Ayo! Welcome to another episode of BIRD PROTOCOL! We're diving deep into the underground world of vampirism to explore one of the most iconic superhero franchises that quite frankly doesn’t get the love it deserves. Not only did this franchise save Marvel movies and pave the way for the MCU, but it also helped one of our favourite filmmakers break into the mainstream AND it has Wesley Snipes, Ron Perlman, and Norman Reedus in it. That's right, folks, we're talking about the electrifying 2002 action-horror flick, Guillermo del Toro's 'Blade 2'!
"Blade 2" stars Wesley Snipes as the titular character, Blade, who was based on the vampire-hunting Marvel comic book character of the same name. Snipes was heavily involved in the character's development and the success of the film's version of the character (adding the samurai sword, making him a dhampir, and the dark sci-fi fantasy elements of the film) actually caused Marvel to go back and update the character in the comics. Snipes collaborated with Guillermo del Toro to shape the character's evolution in the sequel and was heavily involved in the film's overall direction as well. Del Toro was given the freedom by the studio to work with the film's writer, David S. Goyer, and Snipes to craft something his own. Lots of his future cinematic language and vision is tucked away in "Blade 2" which makes it quite the re-watch for del Toro fans. Del Toro's unique and artistic approach to storytelling, cultivated by his background with the many monsters and folklore of Spanish filmmaking, gave birth to a film that defied vampire movie conventions. I mean… c'mon! The Reaper Strain? Super Vampires? Hell yeah.
In this episode, we talk "Blade" as a comic book character, revisit the first "Blade" film, talk about comic book movies before the MCU, and unpack why Del Toro's sequel slaps so hard. Despite being released in a crowded movie season, "Blade II" performed well at the box office and solidified the franchise's popularity. This set the stage for a disappointing sequel, an MCU reboot, and an often-forgotten television series. We briefly touch on all of those too.
We also explore the choreography of the film's intense fight sequences, the use of CGI, the vampire lore and creature effects that brought the world of "Blade" to life, and the ingenious ways 'Blade II' expanded the boundaries of the vampire sub-genre. The film's unique blend of action, horror, and dark fantasy continues to influence filmmakers and genre enthusiasts. Plus, it just goes so hard... so without further adieu, let's get to it.
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