Blade: Trinity (2004)
Also known as "Blade III"
The final hunt begins.
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel, Parker Posey, Cascy Beddow
Director: David S. Goyer
Running Time: 113 minutes
US MPAA rating: RUK BBFC rating: 15
Action, Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Horror, Thriller
Ever since the Bruce Lee-fuelled kung fu craze of the early seventies spawned the high-kicking horror hybrid 'Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires' (1974), martial arts and vampires have gone together like Buffy and Spike. One of the bastard children of this B-genre coupling was Blade - a half-vampire half-human 'daywalker' named for the samurai sword which, along with an arsenal of other weapons, he employs in his relentless pursuit of the undead who have been infiltrating human élites in their quest for control of a permanent blood supply.
Originally a character from Marvel Comics, Blade was made flesh by Wesley Snipes first in Stephen Norrington's breathtakingly over-the-top 'Blade' (1998), and next in Guillermo del Toro's even more baroquely demented 'Blade II' (2002). The films were originally conceived by screenwriter David Goyer to become a trilogy, and their winning combination of updated vampirology, lightning fast action and po-faced mayhem made a third instalment inevitable. Del Toro's commitments to 'Hellboy' prevented him from returning to the helm, so Goyer himself stepped in despite his inexperience as a director - and so 'Blade: Trinity' was born, proving the truism, albeit in an unusually literal fashion, that the final parts of trilogies always suck.
In a two-pronged effort to get rid of Blade once and for all, a well-organized outfit of the undead, led by the appropriately vampish Danica Talos (Parker Posey), both publicly frames Blade as a murderer, and awakens Drake (Dominic Purcell), the oldest and purest of all the vampires, from his resting place beneath an Iraqi pyramid. When Blade's mentor Abraham Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) gets killed during an FBI raid on their hideout, Blade is forced to join the 'Nightstalkers', a small band of vampire hunters headed by Whistler's daughter Abigail (Jessica Biel) and the wisecracking Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds). The vampires are experimenting with Drake's DNA as part of their 'final solution', but the Nightstalkers in turn are developing a biological weapon that could wipe out the entire vampire race. The only problem is that this vampire virus requires a sample of Drake's pure blood, and the ancient shape-shifter is not a generous donor.
In an early draft for this film, Blade was to be the last remaining hope for humankind in a future world already entirely subjugated to the undead. The fact that this plotline was dumped on the grounds that it was too 'dark' says it all about the shortcomings of the film that eventually took its place - take the darkness away from vampires, and their films usually end up having little bite - or, in the case of Blade, you have a swordsman who lacks any kind of sharp edge. The fights and actions sequences, while all present and accounted for, are pretty uninspired here, and, despite the addition of a range of new weapons, lack that special magic to take them beyond what has already been seen in other Blade outings. Much is made of how primally evil Drake is supposed to be, but he turns out to be far blander and less menacing than the opponents Blade has previously faced. Goyer's workaday direction, while full of noise, lacks any sense of rhythm and fails to build things to a noticeable climax, so that, instead of immersing viewers in a gripping story, it leaves them with an experience as uninvolving as watching someone else half-competently play a computer game.
Where the other two 'Blade' films managed to be funny merely by keeping a perfectly straight face throughout their absurd excesses, 'Blade: Trinity' needs an actual comic to inject some much-needed humour into its underwhelming scenes. Fortunately the clownish Ryan Reynolds rises to the occasion with his Jason Lee-style routine as Blade's comedy sidekick Hannibal, and proves to be the film's best asset. His endless tone-lowering, Blade-baiting quips might even temporarily distract viewers from the script's more pressing problems. No doubt there are ways that Whistler, Blade and the gang could all be brought back for a fourth instalment, but if this is anything to judge by, it might be better for the franchise to stay truly dead and buried.
It's Got: Parker Posey in fine form as a camp vamp; Ryan Reynolds stealing the show with his endless wisecracks; Wesley Snipe's Blade saying "coochy coo" to a baby; a Pomeranian devil dog; and some striking references to contemporary politics (even if they go nowhere), including a suggestion that the real WMD which the Coalition failed to find in Iraq was a well-concealed ancient vampire, and Blade's assertion that the President of the United States must be "an asshole".
It Needs: To have a more menacing antagonist, to be more coherent and engaging, and to seem less tired.
Alternatives: Blade, 'Blade II', 'Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires'
Summary: Let's hope this underwhelming third instalment really is the final nail in the Blade coffin.
