Action hero, leading man, martial arts expert, and groundbreaking actor, Wesley Snipes has had a distinct impact on several genres. He's been memorable in every single one, and the audience always connects with his characters.
His movies are exciting, compelling and most all, unique. Crazy things happen in Wesley Snipes movies that no other actor could pull off. Here are ten hilariously badass things that can only happen in his movies.
One-Liners That Rhyme
Snipes plays a great villain. He always gives them a chilling edge that makes them both compelling and terrifying. The ruthless gangster Nino Brown from New Jack City is one early example of a Wesley Snipes character that occasionally sets up his threats in rhyming couplets or song lyrics. It's funny and scary at the same time. The actor makes fun of this trend in his movies when he appears in The Expendables 3.
Slay To The Music
Wesley Snipes was all over this with movies like Blade before The Matrix made it a thing. Even when the trend went mainstream, nobody rocked an action sequence to a hard industrial techno beat like he did, especially against the forces of the undead. It was new and exciting. The Blade franchise is famous for this, but it also comes up in films like Demolition Man and The Expendables 3.
Daywalker With An Attitude
The creature known as the "Dhampir" or Daywalker, who is half-vampire and half-human, has gotten a lot more attention in pop culture recently. Today we have several characters that fit the bill, but none of them have the same presence as Blade.
In fact, most of them are somber and dull, dozing in their coffins or clinging to their human companions for safety until called to action. The character of Blade is outspoken, brash, even funny, and only Wesley Snipes can make that kind of Dhamphir character work.
Cigars As Props
Before stars like Stallone and Schwarzeneggar made it cool, Wesley Snipes was using a cigar as a prop. With his charisma and command of any scene, he was one of the few actors who could successfully use that kind of accessory and even though it did give some characters a more sinister vibe it was often a comedic device. The scene from Murder at 1600, when he talks down a suicidal businessman while casually puffing down, is one example.
Unique Haircuts
Wesley Snipes looks so good most of the time it's distracting, and like any talented actor he plays that to his advantage. On the list of trends that started in his movies, let's talk about haircuts. The most famous example is Demolition Man, where Snipes rocks a unique do that not only defines his character perfectly but sets him in stark contrast to the straight-laced hero who could never pull it off. This is the look that inspired Dennis Rodman. It's so hilariously over the top that it works, and you see it again in movies like Blade, where it's combined with an equally badass tattoo, or Major League, where he basically makes fun of himself.
Sword Gunfights
Knives, guns and martial arts all in the same fight? Sounds ridiculous. How does this work? Wesley Snipes is a proficient action hero and an expert in a variety of fighting styles, that's how. It's totally over the top, funny as hell, and great fun to watch.
Check out the Expendables 3 to get a quick summary of Snipes' proficiency with a variety of weapons and melee combat, along with his talent to create a mysterious yet relatable character that makes us laugh.
They're All Extreme Sports
Sure, you know that Wesley Snipes is a talented action hero, so he doesn't need to jump out of planes or take on other daring feats to thrill us in his movies. However, he does anyway, and often his adventures are so extreme that they are also hilarious. Some of his more physical films, like Major League, show off these talents and make them a source of comic relief at the same time.
Bad Guys With A Valid Gripe
Most big stars are afraid to play villains, but Wesley Snipes isn't one of them. He's played various bad guys throughout his career, and each one of them is authentically sinister but also sympathetic and often funny. Sometimes it's the humorous comments, the unexpected poetry (see above), or the old fashioned thirst for revenge set to rhyming couplets. It's always a combination of a few things that connect with the audience and often make them laugh.
Leather And Lace
As an action hero, Wesley Snipes is one of those Hollywood Manly Men and he often plays a corresponding character. Imagine if he went the other way, and played an LGBTQ role? He did, in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.
Wesley Snipes plays Noxeema, a prize-winning stage performer who's part of a trio, and all three set out on a road trip. The results are both hilarious and profound, with Snipes stealing every scene he's in, and no other actor could have accomplished that feat.
Crazy Crossovers
Wait, is this a murder mystery, a horror flick or a buddy cop drama? When it comes to Wesley Snipes movies, these categories don't have to be exclusive. Almost all of his movies combine at least three different genres and he's not afraid of unconventional roles, as his wide array of characters suggest. Only Snipes could bring all of these together and make us laugh while he does it.