COLUMN: ‘Blade 2’ is pure adrenaline
I’m not a fan of scary movies because I am a wuss. There, I said it. But as you snicker remember this: So are you. And if you want to peek through the spaces in your fingers, have your date snuggle his or her head in your armpit and suck down three refillable trough-sized Pepsis, then, by all means, Blade 2 is your film.
Sure, it’s based on a comic book and it’s about as believable as The Wizard of Oz, but the movie doesn’t try to squeeze into pants that don’t fit. The filmmakers – director Guillermo del Toro and writer David S. Goyer – are not ashamed of producing a thrill-a-minute juggernaut that melds Dracula and The Matrix into a pulsing celluloid rush.
Blade 2 is pure adrenaline cinema. The pounding beats of the techno-rap soundtrack are choreographed with precisely-wrought fight scenes. My favorite was Blade versus the “normal” vampires, set against a curtain of what appeared to be baseball stadium lights. Wesley Snipes (Blade) performs some amazing swordplay as well as numerous other flips, kicks and body movements that would send a love-handle blessed person like me to hernia heaven.
Snipes seems as if he was born for this role. His dialogue is limited to the normal gush of hero one-liners and sarcastic barbs, but in all honesty, they are extremely funny and add a touch of spice to the story. The same can be said of Kris Kristofferson. Sure, he’s no Tom Hanks or Harrison Ford, but the guy is a role player and his part is written well. His comedic exchanges with one of the vampires – perennial bad-guy Ron Perlman (Reinhardt) – are some of the funniest and most relaxing moments in the movie.
Most sequels lack any visible staying power aside from past successes. The Jurassic Park franchise has been soiled because of crappy sequels, and the same can be claimed of Jaws, Superman and many others. Nevertheless, Hollywood views sequels as instant cash cows that are more trustworthy and dependable than a new idea. During the summer, theaters will see Men in Black II, The Scorpion King, Austin Powers III, Jason X, Star Wars Episode II and The Sum of All Fears, to name a few.
That’s why Blade 2 is atypical. The director cared enough about the integrity of the first movie that he used his creativity and cinematic prowess to construct a landscape that is frightening, action-packed and entertaining. If you can stand being shocked and scared, then I’d recommend you pay full price and see this before it leaves Logan.