as good as the first

Rating: 7/10 (26 March 2002)

I didn't think this was any better or worse than the first installment (which is a rarity if you ask me) and I really enjoyed it. Without gushing on and on,I've got to address the lengthy criticism posted below simply because the plot holes weren't quite as bad as the one commenter had thought:
Alleged problems with the plot:
I. The ancient vampire...
1- Yes,he managed to live for centuries and build himself up,but he was certainly not guaranteed eternity and hence what he was searching for. The new breed wasn't to replace him so much as to see his 'kind' become invincible and dominate.
2- Lost control of the Reaper simply because it was experimentation.
3- I'm sure the ancient vampire brought Blade to his home rather than another location simply because he felt safest there.
4- Had the ancient vampire had intermediaries talk with Blade and present the entire plan to him,Blade may well not have gone for the whole idea. In other words,it would seem more genuine coming directly from your mortal enemy than one of his lackeys.
5- The only thing I can say to objection #5 is that the movie is fantasy,so it should be given some leeway here.
6- Again,a film. Had the ancient vampire not shown the enemy (and hence the viewer) the test tube vamps,we would have been left in the dark and the critics would have screamed 'Plot hole!' all the way to the bank.
7- Doesn't kill Blade when he can. Well,that isn't so much a criticism against Blade II as it is action movies in general. This will probably be the case with 98% action movies forever.
8- I'm not sure where else the ancient vampire should have ran off to. I say again,perhaps he felt safer in his lifelong stronghold.
II. The Reaper Virus (aka Zombie Movie hides as Vampire Flick)
1-5- No real complaints here,just how the script went and I personally liked the idea. But opinions will always vary.
6 - The original Reaper takes his own life at the end of the film after being mortally wounded. He merely thrusts the blade further into his heart after feeling the release from his painful existence begin.
III. The lackeys (Other Vampires & Human agents)
1 - Perhaps the Vampire Nation only had a pair of prototype suits...it's never stated otherwise.
2-3- Typical movie action. This is another sin committed by 98% of action movies and not just Blade II.
4 - Willingly follow Blade into the sewers to hunt the Reapers with UV grenades and no way to shield themselves .....BUT it was the best and fastest plan available.
III. Lovestory between Blade and the Vampire Princess
Blade killed his mother in the first movie when he realized she was a complete traitor. He didn't fall for Nyssa's attractiveness so much as her genuine personality. Besides,it's a movie and they just added a small twist to it with the small bit of lovestory.
IV. The Fight Scenes
I liked the fight scenes myself overall but have a bit of a complaint with the computer rendering. Some of it was just too obvious and could have been done better.
I'm not trying to flame here or anything,but I certainly think the movie is worth a viewing and if you're really not going to like it,that's fine...but complaints about 'holes' aren't quite as penetrating as some folks might lead you to believe.