Get "Salute of the Jugger" NOT this DL. Great Movie but not this Version of it. No sound & too dark.
5
By Queen MAB
Ok, the problem with this DL is the soundtrack is BURIED and the scenes are so dark you may as well not watch it, which would be a real shame as it's one of Rutger's best, as well as starring the very talented Delroy Lindo, Joan Chen, a (very young) Vincent D'onofrio (sp?) and Anna Karanina. " No one remembers the Golden age of the 20th century, or how the Game began, or how it came to be played with dog skulls. "
The only problem (since if you, as I do, like good Rutger, this is it!) is this particular release wasn't re-mastered, and petitions to Lion's Gate have gone unnoticed. Find it elsewhere (as I did, the colors are so bright and the sound is perfect!! I saw things I'd never seen on my VHS copy, plus extra footage - I could clearly make out what Sallow picked up on the beach) under the name "SALUTE OF THE JUGGER".
Sorry to the great team at iTunes, but all of us have told/asked/begged/implored you to get the right version. Please, buy the right one for quality DL's, cause this one version is a sorry excuse for a great Rutger Hauer movie. The problems are purely technical, and also fixed - in "Salute of the Jugger", but only under that, original name. iTunes, please get that version? "Blood of Heroes" - (a line from the movie) - just isn't even half of the experience that "Salute of the Jugger" is. Also the capsule description is way off & not how I'd describe this film at all. Nowhere near it actually, but to correct it would lead to massive spoilers. Suffice to say that there is a League, and Sallow/Hauer was once a member of it.
Set in Coober Pedy, Australia, as a post apocalyptic wasteland, this wandering band of warrior/fighters have great props, mad fighting skills and gear, and the fights/games are very well staged and would have to have been extremely dangerous. Whirling twin chain whips made out of tow chain, and as heavy as those had to be, add in the other fighting equipment and protective gear and the stunning effort made by all the actors - wow.
Major, and I do mean Major kudos to the fighting/coach team, they did a great job, and Rutger is at his best, IMHO as good as he was in Blade Runner, and had there been a better release team with more theaters as well as a better after market, (read re-mastered for sound and vision), effort for that release, this would be showing at midnight movies, I'm certain of it. I'd love to see it on the big screen.
it's a great experience and will have you very entertained. Yes, it's a "B- movie" but life without the B's wouldn't make us appreciate the A's, now would it? And yes, I know it's obvious I love both Rutger and this film, so I'm trying to help here.
In closing, I do highly recommend this movie, however I can NOT recommend this download. Find it under the title "Salute of the Jugger" (which is the original title, btw - and it's pretty easy to find). and get some popcorn, sit back and enjoy. You will be glad you did. I really hope that this helps all the other Rutger fans to find their way to the 'Salute of the Jugger'. iTunes, please get the better version.