My weekly movie reviews. You can also read these on letterboxd.
Flesh + Blood (1985)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Pretend for a moment that you didn’t know this film existed and I told you about it: Paul Verhoeven made his English-language debut with frequent collaborator Rutger Hauer about pillaging, rape, and the plague also starring the main guy in The Man From Snowy River (Tom Burlinson, another iconic Australian (Jack Thompson), the late great Bruno Kirby, and film-phenomenon Susan Tyrell. It sounds like something I dreamed up, not a real movie. But it is real and remains a fascinating crossroads of so many people you would never think might end up in a movie together.
I feel like Verhoeven is the only filmmaker who can get away with a blunt delivery that lacks anything that resembles subtlety. Most of his movies are void of nuance but somehow they stand the test of time. Some of them are even profound. This was my second go-round with Flesh + Blood. I liked it a lot the first time. Nothing has changed.
Watched on Tubi.
Heavy Metal (1981)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
I’ve been curious about this one for years. Does it live up to its cult status? Yes and no. On one hand, it makes me wish there was a greater tradition of adult animation in American cinema and Heavy Metal is certainly a pioneer in that direction. On the other hand, it’s a very uneven viewing experience. After a terrific first segment with Harry the cab driver, the film jumps around to some mediocre stories and others that just feel pointless. It doesn’t pick up speed again till the finale. So yes, it’s well worth seeing but I wish they’d made far more of these and perfected their ambitions with further installments.
Watched on Tubi.
The Head Hunter (2018)
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
This is an admirable attempt at the medieval fantasy genre from a filmmaker who clearly had budget limitations. The one-location setting gets a little tedious at first as our hero continues to kill monsters offscreen but then the film begins to unfold and reveal his process. The middle of the picture was the strongest. The last third veers off into Evil Dead territory. It’s fun but loses some of its dramatic weight. I wasn’t crazy about the plot twist at the end but hey, this is still a hell of a lot better than The Northman. Overall, it’s an impressive independent attempt at this material and I look forward to seeing more of what this filmmaker does in the future.
Watched on Shudder
Fire and Ice (1983)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
After seeing the recent, masterful Spine of Night, I was curious to go back and watch some of these adult animated films from the 80s. Bakshi’s Fire and Ice is definitely superior to Heavy Metal.
There’s a lot to appreciate in this fantasy adventure from stunning images to the weird supporting characters. Many of the little episodes, like the seductive witch and her son, are the highlights of the movie. The development and depth in the central characters is where the film falters. Larn and Teegra are pretty one-dimensional and it’s hard to care what might happen to them. Though I love the mystery surrounding Darkwolf, I think Bakshi made a mistake by not shedding a little more light on his background and motivations. Also, the warrior’s fate at the end of the film undermines what could have been a dramatic finale.
Again, there is a lot to love here and it’s the most fun I’ve had watching a film in weeks.
Watched on Tubi.
