uncomfortable silence for like one second, and then bearded guy just laughs, does a somersault, and starts molesting the nearest woman he can find. The entire movie just goes on like this. It's like a stereotypical Swashbuckler on crazy pills. To dark for the children (and most adults) and to silly to be Oscar Bait.
There is somes seriousness to all of this, though. "Flesh And Blood" is all about contrasts. Between Martins animalistic savagery and Stevens humanistic trust to science. Between Stevens chastity and Agnes blossoming sexuality. Between flesh and blood. Oh, and the soundtrack by the massively underrated Basil Poledouris is just great!
EDIT: I just remebered another scene i have to mention. At one point, Martin has chained Steven to a tree. It just so happens, that a thunderstorm is brewing at the same time, and a lightning bolt hits Stevens chains, which somehow frees him of them, instead of burning him to a crisp. Watch this movie or you're missing out.
Film Just bonkers. And i mean that as a compliment.
I sought out this movie partly because i'm a history buff and partly because Kentaro Miura named it as one of the inspirations for Berserk. "Flesh And Blood" isn't a very historically correct film, but what it is, is FUCKING CRAZY! It's one of the most politically incorrect and hilariously disturbing depictions of The Dung Ages i've ever seen. It's like a Medieval Apocalypse Now.
The main page does a good job of explaining the main story but it neglects to tell just how crazy Martins mercenary gang is. In one scene they take over a castle by slipping down the chimney and killing all the inhabitants like evil Santa Clauses. In another scene they all spit on Martins fist and then hold up Anges so Martin can rape her with it. All while a little boy is beating on a drum and chanting Rape her! Rape her! You could NOT make a scene like that today.
The mercenaries eat and act like pigs. Martin and a bearded guy are fighting over Agnes and Martin humiliates him by pinning him with forks to the dining room table. There's an uncomfortable silence for like one second, and then bearded guy just laughs, does a somersault, and starts molesting the nearest woman he can find. The entire movie just goes on like this. It's like a stereotypical Swashbuckler on crazy pills. To dark for the children (and most adults) and to silly to be Oscar Bait.
There is somes seriousness to all of this, though. "Flesh And Blood" is all about contrasts. Between Martins animalistic savagery and Stevens humanistic trust to science. Between Stevens chastity and Agnes blossoming sexuality. Between flesh and blood. Oh, and the soundtrack by the massively underrated Basil Poledouris is just great!
EDIT: I just remebered another scene i have to mention. At one point, Martin has chained Steven to a tree. It just so happens, that a thunderstorm is brewing at the same time, and a lightning bolt hits Stevens chains, which somehow frees him of them, instead of burning him to a crisp. Watch this movie or you're missing out.