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A service to our youth through you,
their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word
MAR22030
Blade II (2002), R
Analysis Date: March 26, 2002
CAP Score: 20
MinMax: -70
CAP Influence Density: 4.32
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A service to our youth through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR22030 Blade II (2002), R Analysis Date: March 26, 2002 CAP Score: 20 MinMax: -70 CAP Influence Density: 4.32 |
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TITLE (RATING) -- ...COMMENT. Distributed by: New Line Cinema Director(s): Guillermo del Toro Producer(s): Avi Arad, Robert Bernacchi, Michael De Luca, Jon Divens, Peter Frankfurt, David S. Goyer, Lynn Harris, Andrew Horn, Stan Lee, Patrick J. Palmer, Wesley Snipes Written by/Screenplay: Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan, David S. Goyer (screenplay) Cinematography/Camera: Gabriel Beristain Music: Marco Beltrami, Buck Sanders Editing: Peter Amundson Wow again! The scores earned by the findings of Blade II are quite probably more conservative than even I am conservative. I do not think I have seen a film with more quantity of violence at a more furious rate. I likely missed a couple items that sped by as I was writing one down. It was like walking uphill in mud -- take one step forward and slide back two. On top of that, the athletic abilities and physical artistry of Wesley Snipes were unsurpassed in my years of film analysis. Jackie Chan or Jet Li is probably not any better than snipes, onscreen anyway. So, where do we go from here? Filth on finery!? Snipes performed some of the most outstanding martial arts talents I have ever seen. At least it appeared that way. Much of the action was computer-aided, but a computer can do only so much. But if you are looking for evil darkness and gory blood-sucking and flesh eating, this is the one for you. Alien has nothing on Blade II. Indeed, the inner workings of the vampires mimicked to a great extent the grossness of the killing parts of the Alien. Even a little of the face-spreading of the alien in Predator could also be seen in the mandibular configuration of these vamp-critters. Blade (Wesley Snipes), half-human, half-vampire is looking for his "mentor, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) who was reportedly killed in the first Blade. I didn't see it so I can say one way or the other. Apparently Whistler was not killed but was put in liquid suspended animation. In the unspecified years since Whistler was "killed", probably two years, Blade found himself a half-hearted cohort, Scud (Norman Reedus) to operate and maintain the massive arsenal of equipment Whistler built, all for the purpose of finding and killing vampires. Now Whistler shows up to resume his leadership role and makes an enemy of Scud who is not willing to release all he had done in the time Whistler was absent. Blade, a daywalker vampire, has one focus in life -- kill vampires. But he himself is a vampire. Oh, well. There's no honor among thieves and vampires I guess. By the way, the new reason humans bitten by a vampire become vampires is because of a virus. Oh, goodie. Now vampires are just another group of "folks" wanting to lives their lives in their own way not bothered by those who are not like them. Even one of the vampires was "born that way." I just kn-o-o-o-w I am going to hear about this but that supposition is obvious throughout most of the film. Don't shoot the messenger. I didn't write that movie! Too bad the vampire lifestyle requires them to suck blood from humans and eat flesh (sometimes their own) to live. Graphically. Very graphically in this movie. Talk about forcing their lifestyle on others. Blade is told of a new breed of vampire. The elite killer squad of vampires called The Reapers are not affected by garlic and silver as other vampires. Though still killed by sunlight, Blade's arsenal, apparently based on silver, no longer kills these new cats. Blade is even invited into the lair of the vampires -- his enemies -- to learn of The Reapers. So, now Blade must chum up with those of which he is "sworn enemy." Sounds a lot like some employment situations, doesn't it? The fur flies as the writers try to portray an obvious bonding between co-killers. Sometimes it works. One such bonding was between Blade and Nyssa (Leonora Varela) who is the daughter of the vampire king, Damaskinos (Thomas Kretschmann). The Reapers are out to get both human and vampire blood. So Damaskinos is trying to build an alliance between Blade, by far the top vampire killing expert, and his "people" to vanquish The Reapers from existence. A vampire joining vampires to form the Bloodpack to kill vampires. What next? [Mal. 4:1] Please note that smothering the "positive tone" of the Summary/Commentary used so far is massive and horrendous gore and methodology of killing not seen before and not likely to be seen again soon. The technology behind the making of the sci-fi/thriller was astounding, but the artistry used presented such ugliness, gore and evil as I have not seen that I can recall [Ps. 97:10]. Is it still art when art uses such communication? As I have told hundreds of emailers, art does not excuse sin, art does not equal sin and sin does not equal art. But when art uses sin it becomes sin. Examples of the ugliness and evil and gore in Blade II include, of course, sucking blood from the necks of humans not seen in Bella Lugosi and Lon Chaney flicks nor any since. The eating of flesh was as if it was unquestionable. The only thing about eating flesh the observer could not discern was how many times the biter chewed, if any. And almost everything was dripping with blood. Blade even took a dip in the king's bloodpool to revive himself. Imagine the smell of it! As an ex-medic I know what spilled blood smells like -- it can make you launch you lunch. Grotesque demon-like "vampires" attacked with such finality, brutality and lust as might been seen in Hell [Jonah 3:8]. In some instances the gore made me wonder about the minds that could generate such imagery. Blade impaled the lead of The Reapers, Nomak (Luke Goss) with one of his swords which pinned the vampire to the wall behind him but that did not stop the vampire. He just crawled up the wall as the blade sliced open all that was below the penetration point. About four inches of the top of one of the vampire's head was sliced off to "mercifully" kill him. Another character was sliced in half, top to bottom. This narcotic "entertainment" puts a new perspective on the vile of Ps. 101:3. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. *******Food for Thought******* As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W): Impudence/Hate (I)(1): Sex/Homosexuality (S): Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O)(2): Murder/Suicide (M)(3): |
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| NOTE: The CAP Analysis Model makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse or for manufacturing of justification for aberrant behavior or imagery, or for camouflaging such ignominy with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example from the sinful display or the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. This is NOT a movie review service. It is a movie analysis service to parents and grandparents to tell them the truth about movies using the Truth. |
| "There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our nearly seven years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
