Movie Review

Blade: Trinity (R)

Kit Bowen

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Hollywood.com Says
Blade: Trinity is by far the worst of the Blade movies, but for diehard fans of the comic book, it still may hold some excitement.

Story
Vampires aren't very good master planners. I mean, Blade (Wesley Snipes) thwarts all their plans to rule the world. Still, never underestimate the bloodsuckers, especially the tenacious little coven run by Danica Talos (Parker Posey). She and her cronies resurrect Dracula (Dominic Purcell), the all-powerful progenitor of their race. Not only can he walk around in the daylight, Dracula's genetic imprint could enable all vampires to do the same. At the same time, the vampires also frame Blade for murder, setting the FBI on his trail. After he and his mentor Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) have an explosive confrontation with the FBI, the Daywalker is left to rely on a new brand of human vampire hunters, the Nightstalkers. They include Whistler's beautiful daughter, Abigail (Jessica Biel), and her wisecracking cohort, Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds). The Nightstalkers cook up their own plan to use Drake's blood (yeah, they call Dracula "Drake." Clever, huh?). They intend to create a chemical reaction that, when released in the air, will kill the vampires once and for all since they are all connected to Drake, you know, in the grand circle of life, er, the undead. Frankly, both plans sound a little farfetched to me.

Acting
Although playing the infamous vampire hunter is about the only thing Snipes does these days, at least he's good at it. Not sure if it's the way he dispatches his victims with his swift sword or the way he looks so cool in tattoos and black leather, but Blade is just one of those reluctant, tortured heroes--and a reformed vampire, to boot--that we love so dearly. He's a guy who never gets the respect he deserves from those he ultimately protects (we're such an ungrateful lot). It's just unfortunate the character is a little stale in Blade: Trinity. There's only so much internal conflict Blade can muster up the third time around. As Blade's new comrades in arms, Biel kicks ass as the arrow-slingin' Abigail but doesn't really say much, while Reynolds, as King, lets loose a stream of hilarious one liners. Asked how the Nightstalkers can afford their technology and newfangled weapons, King quips, "I sleep with a lot of older men." The Van Wilder actor adds some needed--and welcomed--levity to the dark and plodding proceedings. Then there's indie darling Parker Posey
(Best in Show) chewing up the scenery--literally and figuratively--as the vampire Danica. She must have thought playing a bloodsucker would be an amusing thing to put on her resume.

Direction
Blade: Trinity has the inevitable task of following the successes of the first two Blade movies, and unfortunately it doesn't hold up to its predecessors. Writer/director David S. Goyer, who has penned all three films in the franchise, takes on the reins as director for the first time. While he certainly understands the material, Goyer lacks the necessary skills to create the dark and disturbing world of Blade that was made so vivid in the first two movies, especially Blade II, with its underground vampire lairs and clubs. What the director chooses to focuses on instead is the elaborate fight sequences, which would ordinarily be a smart thing to do if you know what you're doing. Goyer doesn't. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but there are just too many damn vampire confrontations in Trinity, and the Matrix-like special effects are too fast and too sterile for what should really be a bloodbath. After the first couple of thrill-packed altercations, you must endure fight after endless fight between the Nightstalkers and vampires (including vampire doggies), Blade and cops, and Blade and vampires. By the time we get to the big blowout between Blade and Drake, you honestly could care less who wins. And that's sad.

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