Newly improved sequel that lacks the effort of the original,yet still entertains

Rating: Null/10 (23 July 2002)

Blade 2 (might contain minor spoiler )

One thing i dont understand that some people could gushes complains about story plotting , ok, i dont blame them though, it is probably the anally retentive veins pumping, i myself dont read Blade comics so i wouldnt know what does the comic version offer that this film didnt have...dig that B?
ok i hate to like this film, but i do like it , the energy of the action scenes are ridiculously squeezed into your cerebrum, this feeling of "oh-how-i-wish-im-a-cloaked-vamp-vigilante" invaded me,i got out of the cinema feeling jealous that i have to lead this gloomy college life, the same feeling when i watch films like Matrix, spiderman and such.. bummer.
Aside from the parrabelum holed plot settings, credits due where its due, one can tell the difference of budget between this blade and the first, probably like El-mariachi(1991) to Desperado(1995) if not like Desperado to the upcoming Desperado; once upon a time in Mexico(2002). The computer effects; the burning to ashes slaughtered vampires for example, whilst in the first Blade this effect can sometimes be shown in a playstation 2 presentation (to keen eye) enhanced greatly in Blade 2, the computer effects departement obviously are so proud of this, that even a sliding burning ashes got its own camera close up for 2-3 seconds, the highlight of CGI in here is however the transformation of real flesh and blood actors to a silicone rendered one, shown especially in a fresh original way and enhanced by the kinetic camera work, you just have to see it for yourself to experience it, its almost like watching a virtual animated comic book.
costumes, gadgets and locations, need i say more? the props and set designer departement deserves heaps credit here,the G.I Joe's Snake Eyes look-a-like costume that Assad and Nyssa wears at the first time, the mini gun used in the night club..yep.. think aliens or predator..the character designs of the bloodpack, straight out of manga, yet too cool to be criticized,the Reaper character almost fails to impress me as it took too much reference from other parasytical creatures of other films, i like the Bone shielded heart idea though.
Bad points here will be the acting, somehow Snipes looks tired, and aged, his one liner utterings,and superficial grimmacings that occured whenever a fight scene commences doesnt help his character development (and believe me theres so much fighting scenes, you wont even have time to take a pop corn break here), whenever Blade shares screen with the bloodpack or reapers he shines less, but i think its probably due to Snipes height and dimming persona, he is after all reached his Fourth decade, plus Blade's costume looks too thick that it hides wesley's muscular figure and makes him somehow looks thick and over protected... whilst the figures of bloodpack members looks mighty cool, it is better when some of them do not speak at all, as i Assume some of these dudes are martial artists that usually appears in gary Daniels B martial art duds. Donnie Yen as snowman is criminally underused, ok, so he did a good swordplay scene, however later on, dispatched in the silliest way when he suppose to be this silent Shinobi type character, Ron Perlman repeats his role in Enemy of the Gates(2001) and Alien Ressurection(1997) , but we love him anyway (a freudian slip for comic geeks here; he is set to play Hellboy, he got the attitude and look, but he, like Snipes here is a bit too old to play these inhuman anti heroes, plus with his current non leading status, one can't help to assume that a 'Spawn-played-by-michael-jay-who?' syndrome might repeat itself).
Ok last minor flaw i want to mention anyway; when Assad and Nyssa character was first introduced as the night marauders, their fighting skills equalizes that of Blade's, however as the film goes,they become so mighty weak, Heck..like that Scud character say "wot's up with that B?" and also Scud character is almost unecessary, but like Donald logue in Blade 1st, he is a comic relief. well, if youre looking for an ultimate kung fu, WWF enhanced vampire shoot em up flicker with 1001 sound effects of bone crunching, sword toring the flesh and sinew stuffed in it.. then this is a must, if youre looking for a tragedy-romance vampire type of film then fast forward to the last 5 minute scene, its a bit on the cheese side but Leonor Varela is a hottie and the panorama helps.
3 outta 5 for this solid horror action flick.
+3 for production value,energy and non stop action scenes.
-2 for the cliche "entering the thumping Sodom and Gomora night club scene" and repetitive use of sound effects,existence of Scud character and for non stop action scenes.