Blade . Newcity Chicago . 08-31-98

Blade

DIRECTED BY: Stephen Norrington

REVIEWED: 08-31-98

Wesley Snipes has come a long way since starring as the badass gangster in Michael Jackson's "Bad" video. "Blade"'s trailer reminded me of the "Highlander" series, so I figured, best case scenario, "Blade" will be as good as "Highlander"; worst case, as bad as "Highlander 2." While not as original as the former, "Blade" may be Snipes' best action film to date, and probably his most enjoyable appearance since " White Men Can't Jump." Donal Logue is terrific as Stephen Dorff's vampire lackey, and some of the action sequences, fight choreography and special effects are phenomenal. But most of Snipes' and Dorff's dialogue is weak, even by the low standard of today's action films. (In the main showdown between Snipes and Dorff, Snipes snips, "There's always some motherfucker trying to ice skate uphill.") Even Snipes' wretched "Passenger 57" yielded the money line "If you ever play roulette, always bet on black." Tune out the inane banter and ignore some gaping plot holes and "Blade" is fair diversion, at least so far as vampire-kung fu-techno-action movies go anyway . Caveat emptor: For those planning to see "Blade" for Traci Lords, her role clocks in at under two minutes.

--Chris Holmes

Full Length Reviews
Blade
Blade
Blade
Blade

Capsule Reviews
Blade
Blade

Film Vault Suggested Links
The Mummy
From Dusk to Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money
The Sixth Sense

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.