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About These Films
Gallery
1. Blade (1998)
2. Blade II (2002)
3. Blade: Trinity (2004)
About These
Films: "Blade" was the beginning of Marvel Comics'
superhero movie empire. This is the first time Marvel ever had a
real breakout, theatrically-released movie success. Blade had
been a superhero of secondary or third-rate importance in comics for
years, and it seemed unlikely that he should be given a movie.
Since Blade was not as established as Spider-Man or Hulk, the film
creators could really play around with Blade's saga and
personality. It worked! "Blade" not only popularized the
character and made him marketable for merchandising, but it brought new
life into the acting career of Wesley Snipes. Wesley had quite a
career before and after the "Blade" movies, but I think many people
will remember him best as Blade. This is not a bad thing to be
associated with.
"Blade: Trinity" was an excellent film. I think it is probably the best of the three Blade films. However, it didn't do quite as well in theaters as everyone hoped. This film introduced, for the first time, the Nightstalkers. In the comics, the Nightstalkers was Blade's team. A "Nightstalkers" film, sans Blade, was planned, but abandoned.
In 2006, "Blade: The Series" hit TV on the SpikeTV network. The series was incredible, but it wasn't given enough of a chance and was cancelled after 12 episodes. It had the same edge as the previous movies, and even followed up on the movies. Why didn't it last? For one thing, a lot of people thought the show would be watered-down with little violence to make it more "family friendly". This was NOT a family show. It had all the violence of the movies, and even some nudity. The only thing they couldn't do was say the F-word (network rule) which was a stupid rule. If you show blood and guts, why can't you say the F-word?
Another thing about the series is that the actor for Blade was changed. Wesley Snipes didn't want to do TV, so he was replaced with Ken "Sticky" Jones. I think Jones was a great successor. Cast changes like that usually don't work out so well, but I think Jones is awesome. He IS Blade; just as much as Wesley was in the films. However, when actors are changed like that, it's hard to be taken seriously and that also worked against the success of the series.
In retrospect, Wesley Snipes should have stayed with Blade for the TV series. The TV series operated on a pretty good budget and was done just as well as the films. I can't imagine the many direct-to-DVD B-movies he's done since 2004 could have been more worthwhile to do than "Blade: The Series".
It seems that the "Blade" film series is all wrapped up. It's sad, because there were so many great stories left to be told. Due to the fact that "Blade: Trinity" and "Blade: The Series" didn't do as well as they should have, it seems unlikely that the Blade movies will be continued. Even if Wesley took up the Blade mantle again, a theatrically-released Blade film might not happen. And I don't think anyone wants to see Blade re-booted in a new series; it was done perfect the first time around.
"Blade: Trinity" was an excellent film. I think it is probably the best of the three Blade films. However, it didn't do quite as well in theaters as everyone hoped. This film introduced, for the first time, the Nightstalkers. In the comics, the Nightstalkers was Blade's team. A "Nightstalkers" film, sans Blade, was planned, but abandoned.
In 2006, "Blade: The Series" hit TV on the SpikeTV network. The series was incredible, but it wasn't given enough of a chance and was cancelled after 12 episodes. It had the same edge as the previous movies, and even followed up on the movies. Why didn't it last? For one thing, a lot of people thought the show would be watered-down with little violence to make it more "family friendly". This was NOT a family show. It had all the violence of the movies, and even some nudity. The only thing they couldn't do was say the F-word (network rule) which was a stupid rule. If you show blood and guts, why can't you say the F-word?
Another thing about the series is that the actor for Blade was changed. Wesley Snipes didn't want to do TV, so he was replaced with Ken "Sticky" Jones. I think Jones was a great successor. Cast changes like that usually don't work out so well, but I think Jones is awesome. He IS Blade; just as much as Wesley was in the films. However, when actors are changed like that, it's hard to be taken seriously and that also worked against the success of the series.
In retrospect, Wesley Snipes should have stayed with Blade for the TV series. The TV series operated on a pretty good budget and was done just as well as the films. I can't imagine the many direct-to-DVD B-movies he's done since 2004 could have been more worthwhile to do than "Blade: The Series".
It seems that the "Blade" film series is all wrapped up. It's sad, because there were so many great stories left to be told. Due to the fact that "Blade: Trinity" and "Blade: The Series" didn't do as well as they should have, it seems unlikely that the Blade movies will be continued. Even if Wesley took up the Blade mantle again, a theatrically-released Blade film might not happen. And I don't think anyone wants to see Blade re-booted in a new series; it was done perfect the first time around.
1. Blade
(1998):
2. Blade II
(2002):
3. Blade: Trinity (2004): This movie is awesome! I don't know why it didn't take with audiences better. Maybe it came too soon after the previous movie. After all, "absence makes the heart grow fonder". We finally get to see Blade's team from the comics, the Nightstalkers, and Blade fights a very cool version of Dracula (played by Dominic Purcell). Blade fights the first and greatest of all vampires! How cool is that?!
The only thing I don't like is the fact that Blade's sidekick, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) was killed in the beginning. However, we knew Whistler had to die sooner or later, and it sets up the introduction for the Nightstalkers.
Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel have since become huge stars. This movie was the first time I ever saw Ryan Reynolds in anything I liked. His Hannibal King is a great character, and probably the highlight of the movie. Biel was also very good, and I enjoyed wrestler Triple H as the thug of this movie.
Cast:
Wesley Snipes as Blade
Kris Kristofferson as Whistler
Ryan Reynolds as Hannibal King
Jessica Biel as Abigail Whistler
Fun Facts:
3. Blade: Trinity (2004): This movie is awesome! I don't know why it didn't take with audiences better. Maybe it came too soon after the previous movie. After all, "absence makes the heart grow fonder". We finally get to see Blade's team from the comics, the Nightstalkers, and Blade fights a very cool version of Dracula (played by Dominic Purcell). Blade fights the first and greatest of all vampires! How cool is that?!
The only thing I don't like is the fact that Blade's sidekick, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) was killed in the beginning. However, we knew Whistler had to die sooner or later, and it sets up the introduction for the Nightstalkers.
Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel have since become huge stars. This movie was the first time I ever saw Ryan Reynolds in anything I liked. His Hannibal King is a great character, and probably the highlight of the movie. Biel was also very good, and I enjoyed wrestler Triple H as the thug of this movie.
Cast:
Wesley Snipes as Blade
Kris Kristofferson as Whistler
Ryan Reynolds as Hannibal King
Jessica Biel as Abigail Whistler
Fun Facts:
- Wesley Snipes and Kris Kristofferson were reportedly unhappy with this movie, feeling that there were too many new characters.
- Wesley Snipes and director David S. Goyer did not get along too well during the production of this movie, due to creative differences.
- Triple H's part was originally meant to be much smaller. However, he impressed everyone with his work ethic and camera presence. In return, he was given more lines and more camera time.