Blade

Details

When Blade's mother was bitten by a vampire during pregnancy she managed to give birth before dying in the delivery room. The attack had already altered the unborn child, leaving him forever changed - half human and half vampire. Possessing the strengths of the undead but none of their weaknesses to sunlight, Blade becomes something entirely unique.

Raised and trained by his mentor Abraham Whistler, Blade grows up to wage a relentless war against the vampire underworld. While most vampires hide in the shadows of society, secretly infiltrating powerful institutions, Blade stalks them openly, hunting them down with ruthless efficiency and an arsenal of specialised weaponry.

His greatest challenge arrives in the form of the ambitious Deacon Frost, a renegade vampire determined to overthrow the traditional vampire hierarchy. Frost uncovers the secret of La Magra, the mythical blood god, and plans to use Blade's unique blood to summon the ancient power and establish vampire rule over humanity. Unfortunately for Frost, Blade has no intention of becoming a sacrificial offering.

Picture & Sound

With much of the film taking place at night or in dark locations, the picture holds up well with no noticeable artefacting or outlining. Colours remain strong and well defined and the disc maintains a high bit-rate throughout. Overall it is an impressive anamorphic transfer for its time. The only minor issue is that the red used in the title and end credits appears slightly washed out, although this hardly detracts from the overall presentation.

The sound mix is equally strong. The surround channels are used effectively throughout the film with explosions, gunfire, clashing blades and the film's distinctive electronic soundtrack filling the soundstage. Dialogue is firmly anchored in the centre channel without any noticeable bleed, creating a clean and balanced mix. The LFE channel also gets a decent workout during the film's many action sequences, particularly in the famous nightclub scene.

Menu & Extras

There are plenty of extras here to keep fans busy. Several of the principal cast and crew contribute to the numerous audio commentaries, although some are more informative than others. The collection of featurettes exploring the design of the film, its characters and the production process provide some interesting behind-the-scenes material, along with additional background on the mythology used in the story.

Overall

Long before comic book films became the dominant force in modern cinema, Blade proved that the genre could successfully translate to the big screen. Wesley Snipes is perfectly cast in the title role, bringing a quiet intensity and physical presence that makes the character instantly believable.

Combined with stylish direction, slick action sequences and a memorable electronic soundtrack, the film helped redefine the look and tone of modern comic adaptations. While the story itself is relatively straightforward, the film's energy, atmosphere and striking visual style ensure that it remains one of the more influential comic-to-screen adaptations of its era.

Special features

• Audio commentary with Wesley Snipes - Blade Star and Producer
• Audio commentary with Stephen Dorff
• Audio commentary with writer David S. Goyer - Writer
• Audio commentary with Director of Photography Theo Van De Sande
• Audio commentary with Production Designer Kirk M. Petruccelli
• Audio commentary with Producer Peter Frankfurt
• La Magra featurette - Witness the story's evolution. Includes deleted scenes, the alternate ending and on camera interviews with David S. Goyer, Peter Frankfurt and Michael De Luca
• Designing Blade featurette - View the development of the production designs, make-up and special effects. Includes on camera interviews with Kirk Petruccelli, Richard "Dr." Baily, Greg Cannom and Jeff Ward
• The Blood Tide featurette - A look at vampire mythology and real-life blood rituals. Includes on camera interviews with Nina Auerbach, J. Gordon Melton, Dr. Gary Schiller and Father Gregory Coiro
• Isolated score with commentary by composer Mark Isham
• Pencil to Post: Pencil Sketches Through Production Designs
• House of Erebus: Uncover the Heritage of the Twelve Tribes in the Vampire Council
• Cast and Crew Biographies and Filmographies
• Original Theatrical Trailer