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Blade

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    1.0
  • Common Sense says

    Boring vampire blood bath isn't for kids.

Why We Rated This not for kids

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    It's good guys against bad guys/vampires, but Blade is out for revenge first.
  • Violence:

    This movie is a literal bloodbath of violence.
  • Sex:

    Partial nudity.
  • Language:

    Vampires and vampire hunters tend to swear graphically.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Blade was written by Maria Llull

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

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • 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?
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More on Blade

What’s the Story?

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. Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff), a human-turned-vampire, unleashes a 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 sidekick Quinn (Donal Logue), Deacon must capture Blade in order to meet the ancient texts' requirements before Blade discovers the plot and undermines it.

Is It Any Good?

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.

Movie Details

Studio: New Line Home Entertainment, Director: Stephen Norrington
Run time: 120 minutes
Theatrical release: 09/18/1998, DVD release: 12/22/1998
MPAA Rating: R for graphic violence, sexual situations and nudity.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    Entertaining Blood-Fest Satisfies

    I have to admit, Blade is one of my guilty pleasures. I found the film to be very entertaining. Note that this movie is non-stop bloody violence and constant swearing, so whether or not you like this film, all depends on your taste. Parents should know that this a very violent and bloody movie. In the first scene, a man is lead by his girlfriend to a club, where it turns out that everyone there's a vampire. The DJ turns on the sprinklers, which drench everyone in blood. Then, Blade shows up and tears apart the vampires in a huge bloody mess. you get the idea, this movie is a very violent, hard "R", that easily offended kids will be disturbed by. There are countless vampire deaths, where once they die, they turn into bones and disintegrate. One vampire has his canine teeth removed as a act of humiliation and then disintegrates in front of the sunrise. three other vampires burst into chunks of blood and flesh and one morbidly obese vampire is incinerated. A mother dies in childbirth, but is brought back as a vampire. A main character commits suicide to prevent himself from turning into a vampire and Blade is forced to kill his mother. There are a boatload of F-words and other profanities and some partial nudity.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    Violent and bloody, tweens and up.

    This movie includes lots of gore, and is literally the definition of violent. There is also some sexual vampire scenes.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title pause for age 11 and give it 5.0

    Best movie ever

    This movies age rating is not for kids but it depends on parents opinions everyone has different things and limits for there kids. I got the hole blade series for christmas and I loved it and I am only eleven so still it all depends on restrictions.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Louisiana
    I rate this title pause for age 16 and give it 5.0

    MARVEL's first superhero movie is a smash-hit

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 4.0

    Intense and interesting.

    Intense, fun, but very gory. Language is a problem. Very interesting if you can get past the bumps in it. best viewed by adults and mature teens only!

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