Notable Cast: Brett Stimely, Rajinikanth, Anna Nicholas,
Charlie Brill, Jack Kehler, Christopher Neame
For those of you that grew up in the home video boom of the
1980s and early 1990s, there are going to be a handful of films that have a
nostalgic power that trumps the actual quality of the film. For many, it’s
films of their childhood or ones with strong memories attached to them.
Sometimes it’s one moment, perhaps a man with a silly voice saying “The Bloodstone,
please.” Perhaps that last example is more personal for me than a general one
for the masses, but it’s the reason that Bloodstone always stuck with
me. When the opportunity to revisit this childhood memory came about, thanks to
a new Blu Ray release from Arrow Video, I was happy to leap into Bloodstone
and see if it could live up to the fun feelings and brilliant cover artwork of
my memories.
Memories can be tricky, huh?
Coming around after the massive success of Indiana Jones,
the boom of ‘adventure’ films in the 80s provided some classics like Romancing
the Stone, B-classics like King Solomon’s Mines, and lower tier
films like Bloodstone. If someone happens to be a fan of the second or
third tier adventure flicks of this period, you probably have seen Bloodstone
at least once. One’s enjoyment of the film requires a bit of tongue-firmly
planted in cheek, but even then, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
In its narrative spill on how a newly married couple from
the US happen to stumble into the discovery and attempted theft of a legendary
giant ruby called the Bloodstone, this film from writer/producer Nico
Mastorakis and director Dwight H. Little attempts to find the charm and excitement
of the previously mentioned mainstream and cult classic adventure films. The
problem that undercuts this approach, as it does for so many of Mastorakis
produced films is that it tries very hard and it stumbles to inject life into
its formulaic approach in replicating what worked in other films. The amount of
predictable plot spins, simplistic character beats, and paint-by-numbers action
set-pieces rarely inspire the kind of thrills one would want from an adventure
film and while, technically, it delivers on all of the expected moments, Bloodstone
rarely exceeds with any of it.
Outside of an incredibly generic plot with kidnapping, inept
police, honorable thieves, and just a hint of a larger money-making conspiracy
by a rich villainous asshole, Bloodstone suffers from one major issue
that becomes apparent almost immediately. The main couple, an ex-cop and his
new wife (who is promptly kidnapped and exists mostly as an irritating damsel
in distress for a majority of the film,) are just annoying. The film tries so
hard to find that hero and damsel dynamic, complete with a slew of eye-rolling
one-liners, that it actually drags down many of the better sequences. Oddly
enough, it’s the Indian secondary characters – a smart ass and well-connected
thief played by Rajinikanth and the inept detective who serves as comedic
relief, that brings a strangely effective energy which can be charming as hell.
Rajinikanth’s character, Shyam, is blissfully entertaining to watch and his
anti-hero stance is easily the reason to watch Bloodstone.
Considering how the action-adventure flick is one that only
comes and goes in spurts throughout cinematic history, usually spurred on by one
film that has a clever angle on the genre, it’s easy to see why Bloodstone
has a cult following. It’s just silly enough to warrant a dedicated fan base to
clamor over it as an overlooked genre classic. The truth remains though, even
in a genre that produces more knock offs than unique and inspiring content, Bloodstone
is a third-tier kind of film. It falters at finding its balance between humor,
action, and thrills while running through the motions of a generic script. If
given the choice, I recommend some of the other action films from director
Dwight H. Little, like Rapid Fire or Marked for Death, for a more
enjoyable afternoon.
If one is interested in partaking in the quest for the Bloodstone,
it is highly suggested to leap for this latest Arrow Video release. While I am
not the biggest fan of Mastorakis, his interviews on these Blu Ray releases are
incredibly entertaining and a highlight of the release. There is plenty of
other aspects to enjoy, as they are listed below, but the way that Arrow always
treats their releases make it a worthy investment if the film intrigues one at
all.
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
- Original 2.0 Stereo PCM Uncompressed audio and 5.1 Surround audio options
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Optional Greek subtitles
- Brand new audio commentary by Bryan Reesman
- Keeping it to Myself – brand new interview with producer and co-writer Nico Mastorakis
- Brand new video essay on Bloodstone’s star Rajinikanth by Indian cinema expert Josh Hurtado
- Trailers
- Image gallery
- Original screenplay [BD-ROM content]
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
- FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mark Cunliffe
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