Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Giving opinions for several years and showing like a fine vintage
Member since:11.07.2000
Reviews:625
Members who trust:55
I was flicking through the TV channels last night after my weekly appointment with CSI and found that Blade was on BBC 2. Blade is a very cool comic book film and a very cool dvd which was one of the first dvd's I ever bought and I have yet to write an opinion on, so here goes.
Blade (Wesley Snipes) is half man/half vampire. He leads a one-man crusade to clean the city of vampires who are everywhere. He does this with kung-fu, cool weapons and a lot of attitude under the watchful eye of his mentor and guardian Whistler (Kris Kristofferson). However when the vampire council is overthrown by Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) a war soon breaks out that could mean the end of mankind. Armed to the teeth, Blade sets out from combat with the help of doctor (N'Bushe Wright).
The film is one of the better comic book adaptations. The visuals are stunning and the editing takes on a fast pace. But it is exciting and draws you in from the opening battle where Blade cleans house to a loud techno bass heavy track. Throughout there is a lot of action and great ideas. Some of it is a bit silly and the effects at times are a bit ropy but it doesn't spoil the fun of a constantly re-watchable film.
The region 2 version of Blade is sadly inferior to the region version that I own. If you have a multi region player then get the American
version but I've seen the region 2 at only £9.99 on many occasions so it is a bargain.
Anyway the film was one of the first in New Lines attempts at quality dvd product and even from this you can tell why they have a great reputation.
The film is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and it's extremely good. You only have to look at the opening fight to appreciate what dvd quality is like compared to dull old VHS. It's very sharp and handles the constant movement and large amount of blacks on screen with no trouble at all.
Likewise goes for the sound. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is exactly what you'd expect. Again from the opening fight scenes you are treated to something that will wake the neighbours with it's very loud bass and hard assed use of the rear speakers. It doesn't let up throughout and the only improvement would be the addition of a DTS version of the soundtrack.
A click onto the simple but effective animated menus leads you to a set of extras that are far from the usual promotional fluff.
First up are two commentary tracks. The first features the following participants.
WESLEY SNIPES - ACTOR/PRODUCER STEPHEN DORFF - ACTOR DAVID S GOYER - WRITER THEO VAN DE SANDE - DOP KIRK M PETRUCELLIE - PRODUCTION DESIGNER PETER FRANKFURT - PRODUCER
With 6 participants it's sometimes hard to know who is speaking at what time but the track is well edited as it doesn't seem everyone was recorded together. Still you get some great information about the production, style, acting, and ideas. The only noticeable absentee is Director Stephen Norrington. In fact his involvement in the dvd seems to be non-existent which I find strange. Perhaps something went on behind the scenes?
The other track is an isolated score track with commentary from composer Mark Isham between musical cues. I'm a great fan of this kind of extra. It not only gives you some good insight into the musical side of film-making but also gives you access to music you sometimes can’t buy on cd.
Next up are four featurettes on different aspects of putting the film together.
LA MAGRA --------- Running for 14 minutes, this featurette explores the development of the film. Through interviews with writer, studio executive etc you learn that initially the film was brought to new line as an LL Cool J vehicle. You also learn how Norrington came onto the project. Also included are deleted scenes from the film including an alternate ending which is more elaborate than what's in the finished film but ultimately silly. The final ending is much more restrained and in tune with the tone of the film.
DESIGNING BLADE ---------------- Running for 22 minutes, this featurette covers the production design, make up and fight scenes. You get to see rehearsal footage from the film as well as early concept drawings and production artwork. You also get a great deconstruction of how the subway tunnel chase sequence was created with CGI and practical effects.
ORIGINS OF BLADE ----------------- A 12-minute featurette that explores the comic book origins of Blade as well as general views of dark natured comic books in general. You get interviews with such comic book gods as Stan Lee. If you've seen the comic book featurette on the Unbreakable dvd then you'll know what to expect.
THE BLOOD TIDE --------------- A 20-minute featurette that looks at real life vampire mythology. This is great featurette that offers many views on the folklore surrounding the legends, the links to blood with scientific theory and fact. It's very interesting and at times fascinating and informative as it even goes as far as offering links between vampires and the crucifixion.
'Pencil To Post' is a text-based extra that features stages of development on both the Blade Comic book and move. Littered between the texts is production artwork and also interviews with the artists and Stan Lee. It's another great extras that is designed to give an understanding of how the links between film and comic are established.
'House of Erebus' is another text-based feature that is brief but gives interesting information on the different vampire houses located throughout the world.
Rounding out the dvd is the film's trailer and cast/crew biographies.
But the Region 1 dvd doesn't stop there. Pop the dvd into a DVD-Rom drive and you can read the screenplay as well as get information on the comiCon convention as well as a Flash animated version of the campy 'Fotonovels.
So there you have it, this is an excellent dvd and I'd have to say still one of the best on the market. When you think that this much attention was given to the film then you have to be excited about the dvd treatment that will be given to the sequel due out next year.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2004 - Horror - Director: Alexander Witt - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Thomas Kretschmann, Jared Harris, Sandrine Holt, Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr
Great review! I wrote an op for this too, under a diferrent category.
innocent 07.10.2001 16:15
I quite like Blade, just a bit boring between fight scenes. I think the Matrix borrows a lot from the Blade fight scenes, even if they didn't... Blade was way a head of it's time. Good opinion.
Clare_1 07.10.2001 15:42
Love this movie. Was gutted to find that it was on in Scotland at the same time as Austin Powers so I just flicked between the two! Wesley Snipes is incredible and Stephen Dorff, although ultra pale in this movie is gorgeous and a fantastic actor. Great op. Clare
The recipe forBladeis quite simple; you take one partBatman, one part horror flick, and ... more
two parts kung fu, and frost it all over with some truly camp acting. What do you get? An action flick that will reaffirm your belief that the superhero action genr...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The recipe forBladeis quite simple; you take one partBatman, one part horror flick, and ... more
two parts kung fu, and frost it all over with some truly camp acting. What do you get? An action flick that will reaffirm your belief that the superhero action genr...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
A blood chilling action-packed thriller about modern day vampires unlike any previously ... more
encountered. Wesley Snipes is Blade the ultimate vampire hunter and immortal warrior who possesses the superhuman strength and cunning of a vampire but shares n...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
A blood-chilling, action-packed thriller about modern day vampires unlike any previously ... more
encountered. Wesley Snipes is BLADE, the ultimate vampire hunter, an immortal warrior who possesses the superhuman strength and cunning of a vampire, but shares no...
![Blade [DVD] [1998]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78542679.jpg "Blade [DVD] [1998]")
Oct 7th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
