Blade Review

Written by: alex1176   

Before David S. Goyer (The Unborn) co-wrote the script to the great "Batman Begins", he adapted the little known Marvel Comics vampire hunter to the silver screen. Wesley Snipes plays "Blade", a cross between Buffy and Batman who is half-human and half-vampire. And instead of an old butler named Alfred, Blade is assisted by an old hardass played by Kris Kristoferrson named Whistler. "He makes the weapons, I use them", Blade says to a woman he tries to protect in the film.

Directed by Stephen Norrington, the movie is all about high style and high energy. It looks great and the martial-art/action scenes are very enjoyable. The show starts out with an awesome sequence set in a club where vampires feast off the living. It is visceral and violent and filled with fast action. I have no doubt that it inspired the scene in "Constantine" where Keanu blows away "half-breeds" in a hospital room.

"Blade" not only contains a terrific action hero, it also has a decent villian played by Stephen Dorff. He represents the "new breed" of vampire (selfish, young and power hungry) and his character seems to be inspired by the young group led by Kiefer Sutherland in "The Lost Boys".

The picture is "The Matrix" of vampire movies, but its sequel "Blade II" (while good) doesn't really satisfy as much (just like "The Matrix Reloaded"). The original "Blade" is a classic and I'd rank it up with "Seven" and "Dark City" as a very good New Line Cinema genre outing.