Blade 1998

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: Blade is often ridiculous, mostly poorly written and, surprisingly poorly acted too. Read more

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: What is unusual about the film is the way it combines high-tech violence with the more up-close-and-personal violence of vampires. These characters and the aggressive way they attack each other justify all the film's considerable noise. Read more

Gene Seymour, Los Angeles Times: Such techno-action may give Blade enough power for a sequel, but one is left wondering whether there's any room for its central character to sustain interest beyond this flashy debut. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: For a while, anyway, this vampire picture flies. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Blade would've been a lot more fun if everybody had lightened up a notch. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Lots of exploding heads and oceans of blood, moves fast and with no discernible meaning but looks good. Read more

Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader: Hopelessly dated before its release. Read more

John Krewson, AV Club: Creative cinematography and non-stop, decently choreographed gratuitous violence make watching this comic-book movie entertaining. In fact, it's arguably the best comic-book movie of the year. Read more

Houston Chronicle: Sultry, silly story! Read more

Paul Tatara, CNN.com: My question is, if audiences are trying so desperately to escape whatever's got them all worked up in their daily lives, how is this any better? Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: The sort of glittering trash pile that makes you dread the words comic-book movie. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: There are lots of stunts, chase sequences and so much computer morphing that the effects house must have been offering it at discount. Read more

Dave Kehr, New York Daily News: Has the comic-book movie reached the end of the line? The glumly familiar, been-there-done-that aspect of Blade certainly suggests so. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Although the opening scene suggests a dark urban satire, Blade quickly turns into a cartoonish futuristic action-adventure yarn in which Blade is the only thing keeping humanity from being exterminated by vampires in a hematological holocaust. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Blade has the capacity to dazzle, but it also will leave many viewers dissatisfied. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Pure visceral imagery. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: The fight scenes -- particularly Blade's first appearance -- are undeniably exciting. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Big as it is, Blade is meticulous and subtle, not just in its camera technique but in the way it works its themes and creates a mood. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Anchored by powerful Wesley Snipes, it immediately grabs you by the jugular and holds tight for two hours. Read more

Nigel Floyd, Time Out: An attempt to redefine cutting edge horror, this techno-vampire pic is spoiled by the same weak storytelling and flashy, computer game visuals. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: Though slick and diverting in some aspects, increasingly silly pic has trouble meshing disparate elements -- horror, superhero fantasy, straight-up action -- into a workable whole. Read more

Justine Elias, Village Voice: Children of the night, what disgusting movies they make. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: The count would be rolling in his grave if only there weren't a stake in his heart! Read more