Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this movie is filled with violence -- in fact, violence seems to be its reason for existence. Blood falls from the ceiling onto dancing vampires. Blade graphically kills many vampires, and they in turn graphically kill many humans. There's swearing and partial nudity, as well as scenes that combine sexual lust with vampire blood lust.
Families can talk about violence, greed, and the need for absolute power. Why are some people not content to let others lead? Why is the character who needs absolute power so prevalent in film and literature? What separates Blade from the vampires? Why does the audience revel in someone who seeks to solve all his problems with violence?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Maria Llull
BLADE opens with the violent birth of its star and namesake (Wesley Snipes), whose mother has just been bitten by a vampire. The movie then fast-forwards to Blade's adult life, and viewers discover that he has become the "Daywalker," possessing all the power of vampires but none of their weaknesses. To avenge his mother's death, Blade has made it his mission to hunt and slay vampires.
Blade teams up with Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), an aging human who has his own reasons for revenge. Blade also acquires the aid of Dr. Karen Jenson (N'Bushe Wright) after rescuing her from a vampire attack. (Dr. Jenson, conveniently, is a blood specialist.)
The plot coagulates when Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff), a wily human-turned-vampire, unleashes his plan to overthrow the Vampire Council, decode some ancient vampire texts, and use the information to release "la magra" (the blood god), thus enslaving the human race as cattle for blood milking. With his maimed, obnoxious sidekick Quinn (Donal Logue), Deacon must capture Blade in order to meet the ancient texts' requirements before Blade discovers the plot and undermines it.
Sound formulaic? It is. Campy? Absolutely. Sometimes the same old action flick formula is executed with aplomb. And sometimes campy is a hoot, with all its winking and nodding. But Blade, based on a comic book series, accomplishes neither. Sometimes it plods through its formula like a Hollywood sleepwalk; other times, it just falls flat on its face.
Every action movie includes a line delivered by the hero just before the coup de grace dispatch of the bad guy -- you know the one. In Blade the line is, "You people are always trying to ice skate uphill." Watching this movie is kind of like hearing that line: It leaves you bored and puzzled.
Fans of the movie might also enjoy its sequels: Blade II and Blade Trinity, as well as the TV spin-off. But a better vampire outing for 17+ is Interview with the Vampire.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentPartial nudity. |
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ViolenceThis movie is a literal bloodbath of violence. |
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LanguageVampires and vampire hunters tend to swear graphically. |
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Social BehaviorIt's good guys against bad guys/vampires, but Blade is out for revenge first. |
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