I like Flesh + Blood very much, it’s Verhoeven’s transition work between The 4th Man and Robocop. Set in medieval times (cool topic for a list) it occasionally suffers from looking a bit dated particularly the scenes with a young Jennifer Jason Leigh (her makeup and hairstyles) who is an otherwise great actress. Everyone else is fine however (Rutger Hauer, Jack Thompson, Susan Tyrrell, etc.). Flesh + Blood is actually a great action yarn, the overall production looks nice and Hauer is first-rate (he also appears in two or three of Verhoeven’s Dutch films).

I appreciate your time compiling the martial arts film choices, I do like the first Raid movie as well as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (I put your other picks on a list so I wouldn’t forget them).

Thanks for the recommendations Paula, i saw Black Book but i need to rewatch, i don’t remember very much, by the way what do you think of Flesh+Blood?

My Martial Arts Favs so far

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Iron Monkey
Unleashed (aka Danny The Dog)
The Raid – Redemption and the sequel The Raid 2 – Berandal
Shanghai Noon and the sequel Shanghai Knights

Andrey, yes I think you might like some of Verhoeven’s earlier Dutch films, they’re done in a style reminiscent of Black Book (2006) if you’ve seen that one. Like Black Book Verhoeven’s earlier films are in Dutch (w/subtitles), sometimes along with English. If you wanted to check out one or two titles I’d suggest Soldier of Orange or Spetters.

Now you have to do me a favor and give me your top five martial arts movies so that I can put them on my list.

Thanks

Do you recommend his early films?

I don’t know that much but i also love when it is well done

The director is the action choreographer of The Matrix and Kill Bill.

I was just reading up on Iron Monkey and it sounds like something I’d enjoy, I appreciate the recommendation.

You’re right, Basic Instinct is very good provocative entertainment, a fact overshadowed by all the sensational media coverage that it initially received.

Yes, I like martial arts movies that are done well, though I probably don’t know as many of them as you.

I saw Basic Instinct recently, loved it. I believe people don’t realize how great of a performance Sharon Stone did, most people stop noticing quality when nudity and sex is involved. Michael douglas was amazing too, my favourite Verhoeven together with Starship Troopers. I need to watch his early films