A dark, handsome thriller destined to become a cult classic.

Rating: Null/10 (14 May 1999)

The freedom of mankind is at stake... The vampire infestation is pandemic...no one is safe... Only one warrior can vanquish the traces of evil...ironically he is one of their kin... He has the semblance of a normal human being...and the powers of an immortal... This warrior has started his own prophecy...the one legend known only as Blade!
Wesley Snipes tackles the title role with plenty of qualified skills. He's adept at all forms of martial arts, he has an edgy, wise-guy attitude, and the horrific demons of the night do not scare or intimidate him one bit! Blade's most admirable challenge yet is to destroy the evil Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) and cast asunder the armies of malevolence. Blade puts the teeth in fighting as he slices and dices vampire hordes one by one...
Blade's only two allies are a beautiful scientist (N'Bushe Wright) who has already fallen prey to the vampire curse, and an inventor, Whistler (country singer Kris Kristofferson) who supplies Blade with the adequate arms and weapons. Blade also has a cool arsenal of accessories. A shot-gun to kick some vampire rear; body armor; a shining, silver titanium sword, heart piercing knives; a motorcycle; shades; and a really mean attitude all add up to Blade's trademarks. However, with all the firepower Blade has at the palm of his hands, can he defeat the overwhelming odds before they consummate their plan to take over the city...and the world? No problem, right? All in a day's work for Blade...
BLADE is just one addition to the latest genre of superhero comic book characters who are adapted onto the big screen. In all sincerity, this version of the Marvel Comics action hero is given a fairly successful translation as a movie. Expect no mercy thrills with heart pounding tension, fast moving energy, and a very sick array of imaginative (and disgusting) special FX. The vampires in this movie look very, well, bleak and the gore in this film is piled to new extremes. Bonuses also include Udo Kier and Traci Lords as merciless vampires on the prowl.
BLADE is a pretty cool movie. Brutal action scenes and above average performances from a well reputable cast boost this film above standard fare. Sanguinary is one word that can also describe this movie. Prepare to close your eyes and scream at the unpredictable atrocities!
Bravura beginning and closing sequences are fantastic and surreal. They serve as the best features of the movie. Windows shatter, and the "bloodbath dance" choreography in the epilogue of this movie is strangely provocative yet stomach turning. The futuristic techno-rock and rap are awesome and mind-bending. The middle though tends to drag occasionally. Also, a subway chase scene is somewhat dogmatic and the end where the ultimate evil is unveiled will not make a lot of sense...
If you ever need a film to help provide your escape from the real world into an effervescent dimension, BLADE is just right for you. Your pulse will rapidly beat by the minute in this gore galore flick, and although the film ends up with a conventional conclusion, there are enough surprises to jump even the most jaded viewers. BLADE is a handsomely dark, moody vampire picture which offers plenty of wit and horror.
RATING: **1/2 out of ****.