Third 'Blade' won't cut it with most viewers

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

BLADE: TRINITY (R) One-and-a-Half Stars (Poor-to-Fair) The latest chapter in the ongoing film series about the Marvel Comics hero whose life mission is the destruction of all vampires. Once again, Wesley Snipes stars as Blade, who has grown increasingly dull. David S. Goyer directs. New Line, 105 minutes.

"Blade: Trinity" is the latest chapter in the popular ongoing film series about the Marvel Comics hero whose life mission is the destruction of all vampires. Apparently there are a lot of them, because he knocks off hundreds in each of the films.

Once again, Wesley Snipes stars as Blade, a monster-killing hybrid who has apparently been influenced by every Samurai movie he's ever seen. He has a passion for killing vampires, despite being, himself, half human and half vampire.

Snipes, a talented fellow who used to perform in thought-provoking movies, seems content now to get as much mileage as possible from his fearsome fang-stomper. This time though, Snipes barely phones in his part, speaking fewer lines than normal, expressing a bit of attitude and demonstrating a few karate kicks.

Writer-director David S. Goyer and Snipes hand over most of "Blade: Trinity" to the co-stars, a new wave of younger vampire-fighters. Perhaps it's an attempt to take a bite out of the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" market. Abigail Whistler (Jessica Biel) is a daughter of Blade's aged associate (Kris Kristofferson). With her is a flippant, wise guy warrior named Hannibal King (Ryan Reynolds), who provides some very welcome comic relief. Reynolds' dialogue is the only intentional humor in the film.

Indie movie queen Parker Posey slums as one of the film's most campy villains, a Goth-influenced vampire who sports some of the weirdest hairdos in movie history. She's far more eye-catching than the film's main villain, the supposed granddaddy of all vampires, who rises from the underworld to reclaim his bloody throne.

Dominic Purcell plays Drake with surprisingly little pizzazz. Hardcore "Blade" fans will probably find something worthwhile here; but other viewers will simply conclude that Blade no longer cuts it.

Rated R, with much bloody gore, profanity.