THE original vampire action flick...

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2012)

You might think, from my IMDb reviews, that this mid 40's film-lover just doesn't "do" comic book action films. I don't 'do' bad ones but Blade I've always really liked.
Apart from the odd, obvious computer graphic, this near 15 year old film still looks fresh, with witty exuberance and big, impressive sci-fi sets. The range of characters is suitably colourful and impressive, with a great turn from a gruff and scruffy Kris Kristofferson, as The Whistler (who's a vampire hunter) and sexy, sultry black girl Dr Karen Jenson (N'Bushe Wright).
However, it's Wesley Snipes, always looking lean, mean and imposing and great in his black leathers that transports the film from a hum-drum half-hearted affair to knock-out action movie. He's mean with his fists, shoots 'em up like a mean mother and snarls impressively quite a lot. Stephen Dorff, as the evil rival who's intent on entrapping clubbers at his nightspot and using them for him and his pals to feast on.
As a vampire story, it's an interesting and entertaining twist on the familiar theme. Yes, the film does rely a huge amount on CGI, but for once the SFX add to rather than swamp and they still look really good.
Above all, Blade is brisk, smart, flashy and violent but with enough of the other bits to stick it all together, really rather nicely. Superb.