countchocula
09-24-2002, 03:25 PM
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JKWJ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
SPOILERS (bottom of second paragraph)
The first Blade film didn’t do much for me. While Snipes was truly a badass to reckon with, the villains were far too clichéd for my liking. I was put off by their generic, cocky attitudes, their bland appearance, and frankly, they didn’t come off as terribly menacing. I never thought for one second that Blade would be defeated by his lackadaisical foes, which in turn, killed the tension. However, Blade II’s bad boys were some vile, disgusting fuckers that stole the show! But before I get to my admiration for Nomak and the rest of the reapers, I must extol Guillermo Del Toro for proving his superior directorial talents, and dulling my senses with high-octane action sequences and stylish visuals. It amazes me that the guy who is responsible for this bloody adrenaline rush of a movie, is the same guy who helmed The Devil’s Backbone, one of the most subtle, ethereal, and poignant supernatural tales I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. I’m convinced that Del Toro could make a 4-hour documentary detailing how exactly grass grows, and it would be a gripping epic! His versatility just staggers me. Cronos, here I come!
Now, back to the reapers. They kicked my ass! Nomak serves as a delightfully depraved bloodsucker, and is basically a hyperactive Count Orlock, which can be said about all of the reapers. These vampires don’t putz around; they go straight for your hemoglobin! Blade himself is reserved since there’s really no need for him to have much dialogue. His actions speak for themselves. Snipes delivers a mighty fine performance, sporting an “I will destroy you” demeanor, but also displaying vulnerability when the situation calls for it. Kris Kristofferson has limited screen time, but he has enough of it to convey Whistler’s jaded personality. One of my favorite characters here is Nyssa. No, it’s not just due to the fact that she’s gorgeous, but I dug her relationship with Blade. It could have been another typical love subplot that received too much exposure, and wore thin by the second act, but thankfully, it’s underplayed. Yeah, it flirts with being underdeveloped, but I don’t think it crossed that line. Their bond was powerful in that it was mainly implied and not fully addressed verbally. I’m glad that it wasn’t shoved down the viewer’s throat. Also, Nyssa’s final moments were surprisingly touching, almost…Shakespearian? Yep! I sensed Shakespearian undertones in many areas, especially during Nomak’s confrontation with his father. How Del Toro managed to sneak poetic imagery and dialogue into an unrelenting action/horror hybrid is beyond me.
My only real gripe here is the anorexic storyline. Blade II is a chain of meticulous, well-executed action sequences. Nothing more. Nothing less. Perhaps a meatier script would have been beneficial. But I wasn’t looking for insightful storytelling with this flick, so I can look past the absence of a weighty narrative. I just needed a dose of excessive violence, gallons of the red stuff, and entertainment that didn’t require you to think. I was pacified on all accounts!
My rating-4.5/5
SPOILERS (bottom of second paragraph)
The first Blade film didn’t do much for me. While Snipes was truly a badass to reckon with, the villains were far too clichéd for my liking. I was put off by their generic, cocky attitudes, their bland appearance, and frankly, they didn’t come off as terribly menacing. I never thought for one second that Blade would be defeated by his lackadaisical foes, which in turn, killed the tension. However, Blade II’s bad boys were some vile, disgusting fuckers that stole the show! But before I get to my admiration for Nomak and the rest of the reapers, I must extol Guillermo Del Toro for proving his superior directorial talents, and dulling my senses with high-octane action sequences and stylish visuals. It amazes me that the guy who is responsible for this bloody adrenaline rush of a movie, is the same guy who helmed The Devil’s Backbone, one of the most subtle, ethereal, and poignant supernatural tales I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. I’m convinced that Del Toro could make a 4-hour documentary detailing how exactly grass grows, and it would be a gripping epic! His versatility just staggers me. Cronos, here I come!
Now, back to the reapers. They kicked my ass! Nomak serves as a delightfully depraved bloodsucker, and is basically a hyperactive Count Orlock, which can be said about all of the reapers. These vampires don’t putz around; they go straight for your hemoglobin! Blade himself is reserved since there’s really no need for him to have much dialogue. His actions speak for themselves. Snipes delivers a mighty fine performance, sporting an “I will destroy you” demeanor, but also displaying vulnerability when the situation calls for it. Kris Kristofferson has limited screen time, but he has enough of it to convey Whistler’s jaded personality. One of my favorite characters here is Nyssa. No, it’s not just due to the fact that she’s gorgeous, but I dug her relationship with Blade. It could have been another typical love subplot that received too much exposure, and wore thin by the second act, but thankfully, it’s underplayed. Yeah, it flirts with being underdeveloped, but I don’t think it crossed that line. Their bond was powerful in that it was mainly implied and not fully addressed verbally. I’m glad that it wasn’t shoved down the viewer’s throat. Also, Nyssa’s final moments were surprisingly touching, almost…Shakespearian? Yep! I sensed Shakespearian undertones in many areas, especially during Nomak’s confrontation with his father. How Del Toro managed to sneak poetic imagery and dialogue into an unrelenting action/horror hybrid is beyond me.
My only real gripe here is the anorexic storyline. Blade II is a chain of meticulous, well-executed action sequences. Nothing more. Nothing less. Perhaps a meatier script would have been beneficial. But I wasn’t looking for insightful storytelling with this flick, so I can look past the absence of a weighty narrative. I just needed a dose of excessive violence, gallons of the red stuff, and entertainment that didn’t require you to think. I was pacified on all accounts!
My rating-4.5/5