The Blood of Heroes (1989)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

David Webb Peoples

Writer (WGA):

David Webb Peoples (written by)

Release Date:

23 February 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Sport

Tagline:

When juggers play there is only one way to live - THE HARD WAY! - [Australia Theatrical] [Title as Salute of the Jugger]

Plot:

A Mad Max-esque post apocalyptic world provides the backdrop for a brutal, futuristic game resembling football...

Plot Keywords:

Post Apocalyptic | Box Office Flop | Mahatma Gandhi | Skull | Outsider

Cast

Rutger Hauer	...	Sallow
Delroy Lindo	...	Mbulu
Anna Katarina	...	Big Cimber (as Anna Katerina)
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Young Gar (as Vincent Phillip D'Onofrio)
Gandhi MacIntyre	...	Gandhi
Justin Monjo	...	Dog Boy
Aaron Martin	...	Samchin Boy
Joan Chen	...	Kidda
Casey Huang	...	Kidda's Father
Quang Dinh	...	Samchin Head Elder
John Doumtsis	...	Samchin Timekeeper
John Biro	...	Samchin Peasant #1
Brian Cawley	...	Samchin Peasant #2
Gino Terranova	...	Samchin Peasant #3
Cecilia Wong	...	Kidda's Mother

Also Known As:

Salute of the Jugger
Salute to the Jugger (USA)

Runtime:

90 min | Japan:104 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Norway:18 | Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 (nf)

Filming Locations:

Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Handistom Investment

Quotes:

[Kidda gets tripped by Ghandi when practicing her running skills]
Sallow: Can't pass an old man?
Kidda: I didn't see him.
Sallow: You gotta know where everybody is, all of us!
Kidda: What if I can't?
Sallow: They'll crush your skull!

Excellent

It was a while ago when I first saw this movie and watched it again recently. People might complain that it doesn't have enough dialogue, plot is not intricate enough, there aren't any special effects for a Sci-fi movie, and it is too low budget to be considered a good movie. But I'll say people who say such things, they don't really know how to appreciate a good movie or understand what a good movie is, because they are too used to modern day rubbish jam packed with special effects, explosions, unnecessary twists and horrible scripts.

I think everything is done just right in the movie and I especially love the way they give no sentimentality to the backdrop to the movie. No discussion of the past as to why the world they do jugging is the way it is and everyone in this world just get on with their lives in this gritty desolate world without any lamenting thoughts to the past.

I won't go into much detail, but all I'll say is just watch the movie and you'll be glad that you did. By the way, it seems like there are two versions which I didn't realise until I read the comments here and seems like the shorter version cuts out the ending. Since I thought the ending was very fitting I do recommend you watch the longer version, it just won't have the same impact without the proper ending.