It’s very hard to review a sequel without making comparisons to the first movie. Where the original Blade earned its cult following with low budget genius, Blade 2 will appeal more to the mainstream masses, as it utilizes amazing effects, heart pumping techno music, computer aided fight scenes, a hot chic in leather (see this month’s Maxim to see her minus most of her leather), and a bigger baddie than Stephen Dorff was in the original. Though penned by the same writer (David S. Goyer) the two movies were directed by different people, and while there was effort made to be true to the original, there are definite differences. The original was directed by Stephen Norrington and the one being reviewed here was directed by Guillermo del Toro. Interestingly enough, both directors played uncredited vampires in their respective Blade movies.

the writing a.k.a. the story a.k.a. the plot:

The story opens with Blade(Wesley Snipes) taking on a whole lot of vampires as he searches for Whistler(Kris Kristofferson). There is a commentary by Blade as he explains that Whistler saved him from the thirst and raised him into what he is before the vampires turned him into what Blade hates most: a vampire. When he finds Whistler, he rescues him from a huge vat of blood where the vampires have been keeping him alive… once back in their secret bat cave type lair, Blade injects him with a retro virus to cure him (plot hole number 1: This is not explained well enough to suit your average curious movie goer… why can’t Blade just inject all vampires with this miracle retro virus?)

Back in the lair, there’s a new young punk, Scud(Norman Reedus), who’s been taking care of the technical side of the operation in Whistler’s absence. From the beginning, Scud and Whistler butt heads, literally and figuratively. On Whistler’s first night off the blood wagon, the lair security is breached by two vampires who leap from the rafters in silent Spider-man type fashion. The first major impressive fight scene ensues (many of the fight scenes were choreographed by Donnie Yen who also plays a vampire in the Bloodpack, though he doesn’t get enough fight time himself). When there is a draw, the two intruders unmask themselves to reveal Nyssa(Leonor Varela) and Asad(Danny John-Jules), representatives of the Vampire Nation sent to offer Blade a truce.

Led deep into the heart of the Vampire Nation, Blade meets with Nyssa’s father, the head of the Nation. Blade learns that there is a new enemy, an enemy to both the vampire and human races. This enemy, called the Reaper, started with Nomak(Luke Goss). Once he ‘feeds’, he turns his victim into a Reaper immediately, and the Reaper’s need for food is much greater than a vampires, meaning that in hours, there are hundreds of new Reapers, and in a month, there would be an unmanageable number. For two years, the Vampire Nation has been training a special forces type group called the Bloodpack to hunt Blade. They are now asking Blade to lead this group in hunting Nomak and his fledglings. The Bloodpack consists of Nyssa, Asad, the ex-leader, Reinhardt(Ron Perlman), Chupa(Matt Schulze), Snowman(Donnie Yen), Lighthammer(Daz Crawford), Priest (Tony Curran), and Verlaine (Marit Velle Kile ). The detail that went into the Bloodpack’s costumes and fighting styles is wonderful.

There are many comical struggles for power between Blade and Reinhardt, as the Blade led Bloodpack fight the nearly invincible Reapers. Though Blade 2 doesn’t have a scene to rival the opening blood bath scene of the original movie, Blade 2 is, overall, a much bloodier, gorier movie (as are most sequels). There is more fighting, and more hand to hand combat scenes, including one phenomenal end scene between Nomak and Blade.

In the original movie, Blade is presented to us as a tragic hero, torn between his two sides, saved only by his serum (enhanced by the lovely hematologist he saved – where is she in this movie???). That side of the story is completely lacking in the sequel (plot hole number 2), leaving us with a Blade who is much more comfortable in his skin. His only tortured moments come when he appears to be falling in love with Nyssa. He still has some great one liners, and some great fighting scenes which showcase his advanced martial art skills.

Direction:

del Torro uses his own distinct style, seen mostly in movies that play strictly in art houses, and he keeps some of the style of the original movie; the quick moving skyline is one example. Again, I reiterate, where the original was lower budget, the sequel used (overused?) computers. The dusted vampires reminded me of Buffy (not that you’ll hear me complaining, of course) and a couple of the fight scenes were a bit too computer aided and took away from the scene itself. All in all, I am very happy with del Torro’s direction.

The whole Motley Crew:

Wesley Snipes as Blade also seen in Major League, Demolition Man, Murder at 1600, and U.S. Marshals among many more: This is a wonderful role for Snipes to show off his martial arts, his beautiful physique (sorry, I’m a woman, I notice that too!), and some better than decent acting. He carried the movie, as the title character should.

Kris Kristofferson as Whistler also seen in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, A Star is Born, and Planet of the Apes (2001): There isn’t as big of a role here for Whistler as there was in the first movie, but he plays it well. He’s gruff but loveable, with some great one liners and some nice character development.

Leonor Varela as Nyssa also seen in a few minor T.V. roles, The Tailor of Panama and Texas Rangers: More than just eye candy for the testosterone driven movie goers, Varela showed great potential and I hope to see her more in the future.

Ron Perlman as Reinhardt also seen in Beauty and the Beast (T.V.), Romeo is Bleeding, and Enemy at the Gates: Not usually a villain, Ron Perlman played this role with gusto, making you love to hate him, and especially happy when he got his just reward.

Luke Goss as Nomak also seen in a few lesser known movies such as Zigzag and Love Life: Though he lacked the sheer genius of Stephen Dorff’s villainous character in the original, through the help of special effects and decent writing, Goss plays a heinous evil character that rivals Dorff’s Deacon Frost. It’s hard to comment on his acting since his character did rely on computer aided effects a lot, including his wonderful fighting scenes.

Norman Reedus as Scud also seen in Mimic and 8MM: Reedus plays a wise cracking, long haired, constantly smoking young punk that I hated the first time I heard him speak. How could Blade take such a snot nosed brat into his intimate confidences? As he himself quotes Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

My thoughts and recommendations:

I love Vampire lore… I loved Blade from the first sound of New Order’s Confusion to the last scene in Russia. I hushed everyone around me when I went to see Harry Potter and the trailer for Blade 2 came on screen. Was I disappointed? A teeny bit, but not too much. I’ll preorder the DVD. I’ll buy all the action figures. I’ll tell all my friends to go see it. I’ll buy the soundtrack. I won’t buy the Blade 2 inspired Ducati motorcycle (it only had a 30 second spot in the movie… if it had had a longer ride, well, maybe!).

I did enjoy this movie. Both on it’s own and as a sequel. I give it a four star rating because it’s not among the instant classics, but it’s far better than average.

Quick Rant and Rave: Please, let me beg you now, be careful what you bring your children to see. I saw two infants in the theatre when I went to see this movie. They can't repeat the numerous expletives they hear, but they can be affected by the fighting they hear, the loud music, the obvious intensity. This is an adult movie. Treat it as such. Thank you!



Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age