Blade (1998)
Grade: 35
"Blade" is an escapist film that combines action, horror and science fiction. Based on a comic book series, "Blade" is energetic and watchable. The special effects are excellent. The plot even has some depth. Still, it has the feel of a big budget, violent version of a Saturday Morning cartoon show, while Wesley Snipes demonstrates the emotional range of a gargoyle statue.
You might not be aware of this, but there are vampires living among us. They own all the cops. They hang out in designated nightclubs, where they dance in ecstacy under showers that spew blood. Apparently, they are all martial arts experts as well.
Snipes is Blade, who is half-human and half-some- special-version-of-vampire. Like Batman, he has gymnastic abilities, a tool chest full of weapons, and sullenly stalks his prey, which are vampires instead of criminals. Naturally, the vampires don't like this and conspire to get him, especially Stephen Dorff, who needs Blade for an evil plan to bring a Vampire God back to life. N'Bushe Wright serves as requisite perfect-ten love interest, although Snipes is too cool to make a play for her.
Those eager to accept "Blade" on its own terms will enjoy the movie. There is endless violence, lots of showing off, and the usual humorless action hero versus psychotic bad guy plot, with Life As We Know It at stake. Much of the budget goes for special effects. You've seen this movie before, and if you enjoyed it then, you'll like it again. If you are interested in seeing a superior version, try "Virtuosity" from 1995.
Perhaps the problem with "Blade" lies with the two main characters. Solemn Snipes is one tough dude, but his personality is limited. Therefore, the bad guys (in this case, vampires) must be colorful (i.e. eccentric) to retain interest. This is, after all, a comic book. While Dorff is an evil megalomaniac, he needs to be more over-the-top, like James Carrey from "Batman Forever", and be given more screen time. What "Blade" (and perhaps Snipes) doesn't realize is that the bad guys should be the real stars of the film.
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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