Blood & Gold

Would you have guessed that a film titled Blood & Gold would turn out to be an absolutely fantastic Tarantino-esque ride? I certainly didn't. This movie is a creative action blast, perfectly balanced with action, humor, and stunning choreography and technical execution. Just keep in mind, this isn’t about a precise portrayal of war but rather a fun, action-packed B-movie. Think Inglourious Basterds, volume 2. (14/11/2023)

I was initially looking forward to a fine German sibling to Sisu, one that would stick more to the mainstream without the parodic digressions and take itself more seriously, but the result is a weak film that doesn't even come close and I wonder what everyone here is cheering about. The biggest problem is the fairly moderate action and gore, where Sisu cuts heads, here there is a grand total of three actions scenes, none of which are downright nerve-wracking, the gore is very ordinary, and even the action boils down to fairly ordinary gunfights, one knife and one pitchfork. For a film that was supposed to be a guilty pleasure in the action/gore genre, it left me cold and I'm not jumping for joy. (07/06/2023)

A film that knows what it's doing with every scene, character, humorous moment, choreographed fight and unexpected twist. And despite the mix of a serious subject with comedic abstraction, it never slides into cheapness or bombast for even a second. In terms of screenwriting, it’s three times more sophisticated than Sisu and, in terms of directing, there are few other films that are as tasteful and fresh without bigger-name actors. (24/06/2023)

If these events hadn't unfolded in Europe just after World War II, it would have easily passed for a classic Western. The creators fully acknowledged this, which I appreciated, but my enjoyment was marred by the occasional Western-style music. Was it included for viewers who might not get it? I find this really annoying. However, the opening song, "Auf Wiedersehen," was a standout moment for me as it perfectly complemented the story. It's a shame that the rest of the soundtrack didn't follow suit. Despite its straightforwardness, I found the story engaging; there was no need to overcomplicate things, considering it was meant to be a relaxing watch. However, as the narrative progressed, the overly simplistic approach began to wear thin on me. Additionally, I grew weary of the constant caricatures of SS members. The true horror of their actions didn't lie solely in their insane behavior or incomplete faces; it stemmed from the realization that seemingly ordinary individuals could transform into heartless monsters in the blink of an eye. And these tendencies didn't vanish with the war's end; they persist across all nations, awaiting the right circumstances to emerge. That's why war crimes are an unfortunate reality of every conflict. / Lesson learned: Movies open up new possibilities; even a panzerfaust can have a high-explosive head. (29/10/2023)

During action scenes, it manages to capture some attention, but outside of them, it’s just the Doctor from the Mountains with Nazis. It can’t decide between seriousness and exaggeration, and much like in Blood Red Sky, Peter Thorwarth fails when it comes to the characters. Whether it's the German Casper Van Dien, the Obergruppenführer-phantom of the opera, or his aide who had his fill of gold by the end, they all come off as average patients of Der Bergdoktor. If Helander’s extermination of SS men deserved three gold bricks from me, this can’t receive the same, not least because there was only the female resistance with hunting rifles. (31/05/2023)