Some people are always trying to ice-skate uphill. Full disclosure, we’ve cleaned that line up for those with a sensitive disposition. But where does this line of pure poetry come from? Well, as it happens, it’s featured during the action-packed finale of the comic book movie that saved Marvel. And it’s a comic book movie that’s now dominating streaming.
Released way back in the before times of 1998, the action horror superhero movie Blade is now considered one of the best Marvel movies ever made. In no small part thanks to Wesley Snipes’ iconic portrayal of the titular vampire hunter (incidentally, the line “Some motherf*ckers are always trying to ice-skate uphill” was taken from Snipes himself when someone overheard him say it during a regular conversation). Directed by Stephen Norrington and written by David S. Goyer, and based on the Marvel character of the same name, Blade stars Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, and N’Bushe Wright alongside Snipes, and follows the vampire hunter known as The Daywalker as he attempts to fend off a world-ending scheme concocted by a rebellious member of the undead.
While Blade was met with a shockingly divisive response from critics at the time (it now holds a score of 59% on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside a far more impressive 78% from audiences), the comic book outing is now a firm fan-favorite, with its legacy even leading to Wesley Snipes reprising the role in last year’s MCU outing Deadpool & Wolverine.
Blade has now taken the #1 spot on the popular streaming platform Paramount+, with its 2002 sequel Blade II now at #5. The rest of the Top 5 is composed of the Tom Cruise legacy sequel Top Gun: Maverick, horror parody Scary Movie, and Jason Statham’s action thriller The Mechanic.
How Did ‘Blade’ Save Marvel & Pave the Way for the MCU?
The sequel, Blade II, saw Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro take the reins of the Marvel franchise, with Snipes vampire hunter forced to team-up with his sworn enemies when a new species of killer arises. Blade II was once again met with a mixed response but is also once again looked upon fondly by fans.
But, despite the divided reactions leveled at the Blade franchise, the first outing will always have an important place in Marvel history. The movie adaptation came at a time when Marvel Comics was struggling financially, but thanks to Blade becoming the first blockbuster hit based on one of their characters and grossing around $131 million against its $45 million budget, the company was saved from imminent ruin. Thus, 1998’s Blade paved the way not only for more Marvel comics, but also the likes of further big screen franchises such as The X-Men and, of course, the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
All of which makes the flailing Blade reboot somewhat ironic, as the Mahershala Ali-led take on Blade is one of the few adaptations that Marvel Studios has struggled with over its decade-plus existence. So, while Blade may have been able to save Marvel, Marvel has yet to save Blade.
- Release Date
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August 21, 1998
- Runtime
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120 Minutes
- Director
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Stephen Norrington
- Producers
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Avi Arad, Joseph Calamari, Lynn Harris, Peter Frankfurt, Robert Engelman, Stan Lee, Wesley Snipes
