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Blade (Wesley Snipes), also called Daywalker, half human and half vampire, has qualities other
vampires lack. Raised and trained from childhood by Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), a vampire hunter, Blade has his blood thirst curbed and held in check by the same mentor
using a serum. Together, they form a fearsome team against all vampires. A strange mutation happens in the vampire community: the Reaper Vampires with their insatiable
bloodlust for both humans and vampires. Their victims in turn become Reapers, thus rapidly expanding their population and threatening the existence of humans and
vampires. The Vampire Council, though Blade's traditional enemy, seeks his assistance to meet the present danger. Hence, Blade enters into on uneasy alliance and heads the
Council's elite team of vampires called Bloodpacks trained in all forms of combat. Can these former enemies work together as allies? Is Blade at risk from both the Bloodpacks
and the Reapers?
Blade I was a smashing blockbuster and deserved its success. This much awaited sequel outdoes the
first. Wesley Snipes as the Marvel Comics hero Blade with his signature dark glasses and scimitar, is still in his element as a martial arts expert and "swordsman." He amazes
us with his agility. The storyline may be sketchy but it supports well-choreographed scenes of pure action as well as computer generated ones which happen with astonishing
speed. The high-tech gadgetry, visual and sound effects dazzle. All these, the action picture aficionado can relish. It is, however, in its horror that the film has its
"masterpiece": the Reaper Vampire. The character design of the Bloodpacks is noteworthy but the Reaper with his mechanism for blood sucking as well as the exploration of his
viscera and insides can be shocking, horrifying and sickening. Director Guillermo del Toro, known for horror films, has done it again.
Blood is a natural in vampire movies but this film is practically a bloodbath. Violence is so
prevalent that children who see this PG-13 rated movie may be traumatized or may have nightmares. The creators of Blade may have tried to imbue him with more human qualities
as shown in his concern for Whistler whom he rescued from his bloody vial prison. Then there is his goal of ridding the world of all creatures of the night. But after one and
half hours of watching him saber-rattling and man-handling his enemies, one wonders, perhaps, after the excitement has subsided, if we have learned anything more about
ourselves from the movie. Or if we have become more sensitive to, or more understanding of others. Or if it has helped make this a better world. Perhaps producers who spend
$90 million on a movie may consider: Is the spectacle all that matters?
(Date reviewed: April 12, 2002)
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