Sharper than part I

Rating: Null/10 (4 March 2003)

The original Blade was not a bad movie by any means. It wasn't particularly fantastic either. I didn't exactly have the highest expectations when I rented this. My only interest was in the director, Guillermo Del Toro, of whom I'm a fan.
It seems to me that successful sequels utilize one thing: expanding the world in which the characters inhabit. In Aliens we didn't get one xenomorph, we got an entire army. In Terminator 2, the expected plot was twisted inside out and the scope of the film went above and beyond its predecessor. In Blade II the filmmakers clearly went the route of excess hoping more=better. In some regards it works. In some it does not.
For starters, I LOVED the look of the movie. The visuals were the best part and I think pushing this one over the edge into full blown comic book territory was a wise decision. Blade is a comic book character and although the first one tried to keep a firm grip on reality, Blade II gleefully crosses the line aiming for more of a gothic fairy-tale sort of quality which I think suits the character better.
I had no problems with the plot of the movie either. I think the Reapers were a great idea. We'd already seen Blade fight vampires. Creating a new enemy and having him team with vampires to fight them was an awesome way to go. After The Crow: City of Angels, I had serious doubts about screenwriter David S. Goyer. But now, after reading his original version of that film and now having watched this one- my faith has been restored. Anyone else would have given us a very standard, rehashed sequel. Which makes me think he had this plot cooking even while he was writing the first Blade.

Snipes borders on over the top in the lead role but he's obviously having so much fun it's hard not to get caught up in at all. I liked the Bloodpack and the father Vampire. The main reaper could have benefitted from a tad more fleshing out, though. As far the rest of that clan, I disagree with other reviewers who wanted more of them. I believe we saw just enough. Serious props for casting Norman Reedus as Scud. I love that guy.

Blade II is a "slick" movie and if you're a fan of that style there's a lot to devour here. It seems to me the only ones who really don't care for it too much are die-hard fans of the original. Which I clearly was not. I think Blade II is more exciting, humorous, and visually heads and tails above the first one. Could have done without the CGI fighting but at the end of the day that's my only complaint- it ain't that bad. 8/10.

I hope they can top themselves again with Blade III.