Review: Blade (1998)

When I saw the ads for Blade I was not impressed. I had never read the Marvel comic book it is based on. It reminded me too harshly of a cross between “The Punisher” and “Spawn,” neither one is on the list of my favorite super hero movies. However, after hearing the unfortunate news on “The Avengers” (a film I was highly anticipating, but now am skeptical about) I decided I'd probably be safer off with Blade. Well, I made a good decision. Blade is far more interesting than “The Punisher” and much more comprehensible than “Spawn.” While Blade is far from perfect it is top notch escapism.

Blade (Wesley Snipes) is the title character of the film. He is, in all seriousness, a vampire slayer. His mother was bit by a vampire while pregnant, and so he was born half vampire. His mother was killed by the vampire bite, so he kills vampires to avenge her death. Other characters include Blade's partner - Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), and old man who builds weapons for Blade, a doctor who gets thrown headlong into vampire hunting (N'bushe Wright), and a maniacal vampire (Stephen Dorff) bent on world domination. The story is remarkably complex and interesting for a vampire movie. Blade's story is also rather incredible, but the smart script is aware of that so it gives you time to adjust to Blade's world.

The truth about Blade is that the movie fails in more areas than it succeeds in. But in the areas that it does succeed in, it succeeds so well as to make one forget about where it fails to succeed; and in the areas in which Blade does fail, it does not fail too badly and therefor succeeds in tricking the viewer by making them believe that it succeeds. Don't worry, I'm confused too.

It's probably better to talk about Blade's shortcomings first. There are minor logical holes, such as a character that resembles Jabba the Hut thrown in for no reason. But any viewer who can enjoy an action movie for what it is will not care. Also there is a drag about halfway through the movie, but the amazing ending covers it up well. Some of the effects are a little too cartoonish (such as the flying skeletal bats, and the vampires that turn into oozing blisters.) Also, some of the characterization is spotty and many cool ideas are under explored.

But Blade, is about action. Blade delivers some of the most amazing choreography this side of John Woo. The kinetic vampire fighting scenes are explosively entertaining. My favorite scenes were the subway chase, the opening Dance club bloodbath, and the final fight. Blade rarely slows down, only once did I note a pause, and let's loose to a full extent. Everyone who worked on Blade was very ambitious, and it shows.

Visually Blade is arresting. From the fast moving clouds, which I now believe to be New Line's trademark effect after seeing it in both Mortal Kombat movies, Spawn, Dark City and now this, to the awesome architecture. Both futuristic and ancient looking set are used to show the old ways as compared to modern vampire life. Blade's actors do the job well and with good timing. Snipes uses an awesome snarl to good measure as the unsocial Blade and Dorff is boyishly evil.

As I’ve already said. Blade is far from perfect. But if you like Vampires and if you like action then Blade may be the best film for you all year. Me, I'm waiting for a Blade-Buffy crossover.

Copyright © 1997/98 Bjørn Erik Hundland. All rights reserved.
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