RATING:

Starring: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Jessica Biel, Ryan Reynolds, Parker Posey with Triple H. Written and Directed by David S. Goyer.

Rated R - for strong pervasive violence and language, and some sexual content.

In Blade: Trinity, Wesley Snipes' character has two enemies: 1) the cops, who think that he's a menace to society; and 2) the original Dracula, who is resurrected by the other bad-guy vampires. When superhero franchises use multiple villains, it's usually a bad sign. Trinity is no exception. It's packed with moments of Blade-coolness that will delight the faithful, but the tone is uneven, the villains campy, and even the final, epic battle is just good for a shrug.

Blade's conflict with the police, and all of human society, for that matter, is the film's best storyline. Director David S. Goyer, who wrote all three films, wisely brings Blade back into the real world. After the gothic glory of Blade 2, it's invigorating to see Blade once again in the land of mortals, in the world of TVs and Hyundais and grocery stores. Back in a world we recognize--and therefore care about--Blade and Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) again face the very human forces of ignorance and corruption.

So far so good. But while Blade is ducking the cops, the vampires are busy hatching their newest evil plan. Foiled by their attempts in the first two films, and lacking vision, the vampires decide they need a change in leadership. They do what any troubled organization would do: they resurrect the legendary king of all vampires: Dracula.

When we first meet Dracula, he's a larger-than-life monster, his body made from scales and claws and horns. He's scary. He's dangerous. He's a worthy opponent of Blade. In fact, he's Blade's perfect nemesis. Later, though, for no apparent reason, Dracula shape-shifts into human form and becomes Dominic Purcell.

Now, don't get me wrong. Purcell is a good-looking guy. If Dracula's goal is to pick up chicks, this is a good move. And If I had shape-shifting powers, maybe I'd change into Purcell myself. Who am I to judge? But as soon as Dracula becomes human, and then assumes the cutesy name "Drake," he's stripped of any intimidation or dread. The monster has no teeth. And for a vampire, this is problematic.

Amplifying this "de-fanging" is the very battle between Dracula--or Drake--and our gloomy hero. When they first meet, unbelievably, it's Drake who runs from Blade! Drake even has to cheat, holding a baby as a hostage, in order to escape the wrath of Blade. This occurs early on in the film, when the audience should be viewing Dracula as a horrific, near-invincible foe. Imagine if in Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter met Clarice in a Denny's and then fled from her, afraid. Or pretend that instead of haunting his victims, Freddy Krueger runs from them, panicked, his knife-hands flopping around in fear. Drake is the worst villain in recent memory, bad as in Otis-from-Superman-bad.

To help fight Drake, Blade is aided by Whistler's daughter, Abigail (Jessica Biel) and one of the guys from the pizza place, Ryan Reynolds, who plays the curiously-named Hannibal King. The new kids steal the show. Biel is appropriately hot as she kicks ass and slings arrows (even though her iPod techno-music is irritating), and the buffed-up Reynolds is comic gold. Reynolds can be self-deprecating, ballsy, goofy, and ironic--all in the same scene. More so than in any of his previous work, Reynolds makes the case that he can be a leading man.

Abigail and Hannibal are part of a secret sect of vampire-fighters known as the "Nightstakers." Of course, the whole existence of the "Nightstalkers" is a little ridiculous. Blade is the foremost expert on vampire-hunting; wouldn't he know about some other elaborate organization that's also slaying vampires? More to the point, why wouldn't Whistler have mentioned his daughter? Why the rival two camps? Where were they in the first two films, when Blade could have used their help? Anyways.

Trinity is stocked with kinetic, pulsing action scenes that are sure to fire-up the true fans. And there are loads of new toys, such as Biel's crossbow, a UV laser arc (or something), and knives that spring from boots. Yet while the gadgetry is cool, too often it distracts from the story and even the action. In one scene, for instance, Abigail takes her crossbow for target practice. When she fires the first arrow, an electronic sign flashes, "104 fps." (or something.) Then the second arrow: 110 fps. Um, okay. Should we be impressed by this? But then a third arrow: 117 fps. Wow! We don't really care about her damn crossbow, and we're not given much reason to care about the other Nightstalkers, either.

Don't worry: Blade: Trinity isn't some disaster of Batman and Robin proportions. (Blade doesn't have a new costume with nipples.) Goyer treats the titular character, at least, with respect and gravitas. Blade is still Blade. This might not be the franchise's death-knoll, but it's hardly a step forward.

Rating: 76 fps out of 100 fps.

Comments? Questions? E-mail me at jeff@latinoreview.com.