10 Reasons Why The Blade Movies Still Matter
4. It Helped Launch Guillermo Del Toro
While the Blade movies may have changed the face of comic book movies, they admittedly have a spottier track record when it comes to their directors.
Stephen Norrington, seemingly on course to become a hot property after 1998's Blade, came to a screeching halt professionally after well-publicised difficulties on 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen; he has not directed again since.
On 2004's Blade: Trinity, screenwriter David Goyer was promoted to the director's chair... and we'll talk a bit more about how that turned out later.
However, 2002's Blade II landed a genuine superstar director-in-waiting (and current Oscar nominee) in Guillermo del Toro. The Mexican filmmaker made the sequel whilst on the ascent, immediately after his 2001 indie hit The Devil's Backbone; and his star would only continue to rise from there.
Landing Blade II established a pattern that del Toro's career has largely stuck to, alternating between small, personal projects and large scale commercial ventures. Crucially, the director takes every bit as serious and detail-oriented an approach to both.
Del Toro brought a more gothic sensibility to Blade II, as well as more overtly comic book-esque tone, moving away from the sometimes excessive brutality and style-consciousness of Norrington's film in favour of something a bit more fun.
The result, arguably, is one of those rare sequels that improves upon the original - and it played a key role and enabling del Toro to make Hellboy next.