When
the original Blade opened a few years back, I must confess, I wasn't much of a
fan. However, I've really come to enjoy the film with repeated viewings, particularly
that fantastic dvd version. A sequel seemed inevitable given the success of the
first installment. Surprisingly, this follow up isn't only entertaining, but even
more so than the first Blade.
This
time the Daywalker (aka Blade) forms a pact with his former nemeses in order to
defeat a new breed of creatures that feed on vampires. Blade (a magnetic Wesley
Snipes) joins a crew of mercenary vampires that were actually trained to destroy
him, in an attempt to exterminate a new race of fiendish bloodsuckers, hell-bent
on taking over the world.
Truth
be told, Blade 2 is more of a superhero flick than a vampire movie. Blade is a
bad ass soldier with all the right moves including martial arts skills and quick
as lightening speed. Still, Blade 2 evokes all of the vampire mysticism that seemed
to be missing from Queen of the Damned, and even manages to add something new
to the genre.
Wesley
Snipes seems to be having a really good time. He looks tough and has the fighting
thing down. As was the case the first time around, Blade has very little dialogue.
This guy does most of his talking through body language. Snipes certainly looks
comfortable here. Kris Kristofferson also returns as Blade's grizzled partner.
Your probably asking yourself; "Didn't he die in the first film?" Rest
assured, the film makers have found a way to bring him back--and as was the case
in the first film, Kristofferson seems out of place here.
Holding
it all together is ultra talented director Guillermo Del Toro (Devil's Backbone).
He keeps this relentless film moving at break neck speed. Blade 2 is exhausting.
This film really only fails when it attempts anything remotely resembling drama.
There is a moment between Kristofferson and a wounded Snipes that is just downright
silly. Thankfully, there aren't many of these moments to speak of. And while some
of the fighting sequences seem a bit repetitive, there are so many of them to
marvel at, that it hardly seems fair to criticize the movie for it.
David
S. Goyer's screenplay couldn't be more than twenty pages long. There is very little
dialogue to speak of and this isn't a movie about character development. And while
there seems to be momentary lapses of logic going on here, it hardly hurts the
overall effectiveness of the film.
With
it's Matrix style effects, dark tone, limitless energy, and a gung ho Snipes,
Blade 2 delivers the thrills as promised. It's a violent thrill ride that will
certainly give the audience a lot of fang for their buck.
