Solid Comic Book Film

Rating: Null/10 (11 December 2002)

Even for someone not particularly fond of the source material, the film plays well anyway. Larger than life, colorful characters, in a wonderfully portrayed fantasy world that has many groundings to reality. Blade finds the right blend of "comic book" and "traditional film" techniques, and makes itself comfortable much like the Batman films and the new Spider man. Blade works because it takes itself to a point, but doesn't take itself too seriously. *Possible spoilers for those who can't see the obvious coming*
Wesley Snipes fills the title role very effectively; in fact no other candidate comes to mind who could fill the Blade role well. Definite kudos to Snipes. And to match, the lead Villain Deacon Frost (Stephen Doriff) surprisingly come across just as strong in his performance and characterization unlike the second film which had nothing to counterbalance the main character. Frost has personality; Frost is bad, and by the end of the film he proves a match for Blade in more categories than screen presence.
Most of the parts are well to decently cast--names escape me, but Frost's right hand man is an interesting and amusing vampire to follow, even his goon serves as good comic relief in his stereotyped incompetence until the obligatory death scene at the hands of his master. Kris Kristopherson brings the Whistler character to life with a down to earth, old timer mentor/ass kicker. So typically the film is fun to watch with most of the cast comfortably in their roles.
Most of the cast. The two main actresses in the film did not seem to fit so comfortably, as though they were playing the roles for a different film and not this fun comic book ride.
The plot moves along nicely, never slowing down or getting boring and simultaneously never just filling the screen with action constantly for the sake of throwing action out there. It never comes across as formula driven like the two Batman films under Schumacker's wing. It doesn't suffer fromt that same "episode" feel that the Schumacker Batmans have. Blade has its roots in the comics, but it is the live action version in its own world where anything can happen.
Again, Blade proves one of the better comicbook-to-film translations out there.