Review Date: 9th December 2004
External Links
Official Web Site
Blade: Trinity at the IMDB
Comments24 Comments |
| I dont know what you guys are thinking but i thought this movie was awesome. Action packed and overall was just good. 9/10 |
| Comment by:- hawk | | 17 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| man **** this movie is so gay because blade needs help to kill vampires. ene dough blade gets me horny |
| Comment by:- katrina | www.pussy@ass | 17 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| blade **** him he dont know how to act if they are going to make a other movie about him call my ass at 1800-****-blade |
| Comment by:- brolly catle | brolly@**** | 17 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I didnt see it but my parents said that there were alot of sexual references that really made the movie seem gayish... |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 18 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Hollywood ripping on a Republican President...how incredibly novel. |
| Comment by:- Jim | | 19 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| i liked it also, action all the way |
| Comment by:- Anonymous | | 20 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Dear Katrina, learn how to write in English and then dare to express your opinions. It is: he doesn't know (3rd person singular) and 'another'. I liked the film. And even found it had some smart funny lines. |
| Comment by:- steluta | | 21 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| sorry, it ment brolly catle... |
| Comment by:- steluta | | 21 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| the film is great all you sad bastards dont no what ur talkin about |
| Comment by:- sean | | 22 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| i thought it was great, action-packed, and not only did it have all the qualities that a well-made film should have; tension, suspense, and superb actors; it had great chosen soundtracks to support its dark, tense atmosphere - which is ideal for this sort of action-films which includes vampires. My opinion? - excellent, well structured film, a must-go-see film if your the kind of person who likes action-packed films! However, for the more sensitive people out there, just sit-tight, and be ready to be on the edge of your seat for an action-thriller! |
| Comment by:- Mike. | | 22 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Sucked big time!!! Huge disappointment. The wise cracks from the Brolin character are the best thing about the whole movie. If you liked Blade II do yuorself a favor and wait for Trinity on dvd-trust me. |
| Comment by:- bob | | 22 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I thought the exact opposite of everything Mike said below... -------------------------------- i thought it was great, action-packed, and not only did it have all the qualities that a well-made film should have; tension, suspense, and superb actors; it had great chosen soundtracks to support its dark, tense atmosphere - which is ideal for this sort of action-films which includes vampires. My opinion? - excellent, well structured film, a must-go-see film if your the kind of person who likes action-packed films! However, for the more sensitive people out there, just sit-tight, and be ready to be on the edge of your seat for an action-thriller! -------------------------------------- I mean really it was a bad movie... and this is coming from someone who loved the other 2 Blade films. |
| Comment by:- Blah Humbug | | 22 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| i thing blade 2 is good then blade 3 |
| Comment by:- commander | | 24 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| the dumbness idea was to have Ryan Reynolds in the movie. I felt sorry for Wesley.....He should stick to movies like the In-laws. |
| Comment by:- Enough | | 25 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| sure sure ryan reynold is 1 of the funniest people on earth in my opion...but he doesnt really have the action movie "feel"..no matter how dodgey a beard u give him, so they could have definatly had more suitable actors for his part. but it was a GOOD movie, which is fine, cause lets face it there aren't going 2 be 2 many LOTR quality films around, so u should take wat u can get. |
| Comment by:- Marc | | 25 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| Badly directed and more product placement than free to air TV. If this doesn't put you off then you wont mind the bad acting. I would love to see this movie done the way it was intended. |
| Comment by:- Streetsy | | 26 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I did not get a chance to see this movie. From all that I heard it was a sweet ass movie. If it is better than the first two than it has got to be sweet. I cant wate till it comes out on dvd once it dose i will be there to get it. Also for those who say it is a gay movie then they can just keep what they think to them selfves because others really dont want to here what they say. |
| Comment by:- ac chambers | | 26 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| wank. 4/10 max . . . the title was much better than the entire film. PLEASE do not make a fourth! reynolds was funny...but poorly cast in my view..infact, it would have been soooo much better if his character wasnt in the film at all...I mean, i dont want to laugh at garlic fart jokes in a blade movie!!!!! |
| Comment by:- harry | | 27 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| I thought the movie was awesome, although not as good as his previous films but still a kickass movie! |
| Comment by:- Willow | | 29 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| i saw the movie although i heard it was bad i thought i'd giv it a chance and im glad i did it was brilliant the amount of action was amazing i give it a 9/10 |
| Comment by:- crown | | 30 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| je le trouve - bien ke le 2.mais de la a dire ke c de la merde faut pas abuser.il est bien mais sans + certans passages sont chians ( debut de la scene de l interrogatoire) j ai adore jessica biel mais parfois ryan eynolds est 1 peu lourd.c est un film divertissemant .8/10 |
| Comment by:- stef08 | | 31 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| i haven't seen the movie yet but u lot have been a great help the adverts look sick and i can't wait to see it so ill tell every1 how it woz wen i see it. |
| Comment by:- Jax | | 31 December 2004 | ip: logged |
| im just reading what you all said.... |
| Comment by:- gabeLA | | 03 January 2005 | ip: logged |
| Eep! I loved the first 2 because they were just big, fun smackdownfests. This one - it seemed as if, for 2 hours, absolutely nothing was happening. I thought the Hannibal character was good and funny as hell, but I prefer the (more) tongue-in-cheek, goreified humour of the first 2. Not to mention how the hell did Dagon become Dracula? A benevolent fish-man who teaches people to read and write sounds more like a childrens' edutainment cartoon character than a malevolent vampire lord. A mediocre anticlimax to an otherwise smacktacularly good action series. Mudduh-FUKKUH! ;-) |
| Comment by:- person | | 03 January 2005 | ip: logged |
