By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues
Photo copyright New Line Cinema
I was recently made aware of just how many movies and television shows the younger generation have never heard of, never mind seen. So to that end, we look back at some characters you really need to see before you kick the bucket.
There is no doubt that Blade 2 is one of the best movies ever made. Indeed Marvel’s upcoming (or not) new Blade movie has a long way to go to match or even exceed the original Wesley Snipes versions, bar the third of course.
In Blade 2 Blade must work with his enemies to destroy a lethal new plague of vampires called the Reapers. Neither human nor vampire is safe as the Reapers seem intent in wiping out everyone. One bite and you become one. Traditional staking through the heart did not work as their hearts were protected by bone. Only by going in at a certain angle with a sharp blade or object could you achieve that making them harder to kill. Only ultraviolet light can kill them and Blade has his work cut out to stop the threat while not being murdered by his unholy alliance.
Now Bros were a group when I was growing up and their music was great. Indeed one memory I have is travelling on a coach to a Michael Jackson concert in Cork and someone played Bros all the way down and it was great. Who would have thought that years later that one of the Bros brothers would go up against Blade as his most lethal enemy to date. Their ‘When Will I Be Famous’ song took on a whole new meaning once Nomak hit the screens. Luke Goss has made a very successful movie career for himself and he certainly stunned audiences with his portrayal of Nomak.
At first Nomak seems to have come out of nowhere, a new breed of vampire ready to consume everything. However in a huge sewer battle Nomak comes to Whistler (Kris Kristofferson) and reveals the truth.
The Reaper virus is not spawned from evolution but was in fact created by the vampire king, Damaskinos. He has been trying to iron out the vampire weaknesses so they can rule the world. He wants the same abilities Blade has and humanity will be split into cattle and pets. He tested the new serum on his son, Nomak, the Prince of the vampire race. Nomak is out for revenge because the serum has turned him into a monster. As Reaper patient zero, Damaskinos wanted Blade to kill him and the truth never to be told. But Nomak despite his tragic origins still has to be killed and the Reaper wave stopped before it’s too late.
As a Reaper Nomak is able to open his jaws like flaps and inject his victims with a stinger in his mouth to pass the Reaper gene to make more Reapers. It is all about vengeance and Nomak kills his terrified father so he dies slowly then his sister Nyssa who has been helping Blade but was oblivious to what was done to Nomak. Anyone involved in the creation of the Reaper gene is murdered by Nomak. Damaskinos has continued to refine his serum to create weakness free vampires.
The final battle between Blade and Nomak is much more brutal than the first movie. Nomak is stronger than Blade and much more agile. They smash each other to bits and Blade has to rely on his cunning to stop Nomak. He is able to pierce Nomak’s heart with a sword but even then it is a struggle. In a final surprise twist Nomak could pull it out but realises he is an abomination. He has taken his revenge and pushes the sword into his heart.
As the most powerful enemy Blade has faced, Nomak is truly a victim of his father’s misguided ambition. He lost his family once he was given the Reaper serum and hunted and alone, he did exactly what he had to do. In the end, he did the only thing he could do for the world and took his own life. As a one off character, Nomak was a fully rounded three dimensional person, a victim of his father’s ambition that he never shared. And in that there is something biblical that elevates the movie and its characters to another level.
The Time Warriors and Beyond 