Hey folks, Harry here to introduce Mysterio... Our ever-present embittered FX crewman who has been being pushed away by computers and pixels... when he was a master of the practical effects... A vanishing art... Sigh... Anyway, About BLADE 2... I've had a looksee at this project as well, and I'm here to tell ya that I'll be darned if I didn't enjoy it. It had it's flaws (which Mysterio aptly points out), but overall I like it that the film tries to go in a quite different direction from the first film... Advancing characters as well as the relationship between hunters and prey. Alot about this film will be dictated by the energy and nerve that the director will or won't infuse into the film. It's not about loud thrashing techno music... it's about dynamics and motion... two elements that really did work great in BLADE.... personally I want the emotional side of the story a bit more fleshed out... But... hey... can we get everything? Well... keep your fingers crossed. Here's Mysterio...
Hey there, Harry. Well, the holidays again prove that there’s no rest for wicked. But around here, some time was finally spent cleaning up the lair a bit. And aside from the number of dust bunnies found underneath several large unmarked boxes, was a little something that caught my eye.
Now it must’ve been buried there for quite some time as I would’ve noticed it before, but amongst all things it just so happened to be the script to the “BLADE” sequel.
Aptly titled, “BLADE: Bloodhunt”, I decided after sinking my teeth into some turkey, I’d sink my teeth into this and see what it’s all about.
Now, mind you, I love vampire flicks, and seeing “BLADE” was somewhat better than I had originally anticipated. Great action flick. Love the martial arts stuff especially, and it was interesting to see Kris Kristofferson in this kind of movie. But, hey for two hours I bought into it, and had a good time with it.
** W A R N I N G ** --- ** S L I G H T S P O I L E R S B E L O W **
So now, it brings me to its inevitable sequel. The sequel basically picks up about a year after the first flick, and Blade is still out and about hunting vampires. But where he said in the first film, “there’s some things out there tonight worse than vampires…” this time it ain’t him. It’s a much bigger threat, a creature called Nomak, a genetic mis-hap that carries a lethal virus, which overtakes it’s host almost immediately. This causes the victim to turn into something more powerful and vicious than your average vampire. A near indestructible killing machine known as a Reaper, which spreads the infection to others.
This threat, to both the vampires and humans, leads Blade to team up with a group of vampires soldiers called “the Bloodpack”. It is their mission to find and destroy Nomak before the virus is spread beyond anyone’s control, before assimilating the human and vampire population entirely.
Now what makes this sequel interesting is that it takes the threat up to a whole other level. It’s not just Blade fighting off another gang of vampires, but having Blade take up arms with the enemy. There’s a lot of friction between Blade and the gang, and ultimately once the threat is vanquished, each realize all bets are off and for Blade it’s back to the hunt. His temporary alliance does not change his opinion of the vampires which he has dedicated his life to hunting down.
Blade’s character is also expanded somewhat within the context of the story by broadening his relationship with the vampires, and their underworld. He’s also given the opportunity to get a little somethin’, somethin’ (if you know what I mean).
The individuals that form ‘the Bloodpack’ have their own characters and personalities. Similar to the marines in ‘Aliens’ or the band of vampire hunters in Don Jackoby’s ‘Vampire$’ script. Unfortunately, most don’t last beyond their first encounter with a brood of Reapers in the city’s underground sewers.
Which leads into the action. There are some really fantastic sequences (like the one mentioned above), but what I did find that seemed to be lacking, were the martial arts sequences which were so plentiful and fun in the first. It’s not until the finale, that Blade really goes into a heavy martial arts fighting sequence. The action is mostly given towards an opening foot/motorcycle/car chase sequence, then a bit of gunplay, and finally, saving the best for last, Blade and his sword doing what they do best. Which isn’t to say that the action sequences aren’t fine, they are. Just my personal observation.
With regards to the plot and characters, the script is written very much in the context of a comic book. Which, for this series, makes for a fine addition. Credit “BLADE” writer David S. Goyer, for coming back onboard for it’s sequel, and keeping with the fun and over-stylized violence which made the first film so much fun.
Technical Information:
“BLADE: Bloodhunt”
Written By: David S. Goyer
Based on the Marvel Comics character
Draft date: 20-Apr-99
Side note: Longtime music video director, Paul (Marilyn Manson’s “The Dope Show”) Hunter is currently rumored to helm.
‘Til next time folks…
-Mysterio
e-mail @: Mysterio_9999@yahoo.com
