Common Sense Media Review
For series fans only. Definitely NOT for kids!
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Blade: Trinity
What's the Story?
In the third chapter in the ongoing tale of a human-vampire hybrid out to kill all vampires, Blade (Wesley Snipes) is framed by the vampires and their newly resurrected leader, Drake (Dominic Purcell). An FBI agent (James Remar) is now out to catch Blade, so the hybrid hero and his partner, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), find new allies in the Nightstalkers, a group of humans dedicated to ridding the world of the bloodsucking undead.
Is It Any Good?
TRINITY is not a good movie, instead it is a solid "Blade" movie -- meaning, if you are not already a fan, don't bother. Snipes no longer plays Blade for humor, as he did in the first Blade. Indeed, the role has lost character, humor, and emotions over the length of the trilogy. With the loss of Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), the dry, rough banter of old is replaced by the snarky, self-effacing irony of Hannibal (Ryan Reynolds).
For the vampires, Parker Posey adds humor by unleashing her inner bad-girl with unapologetic, over-the-top glee as the brains behind Dracula's return. Good old Dracula aka Drake (Dominic Purcell) is no longer an effete aristocrat, but is re-imagined as a bare-chested heart-throb. Purcell struggles in a script that calls for non-stop action, where "talking" scenes are sluggish and necessary only as a bridge to the next fight scene. Like the attractive but forgettable Jessica Biel as Abigail Whistler, Purcell's acting has the sensitivity of a lead-pipe and makes one grateful for Snipes' two-dimensional Blade. The fight scenes are plentiful, the characters familiar, and the end predictable. For Blade fans, Trinity is decent popcorn fare. For non-fans, there is nothing here that can withstand the light of day.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the concept of honor that Drake discusses with Blade, about which character -- if any -- acts in an honorable way, and whether the concept here is used as justification for acting monstrously. Nietzche's much-used warning to "battle not with monsters, lest you become one" is the leitmotif of Blade's existence. What separates Blade from the vampires? Why does the audience revel in someone who seeks to solve all his problems with violence?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 8, 2004
- On DVD or streaming : April 26, 2005
- Cast : Jessica Biel , Ryan Reynolds , Wesley Snipes
- Director : David S. Goyer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : New Line
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong pervasive violence and language, and some sexual content
- Last updated : September 21, 2019
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