The Daywalker, He Walks Amongst Us (Blade (DVD))

Member Name: Andy.mack

Product:	Blade (DVD)
Date:	23/01/06 (158 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent performances, decent direction and good special effects

Disadvantages: the story could have been improved

There seems to be two defined paths for Comic book to film conversions in Hollywood these days. Of course we have the distinctly average films like Spiderman and Daredevil. On the flip side of these there are one or two decent films like X Men that at least show that decent comic book conversions can be done. One of the best conversions in my opinion is the Blade trilogy and in particular this one, the first big screen adventure for the half man, half vampire Blade. The fact that Wesley Snipes stars as the Daywalker was one of the factors that lead me to watching it but it certainly was a good decision.

When his mother is bitten by a Vampire during Childbirth she dies but the baby takes on the form of a half Human, half Vampire Daywalker who later becomes known as Blade (Wesley Snipes). Unlike other Vampires he can survive direct sunlight. Blade has made it his mission to hunt down and destroy as many vampires as he can. So when the Vampire who killed his mother, Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) begins a plot to take over and destroy the world. Blade, with the help of close friend and father like figure Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) he must stop Frost before he can succeed in his goal.

I think the main difference between Blade and the likes of Spiderman and Daredevil is the lack of a long boring introduction. My main objection to these types of movies is the hour long build up before anything actually happens. Instead Blade launches straight into the action and building up the back story around the main plot, which grabs hold and keeps your attention a lot easier. Rather than being a one off film I’ve found that Blade is a film I can watch over and over without getting bored, which makes it more of an action film than a Comic book Superhero.

The direction comes from British director Stephen Norrington, the man behind 2003’s League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The direction of this movie is quite smooth and with Norrington’s history in the special effects field it is no real surprise that this is visually a fantastic film. He has used the effects to really bring out the best in the movie and combining that with Snipes acting and fighting ability make for compulsive viewing. The fight scene’s look brilliant and are choreographed really well and look quite realistic. Obviously with this being a Vampire film it is quite gory and there are some scene’s that anyone with a weak stomach might want to avoid.

If the film has one weakness then it has almost certainly got to be the storyline. It is written by David S Goyer who also penned the likes of Batman Begins and the two follow ups in the Blade series. While the action and special effects look quite simply amazing the plot relies too much on Snipes and his ability to beat people up. There are improvements that could be made to the plot and character interaction it does still make for a decent film as I found my concentration was drawn by other aspects than just the plot.

In Wesley Snipes I don’t think the director and his casting team could have found anyone as perfect for the role as him. I’ve never read the comics but based on the story lines and the type of character Blade is I really couldn’t imagine anyone else playing him but Snipes. His performance is exactly as you would expect from the Martial Arts expert and he brings a bit of Charisma and humour to the other wise dark character. He is a bit of an Anti hero and I think that is why Snipes seems to fit the part so well as he never comes across as a character that plays things on the right side of the line all the time.

The rest of the cast are equally as impressive. Dorff seems to have a real screen presence that makes him ideal for the role of Deacon Frost. He has a slightly devious side that shines through in this role and both he and Blade play off perfectly against each other. The other real stand out performance has to be from Blades father like figure Kris Kristofferson. He really suits the part as Whistler and has a real rebellious streak that seems to help Blade get things done. The background work on all the characters is well done and building up their history is done in a much better way to other comic book conversions. There aren’t really any weak acting performances and I think that also makes for compelling watching while the story itself lets it down.

Overall this is a decent action film. It takes on the Comic book genre and certainly comes out on top. It does have its weak points but the performances of both Snipes and Dorff more than make up for the weaker elements. It is a mindless action film that really requires little thought but provides a lot of enjoyment while you watch it. There isn’t hours of build up and I think that really works in the films favour. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this film, unless of course you aren’t really into your blood and guts everywhere in which case give this a miss.

Amazon: £6.97
Amazon Marketplace: £2.99

Summary: One of the better recent Comic Book films