You know, if you think about it—this whole superhero cinema thing really got started with Wesley Snipes in Blade. Sure, Christopher Reeve’s Superman was one of the first—but when it comes to tracing the linage of the current crop of box office dominant genre flicks, it truly commences with Snipes as the vampire slaying superhero.
Now, Warner Bros. has released the stellar flick on a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-Ray super pack worthy of such a cinematic trendsetter. It, first and foremost, is a stellar upgrade from the 2012 Blu-Ray release. Blade joins a terrific list of recent 4K upgrades from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, including 300, Full Metal Jacket, The Goonies, and Beetlejuice.
Snipes is Blade, the title character—a half-vampire, half-human vampire hunter. He possesses all the of the strengths of being a vampire, but none of the weaknesses—such as the one that gives him his nickname. The Day Walker uses his innate talents to slay his enemies. Well, let’s be real—he hunts. This battle leads Blade towards Dean Frost (Stephen Dorff), his nemesis, putting it mildly. Frost has made a name for himself in the vampire landscape by promising (and in the process of delivering) a vampire God that exists for merely one reason—to destroy humankind.
The 1998 hit was helmed by Stephen Norrington (who, one might argue, has been in director’s jail since what has proven to be his last film, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was released in 2003). The Blade screenplay was penned by none other than the man who would write The Dark Knight trilogy for Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer.
The cast is filled out by legend Kris Kristofferson, N’Bushe Wright, Donal Logue, Udo Kier, and Sanaa Lathan (the Love & Basketball star is currently killing it as the voice of Catwoman on HBO Max’s Harley Quinn).
The transfer, like all those previously mentioned WBHE releases, is just gorgeous. Making it all the more visually vivacious is how Norrington shot it to begin with all those years ago. Interesting to note: Adding layers of beauty is the production design by Kirk M. Petruccelli, the makeup department’s stellar work, and the costume design by Sanja Milkovic Hays.
With the HDR (High Dynamic Range) of the 4K Blu-Ray, the film experience features a wider color spectrum with more depth and vividness. On the audio side, the Dolby Atmos soundtrack was remixed specifically with the home theater experience firmly in mind.
The Blade 4K comes with the following special features, all included in that 2012 Blu-Ray release. Of course, this is one of those films that you are going to want to have in your home video collection if you don’t have it already. If you have the 4K ready TV and player, this is one you are absolutely going to want to purchase the upgrade.
Once it’s in your library, on one of your future viewings you must check out the “Commentary with stars Snipes, screenwriter David S. Goyer, cinematographer Theo Van De Sande, production designer Petruccelli, and producer Peter Frankfurt. Not only is it pricelessly insightful, once it is concluded, but there also should never be another future question about any aspect of the Blade filmmaking process!
Also, be sure to check out the Isolated Score Audio Commentary with composer Mark Isham. For me, what Isham did with Blade provided the framework for every future composer of a Marvel movie (or DC for that matter). Comic movie scores owe a great debt to Isham and this is one bonus feature that was ahead of its time—with its salute of the score and dissection of its creation.
Film Grade: B+
Bonus Features: B