|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Domsez Youtube |
w/e 09.09.08 |
|
at the Proms @ DVDfever Youtube |
|
Aug 08 2008
DVDfever co uk
Season 4 Just £28.98! 
Alien/Predator:
Harry Potter
News & Views
DVD List
Right To Reply
|
Dom Robinson reviewsBlade II
Viewed at
|
Director:
Producers:
Screenplay:
Original Score :
Cast :
Abraham Whistler: Kris Kristofferson Scud (Josh): Norman Reedus Nyssa Damaskinos: Leonor Varela Reinhardt (Bloodpack leader): Ron Perlman Jared Nomak: Luke Goss Lighthammer (Bloodpack): Daz Crawford Chupa (Bloodpack): Matt Schulze Snowman (Bloodpack): Donnie Yen Asad (Bloodpack): Danny John-Jules Priest (Bloodpack): Tony Curran Verlaine (Bloodpack): Marit Velle Kile Overlord Eli Damaskinos: Thomas Kretschmann Blood Bank Doctor: Pete Lee-Wilson |
When Blade II began I was a fair bit disappointed because it dragged as it explained the backstory to Wesley Snipes' character and I thought that if they hadn't spent four years getting this sequel to the big screen then it wouldn't have been necessary to show clips because the audience wouldn't have forgotten what it was about.
As luck would have it, after 40 minutes the action started to kick in, I got more into the film and from there it just got better and better. Knowing what I know now, perhaps when I next see it again, the first third of the film will pass more quickly.
For those of you who thought that the first film saw Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) killed off, then think again. He wasn't dead, just resting, in some kind of liquid-filled stasis tank and Blade's first port of call is to rescue him once he gets wind that his friend's still alive, even if he is looking rather the worse for wear. Once the duo are back together, there's a typical bit of testosterone-fuelled rivalry as Whistler whinges with Blade's new in-house recruit Scud (Norman Reedus).
So, what's the sequel about? Blade's been given the unenviable task of having to side with the team that he did battle against last time. The vampires are asking for his help because an even more deadly force is around: the Reapers led by Jared Nomak (Luke Goss, yes, him from Bros) are creatures that not only kill humans, but go after the vampires too. They'll kill everything in their path... and everyone wants them stopped.
Those who enjoyed Aliens will be in familiar sequel territory here as the hero(ine) of the piece is joined by a rabble of gruff yokels who've been through plenty of physical training to get them into their current vocation and now they're ready to kick butt against the unknown.
Blade must lead the Bloodpack against the evil enemy, but he hardly gets, nor expects, a willing welcome from someone who puts away their kind for a living. The main grump of the group is Reinhardt (Ron Perlman, usually one for arthouse movies, but drops in for blockbuster on occasion), Asad (Danny John-Jules, aka Cat from Red Dwarf), Priest (Tony Curran) and Verlaine (Marit Velle Kile, the cute redhead, if I remember correctly). There's a few others too, but these serve merely to fill out the numbers and get offed along the way like you'd expect.
To supplement the threadbare plot, not that that's much of a problem with this kind of film, there's sibling rivalry thrown in for awkward measure as the Overlord Eli Damaskinos (Thomas Kretschmann) wants to ensure that all plans to kill off the bad baddies run smoothly, even if that means the death of his daughter Nyssa (Leonor Varela) who joins the Bloodpack. That doesn't necessarily mean that she does die, but just that the Overlord would consider it an occupational hazard and little else.
Finally, the role of the Blood Bank Doctor is played by a bit-part actor, Pete Lee-Wilson, who has appeared in The Bill, Casualty and in this film has been given the Sven Goran Erikkson make-over treatment. Well, he certainly didn't look like anyone else.
As the film progresses, there's a comfortable blend of action scenes as Blade grins and high-kicks the baddies to pieces, plus some clever inventions courtesy of the aforementioned Scud, such as ultraviolet bombs which explode light all over the shop and are the quickest way to kill off the Reapers... as long as the Bloodpack don't get caught in the brightness. There's also secrets to be revealed in the usual plot devices of good guys who turn out to be working for the other side and characters who are revealed late on to be related to other people.
Of course, what you also want to know is... is Luke Goss any good... or does he sing in the film? Well, yes and no. He's been taking acting lessons in the US and I don't know how he'd get on in a period drama, but he certainly doesn't seem out of place here and it shows good foresight on behalf of the director to have given him the lead baddie role. (And the "no" was to the singing)
In fact, he must have liked Goss' performance so much that when director Guillermo del Toro was casting his next film, Hellboy, due for release next year, he will be bringing both Goss and Snipes back together again.
When this film reaches DVD later in the year, I shall be looking forward to it for a number of reasons. Firstly, it's a damn good action film and secondly, I hope that when I watch it again, the first 40 minutes won't seem to slow now I know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'll also look forward to the extras to discover the way in which the Reapers' "mouth movement" was done, which you'll see for yourself when you watch the film - something the trailers do not give away.
Fans of computer games such as Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur will find something to enjoy too, since many of the battle scenes within the film look like moves taken from these games, particularly in the final fight between Goss and Snipes as the former leaps around the room with such height and comes down with such force that you wonder if the latter will ever win.
I have to admit thinking something was up with the cinema screen when the 1.85:1 screen didn't open up to 2.35:1 as the BBFC logo appeared and the opening credits rolled because that was the ratio of the first film, but apart from a handful of oddly-composed shots, the film mostly settled down into the narrower ratio. I still think 2.35:1 would've been better for this one though.
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
