Marvel Presents: Hellboy VS Blade

Rating: 8/10 (2 November 2009)

It's definitively a rarity: seldom sequels top their originals. 'Blade II' is one of the exceptions. I admit, I'm not one for "origin" stories as they normally take too long to get to what we came for, and the original 'Blade' is also an exception: it didn't take too long and was thoroughly enjoyable. However, any problems with #1 (bad, very bad, CGI, Blade acting amateurish) are gone and they move (fast) forward with a very good story and action. An already-established Vampire Mix-breed Hunter, Blade, is given the opportunity to team with his nemesis, the vampires, when a new advanced-model Vampire enters the ranks. Their (or his, to begin) mission: destroy all vampires and then supposedly wipe out humans, following. Blade's no dummy, so he's taking all precautions after rescuing his mentor, Whistler, teaming with him and newbie, Scud. It's an extremely interesting concept to the relatively new series and though it mostly plays as a "mystery," it's pretty easy to figure out from the get-go on how this will play out. Nevertheless, it's fun if you just sit back and enjoy, if blood-thirsty vampire action's your idea of entertainment. Pending you watched this when it first came out, it might be more original, but after the success of 'Hellboy' (also starring Perlman,) 'Aliens' (boy, it had a lot in common with Cameron's film) and any of the 'Underworld' movies, it's hard to see this original as it was in 2002. It was, despite some obvious "plot-twists" and some silliness – slooooow-mo scenes can be annoying at times and watch how interesting sunglasses can be. Regardless, sit back, root for the male-vampire slayer as it has a little bit of everything for an action, horror, comedy and adventure person to enjoy.